January 8-14, 2004

musicpicks

Jon Anderson

Rock/pop

So you're not surprised that Yes frontman Jon Anderson is incorporating chakra color-healing imagery into his upcoming solo tour, huh? It's kinda fitting, actually, for a man who helped bring mega-artsy prog-rock to its pinnacle in the '70s, and who's recorded a bunch of albums since then with New Agers like Vangelis and Kitaro. If you want to get all cynical on him, forget it: Anderson's awfully sweet, especially for an aging rock star.

"When you become successful in pop music, you have a choice: to delve into it and become a celebrity superstar, or to learn about life and spiritual conscious energy," the 59-year-old singer says by phone. "I'm still learning." For his first solo tour in more than 20 years, Anderson will use a guitar, piano and harp -- plus some flashy Yes-worthy special effects -- to cover both his supergroup hits and solo works (including tracks from his upcoming CD, The Big If). Onstage, a Roland MIDI guitar system will trigger what's esoterically being billed as "choreographed multimedia events."

"It's been 35 years since Yes got together and I'm still out here, playing," Anderson says incredulously. "I'm as excited as the fans." Even those who show up not wearing their Roger Dean T-shirts.

Sat., Jan. 10, 8 p.m., $29.50-$35, Keswick Theatre, Easton Rd. and Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650.

—Nicole Pensiero

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