By Danny Coleman
originally published: 09/29/2016
"I've been naively home schooling," says Trevor Rabin with a laugh as he discussed time spent since he last worked with members of the famed rock band Yes. "I've done 50 film scores and a 2012 instrumental album which was most enjoyable but I did it backward; I finished the record first and then I placed it with a distributor. The fans didn't seem to like it but that was fine, not all goes well in life."
Today however, Rabin and Yes luminaries, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have combined forces to form ARW; a five piece unit to which he refers as aggressive and "Tough." "Yes; you know what? I've just got to come out and say it; for lack of a better term, we are tough sounding. That's the best description that I can come up with. We are loud at times and we play with aggression but it's all extremely musical; if that makes sense (laughs)."
Formed somewhat by chance after the unfortunate passing of Yes bassist Chris Squire; ARW is the creative outlet that the threesome seemed to have been searching for. "After Chris died," explained a now somewhat pensive Rabin, "We tossed around the idea of a reunion tour of sorts; especially after the success of the "Union Tour." That tour was the first time for me with Rick Wakeman and we formed a great allegiance; it was such fun. At the time it was just him and I on stage and then we started writing together and we said, "We've got to do something." " Jon and Rick had toured together with Yes of course and then it was suggested to include me and I went along for the ride and here we are now."
"Now," is 25 years later and the tossed around idea has definitely caught on. Rabin states that he enjoys writing new material but the band is cautious about debuting it or testing it out on the road; the reason? Social Media. "So far I've been writing much of the new material. Rick and Jon are definitely involved but we're going on tour and the new album is not done so we won't be playing any new songs off of it just yet. We'd love to test the waters but the problem is that it would wind up on You Tube and we're still not done revising some things and we just didn't want that. We don't want the wrong versions getting out there that's all but eventually, well, hopefully we will be debuting them shortly after the tour starts."
October 4 sees the tour kick off in Orlando, Florida at Hard Rock Live and Trevor is excited to hit the road again and perform the reinvigorated versions of the Yes catalog. "Even though I have absolutely nothing to do with the current Yes band; I look forward to performing the material. When I left the band, I gave up my rights to the group; Jon and Alan White own the rights but combining the two different eras is always great fun. We rehearsed a lot and really worked hard at trying to decide what songs to perform. We have six hours of material and we pulled each song apart and re-worked and revised and we have enough to make each show a bit different. We can't play six hours in one night (laughs); or can we?"
Several more shows in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina are on tap before the band turns north and east with stops in New England and Pennsylvania before an October 24 show at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ and Red Bank's Count Basie Theatre on October 26; followed by a stop at the Borgata in Atlantic City on October 28.
Rabin is a man with a full schedule and despite the tour, plans on continuing his work in the film industry as he still receives offers and scripts. "This tour, the band; they are the priority at the moment but I'm still getting offers to do film scores. Once we take a break from the road I'll visit those and keep writing music."
To discover more about ARW, please visit
www.arw-tour.com. To read up on Trevor Rabin, please go to www.trevorrabin.net.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listings
Amalfi's Restaurant & Bar146 Lawrenceville Pennington Road Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri. 9 p.m. Smoked Ice
Amarones Windsor Inn29 Church Street Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Larry D
Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson Band feat. Billy Hill
Backstage at Championship Bar 931 Chambers Street Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. Yorkshire Tenth, Silo, Maunikita, Broken Angels, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Necronomicon, Malphas, ExoVoid, Lost Continent, gravelord, Kold Blooded. All ages, $12
Bill's Olde Tavern2694 Nottingham way Hamilton
(609) 586-0192
Sun. 12 p.m. "Oktoberfest" feat. The Dawgs
Blend Bar & Bistro911 Highway 33 Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
Bowman's Tavern1600 River Road New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2972
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Patrick & Debra
Fri. 8 p.m. Bob Egan
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic Street Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Carl Bartlett Sax Quartet. $10 (cover charge includes buffet)
Chickie's & Pete's183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Quizzo Trivia
City Streets 510 Highway 130 South East Windsor
(609) 426-9400
Fri. 9 p.m. Live Band Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Herd Of Blues
Dempster's Pub437 Pine Street Mount Holly
(609) 261-0500
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. DJ DNIAL
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Chris
Dog & Bull Brew House810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Jay Regan
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Visoon (9 p.m.) Soul Kitchen
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. David Dzubinski (9 p.m.) Soul Custody Trio
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale Jazz (4 p.m.) Gypsy Mother
Mon. 8 p.m. Keith Lesnik Trio
Wed. 8 p.m. Joe Robinson
Fran's Pub116 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows age 21+
Hamilton OktoberfestVeterans Park East End Gazebo
Yardville-Hamilton Square Road Hamilton
Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Dick Gratton & Linda Lee
Havana New Hope105 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215) 862-9897
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Fish Out Of Water
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Bigg Romeo
Sun. 2 p.m. Midnight Sun Orchestra
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Hopewell Valley Vineyards46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. JP3
Fri. 6 p.m. Hopewell Valley Vineyards Jazz Ensemble
Sat. 6 p.m. John & Carm
Sun. (2 p.m.)"Jazzy Sundays" feat. Hazelrigg Brothers (6 p.m.) "Murder At The Oasis" to support Susan G. Komen Walk For The Cure. Murder Mystery Dinner, Dancing. $15 (Online sales) $20 (Door cash only).
