They call it the Kihncert, thus named for Bay Area radio personality and musician Greg Kihn, but he doesn’t headline the show like at the Ozzfest and Cruefest. Nope, at this annual show, Kihn opens, and brings along some of his longtime friends from the road to do the heavy lifting.

Kihn was a popular club act around the Bay Area back in the 70’s and 80’s, and found even more success as the morning jock at 98.5-KFOX, San Jose’s classic rock station. Over the years, he has semi-retired as a musician, but still plays a few gigs every year and always opens this show. With his son Ry on guitar, Kihn made quick work of his 30 minutes onstage by belting out six of his most popular tunes, including the massive hits “Jeopardy,” and “The Breakup Song,” songs so popular back in the 80’s that he was probably able to buy his first house with the proceeds. He can still rock, and is always a welcome site on a Bay Area concert stage.

Kansas was the special guest on this bill, and played with its usual dexterity and musical brilliance during a 55-minute set. Kansas is sounding better these days, as keyboardist/vocalist Steve Walsh looks like he’s having a bit more fun onstage. His voice sounded better as well. The rest of the boys can still bring it like no other progressive rock band from the 70’s-Phil Ehart is simply one of the greatest live drummers on the planet, bassist Billy Greer is powerhouse who also sings very well, Rich Williams does his best to play the guitar parts of two (remember, Kerry Livgren no longer tours), and David Ragsdale fills in on guitar and violin all of the parts that Livgren and Robby Steinhardt used to specialize in. “Point of Know Return,” “Dust in the Wind” and “Carry On Wayward Son” still figure prominently in the set.

Where Kansas looks pretty lively for a bunch of older guys and Styx has hardly aged at all, English progressive legends Yes are finally starting to show their age. I am not suggesting they shut it down like KISS (see Moondance Jam review from this year), because the band acts its age and plays they way it should, but the group is simply aging and can’t do the things it once did. The set doesn’t have the same bounce and energy it once had, and the overall vocal sound can suffer at times, despite new singer Benoit David’s best intentions (perhaps the band is missing its heart and soul, singer Jon Anderson).

There’s no doubt the boys can play. The back catalog is as wide and as varied as any band still working today. And the group’s following is as rabid as always. That keeps the group on the road and it should-just don’t expect the same energy that the group had back in the 70’s, when it was the biggest progressive act on the road.

Larger than life Chris Squire is still one of the best bassists in rock history, and he can still play with a power and precision that leaves his contemporaries shaking their heads at his prowess. Drummer Alan White is rock solid as the foundation for the band’s rhythm section. Guitarist Howe is (and looks like) a professor of guitar, his rhythm and rippling runs adding affect to each and every song. And with keyboardist Geoff Downs back in the band full-time, he’s proving why he is considered to be one of this generation’s best sidemen.

Some of Yes’ best songs are the more focused, five-ten minute pieces that combine the band’s superior musicianship with a fine sense of melody. Tunes like “And You and I,” “All Good People/Your Move,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and of course “Roundabout” are great songs, and easily the high points of any show. Other highlights included a spectacular “Yours is No Disgrace,” and the always captivating “Heart of the Sunrise,” which David (who does a fine Anderson impression) sung like his life depended on it.

Headliners Styx were brilliant, its 90-minute set proving once again that this is one of America’s best concert attractions. Like Sammy Hagar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon and The Doobie Brothers, these guys fail to age, or suck. It’s really kind of amazing that this band, which is coming up on its 40^th anniversary, is probably better now than it’s ever been.

That will probably piss off the Dennis DeYoung fans in the audience, but I like the fact that this Styx (guitarist Tommy Shaw and James Young, keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, bassist Ricky Phillips and drummer Todd Sucherman) concentrates on the heavier rock side of the band’s history, while DeYoung features more of the piano ballads that made him (and this band, for that matter) famous. That difference of opinion over the band’s sound was what caused the acrimony the first (and second) times the group split up, so I say let’s keep it the way it is-Styx rocking and DeYoung doing a great job on his songs solo.

The live set here sounded amazing, with the band’s two guitarists cutting thru the quintet’s sound with riffs and solos that belied the softer side of Styx. Gowan (singing the DeYoung songs) and Shaw do most of the vocals, and Phillips and Sucherman power the rhythm section. Just about every great rock song the band has produced was played, with “Suite Madame Blue,” “Crystal Ball” and “Come Sail Away” providing some of the set’s most memorable moments. And the vocals were lush and powerful, and sounded just like they did back in the band’s 80’s heyday.

It was a progressive/melodic rock fan’s wet dream (plus Kihn), and I can’t wait until next year’s Kihncert hits in the summer of 2012.