Music Tour Reviews: The Moody Blues
October 4, 2011
64, 68, and 70; those are the ages of the original three members of the classic bluesy-rock band, The Moody Blues. Being together 47 years, the band is still touring world-wide like they haven’t hit the 10 year mark yet. Adding an additional 4 people to their trio to tour, the Moody Blues are still sounding very familiar as they they did when they were releasing their hits in the 60′s.
Filling up Pantages Playhouse Theatre, lead singer and guitarist Justin Hayword, and bassist John Lodge, frequently took turns singing lead throughout the show. The band consisted of lead guitar, a bassist, 2 drummers, 2 pianists who sang as well as played other instruments, and a back-up vocalist who frequently played the flute, as well as some guitar.
The visual show was definitely more expected with lights surrounding the stage, lighting up the entire theatre. Every few songs, steam and fog would carpet the floor and rush like a waterfall of the stage and evaporate. A large screen was also in the background, playing loops of ‘trippy’ 70′s influenced material.
About just over halfway into the night, 70 year old Graeme Edge gave a speech on birthdays. On how you hit these big ones throughout your life, like 18, or 21, or in his case, 70. But he definitely made it evident that age is only a number as he continued to rock on those drums, and even sing a song as if he were a fraction of the age.
As expected, the theatre erupted with Nights In White Satin and as the show ended they were brought on for a 1 song encore to end off the night. All in all, fans who had literally been fans for decades, left the theatre more than satisfied, for possibly one of their last viewings of the The Moody Blues.
