Classic rock fans won't have to go on a "long distance runaround" this Halloween to hear some of the most progressive music to come out of the 1970s.

Featuring original members that performed on the group's most famous albums, Yes comes to the Bryce Jordan Center at 8 tonight with opening act Porcupine Tree.

Along with groups like Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, King Crimson and Genesis, Yes helped create a new form of "progressive rock" in the early '70s by mixing complicated classical influences, intricate playing, and mystical lyrics into popular music.

"Their music is very complex," said Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the Bryce Jordan Center. "It's written in a way that no one else writes; it's almost classical."

One of the group's claims to fame has been its ability to stay in its original genre without changing its songwriting style, in spite of constant shifts in personnel. The band has had representative hits throughout its 34-year career, including "I've Seen All Good People," "Long Distance Runaround," and "Owner of a Lonely Heart."

Today, the group includes original vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White and keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman, recreating a lineup that first formed in 1973.

This tour is especially notable for its inclusion of Wakeman, who rejoined the group earlier this year after a hiatus of almost two decades. His speedy synthesizers and pounding piano parts were immortalized on albums such as Fragile and Close to the Edge.

"Not only is he unrivaled technically, but he was one of the first people to implement electronic keyboards into a rock band," Yes fan and fellow keyboardist Erek Kapusta (sophomore-music) said.

Anderson explained Wakeman's return by comparing it to his own experiences with leaving and rejoining the group. "I've been in and out of Yes myself over the years," he said. "Eventually you start feeling like, 'it would be great to get back together with the guys.' But the music is the driving force."

Anderson said that he was very happy with having Wakeman back in the group, comparing the process of readapting to "riding a bicycle."

"We're all family in a way," he said. "We have our highs and our lows together. But [Rick] actually helps create a better relationship. He spends a lot more time with Steve and Chris than our other keyboardists have."

He also said having Wakeman in the group has influenced the formation of the tour's set list, allowing Yes to perform some of its classic pieces that the keyboardist had helped to write and originally record.

"We started thinking about stuff that [Rick] wrote with the band, like 'Awaken,' 'And You and I,' " he said. "And of course you want to pick out songs the audience will want to hear."

This audience, however, is almost as complicated as Yes's music itself. Punt explained that many of the group's strongest followers have a deep respect for the density of the music.

"The majority of people coming to see Yes have a musical background," Punt said. "They know they are very unique in the way they write their music. It's fascinating that there is this common bond among musicians. If you can impress a musician, then you know it's good," he added.

With tickets ranging from $39.50 to $49.50, however, some fans might be discouraged from attending the show. Punt said that Yes is primarily being marketed toward adults and older fans of classic rock. But Anderson said that he wants to overcome this kind of marketing.

"I've been trying to make our management see that the people at our shows are anywhere from age 15 to 50; you can't discount anyone," he said. "You always get these younger people to realize that here's a band that sounds different, a band that puts on a good show."

And even though he said he enjoys the music of "experimental" younger groups such as Radiohead, his own band reached the height of its popularity at a time when it could have been considered "experimental" itself.

"There are some young bands going back to reinventing music rather than just making hits," Anderson said.