Review: The Moody Blues bring their timeless flight to Pearl at the Palms
May 5, 2015
LasVegasSun.com
Melina Robinson
English rock band The Moody Blues elevated an era with their trademark surrealist rock sound that paved the playground for a new genre of musical artistry. At a seasoned 51 years, The Moody Blues made their timeless flight to Pearl at the Palms for a thought-provoking performance Sunday night.
This moody flight began their 90-minute voyage with “Gemini Dream” and touched a variety of hits spanning four decades. While The Moody Blues are music veterans, they played as assiduously as the perfectly coiffed hair adorned by all three mainstay band members.
Guitarist-vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist-vocalist John Lodge and stickman Graeme Edge have been a solidified trio since 1966.
Edge proudly said to the audience, “Yesterday was the [Moody Blues’] 51st anniversary, and March 30th was my 74th birthday. [We have been playing] since my hair was brown and my teeth were white,” which Edge humorously followed by making a Viagra joke.
As The Moody Blues musical arrangement requires a more complex composition than many bands of their generation, accompanying band mates helped complete their dreamlike musical texture.
Norda Mullen brought her breadth of talent with an array of flute, guitar, percussion and vocal contributions. Julie Ragins added her element of percussion, guitar and saxophone, with Alan Hewitt on keys.
Edge is the only original band member, having joined The Moody’s in 1964, and drummer Gordon Marshall joined in 1991 to assist Edge. Edge has said the most difficult part about being an older drummer is maintaining his speed, and having a second drummer allows him to “cover all the spots.”
The Moody Blues covered all their musical spots playing classic hits “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Isn’t Life Strange” and “I’m Just a Singer.” “Wildest Dreams” was accompanied by a flashback of photographs, album covers and concert billings spanning their career.
In addition to the music, the stage was reminiscent of a 1960s LSD trip. As four of the 1967 band members self-admittedly took LSD before the release of their third studio album, the digitalized psychedelic stage enveloped by smoke transported the theater to an incremental high of visual stimulation.
As this moody flight began its gradual descent back to reality, The Moody Blues concluded their trip with “Ride My See-Saw.” The fans who demonstrated their appreciation with a standing ovation between every song rejoiced in seeing these legends of rock.
“From The Moody Blues, thank you for keeping the faith. … I wish you all a wonderful life.”
The Moody Blues contributed to a wonderful life for many, but more importantly they contributed to the musical wonder that influenced many artists to come.