Iron Plow Vineyards26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus
(732) 306-9111
Fri. 6 p.m. Jim Gaven
Sat. 1 p.m. (TBA)
Sun. 1 p.m. John & Maggs
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 9 p.m. Gunsmoke
Sat. 9 p.m. El Ka Bong
All shows 21+
John & Peter's 96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Sat. 3 p.m. Hank Woji
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
Killarney's Publik House1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Thurs. 5 p.m. "Live Music on the Paddy-O" (TBA)
Sat. "Oktoberfest"
Laurita Winery85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Thurs. 7 p.m. "2016 Laurita Idol Singing Showcase" Adult Idol Semi-Final
Sat. 1 p.m. "Lefty" the MANN of 1,200 Songs
Sun. 11:30 a.m. "Breast Cancer Vine walk" feat. Radio Fiction
Wed. 6 p.m. "Girls Night Out" / Color Between The Wines
Mamma Rosa's 572 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 588-5454
Thurs. 6 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Richard Schneider
Fri. 7 p.m. Paul Plumeri & Joe Zook
McStews Irish Sports Pub5316 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Thurs. 10:30 p.m."Beer Pong" w/ DJ RV & MC Slim
Fri. 9 p.m. The Fredz, Bottomz Up
Sat. 9 p.m. "College House / Hip-Hop Party" feat. DJ RV & MC Slim
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike
Millhill Basement300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Tues. 10 p.m. "Local Artist" Hip Hop, Experimental EDM and Bass Music Showcase
O'Connor's American Bar & Grille1383 Monmouth Road Easthampton Mt. Holly
(609) 261-1555
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Gypsy Mother
Sat. 8:30 p.m. (TBA)
Olde Liberty Tavern2114 Liberty Street Trenton
(609) 396-2262
Sat. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Palermo's Of Hamilton310 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21 +
Patriot's Crossing1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 8 p.m. Just Us
Sat. 8 p.m. Receptor
Pete's Steak House523 Whitehorse Avenue Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Polish Nannies
Randy Now's Man Cave134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Sat./Sun. 11 a.m. Bordentown "Cranberry Festival"
RHO Waterfront50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 10 p.m. "College Night" w/ DJ Bob E. Luv. Ages 21+ (2 IDs required), $15 ($5 w/ valid college ID)
Fri. (4 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet, $10 (8:30 p.m.) Soul Cruisers
Sat. 10 p.m. Tony Vega w/ Chino Nunez and Edwin Lebron and DJ. Ages 21+, $30 (advance)
Small World Coffee14 Witherspoon Street Princeton
Sat. 8:30 p.m. B.D. Lenz
1867 Sanctuary 101 Scotch Road Ewing
(609) 392-6409
Thurs. 8 p.m. Zach Larmer Electric band "Inner Circle Tour." $20
Fri. 8 p.m. Vladmir Dye's "Sofa and Chamber Music Concert Series." $20
Sun. 3 p.m. "Yankee Doodle Fought Here." $20
Tara's Tavern 1 Cookstown-New Egypt Road Wrightstown
(609) 286-2300
Fri. 10 p.m. Bent Mushroom
Sat. 10 p.m. Psycho Misfits
Tavern On The Lake101 Main Street Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. No Limits
Sat. 9 p.m. Anything Goes
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The HOB Tavern146 Second Street Bordentown
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 8 p.m. (TBA)
The Ivy Inn248 Nassau Street Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. "Wednesday Wheel Night Spin To Win Karaoke" w/ DJ Rockn Ron
The Record Collector 358 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. Lisa Bouchelle & Ernie White. All ages, Doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)
The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Fri. 9 p.m. Take Five
Sat. 7 p.m. Twitch
The Sticky Wicket 2465 South Broad Street Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Deep Release
Sat. 9 p.m. Einstein Bridge
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke
The Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog 1324 Hamilton Avenue Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Hank Woji
Sat 9 p.m. River Drivers
Sun. 3 p.m. "Irish Sessions" w/ Kathy DeAngelo & Wayne Gormley
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine Street Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic.
Trenton Social449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Fri. 4 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Steve (The Band). ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.)
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn2572 Pennington Road Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. DiRty ReD
All shows 21+
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
