Prog rock veterans Yes return to the U.S. in February for an 18-date run of small venues that kicks off Feb. 2 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and wraps 26 days later in Boca Raton, Fla. Tickets go on sale Dec. 11.

The group's lineup remains founding bassist Chris Squire, longtime guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White, and 2008 newcomers Oliver Wakeman: son of Rick Wakeman: on keyboards and Benoit David from the Montreal Yes tribute band Close to the Edge in place of Jon Anderson, who's been unable to tour due to health reasons.

"I think they're doing a tremendous job," Howe tells Billboard.com about Wakeman and David. "We've mapped out a period of time for (Yes) to work, so in that period of time things are going to stay as they are now with Oliver and Benoit. When things were to feel right with any other lineup, then that will happen, but at the moment this is what we're focusing on."

Yes is currently on the road in Europe, wrapping up that tour on Dec. 12.

The group has been playing "Aliens," a new song written by Squire, in some of its shows, but there's no word yet on prospects for a new Yes album. "We've got to build ourselves. We've got to pace ourselves like Asia did with 'Phoenix,' " explains Howe, referencing his other band's 2008 release: the first by Asia's original lineup in 25 years. Yes and Asia toured North America together during the summer. "(Asia) kind of had an almost 18-month (touring) run at things, so when we started making a record everything was on solid ground.

"I think that's how I'd like to approach it with Yes as well, to have a little bit more time to do a little bit more (live) work and playing and then divert to recordings."

Yes' last studio album was 2001's "Magnification," though it released a "Symphonic Live" album earlier this year.


The itinerary for Yes' 2010 U.S. winter tour includes:

Feb. 2: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Civic Center)
Feb. 4: Concord, N.H. (Capitol Center for the Arts)
Feb. 5: Jim Thorpe, Pa. (Penn's Peak)
Feb. 6: Washington, D.C. (Warner Theater)
Feb. 9: Boston, Mass. (House of Blues)
Feb. 10: Montclair, N.J. (Wellmont Theater)
Feb. 12: Atlantic City, N.J. (Tropicana Casino)
Feb. 13-14: New York, N.Y. (Town Hall)
Feb. 17: Cleveland, Ohio (House of Blues)
Feb. 18-19: Chicago, Ill. (House of Blues)
Feb. 20: Detroit, Mich. (SoundBoard at Motor City Casino)
Feb. 23: Dallas, (Texas House of Blues)
Feb. 24: Houston, (Texas House of Blues)
Feb. 25: New Orleans, La. (House of Blues)
Feb. 27: Orlando, Fla. (Sea World Orlando)
Feb. 28: Boca Raton, Fla. (Sunset Cove Amphitheatre)