Post by Ming on Apr 9, 2004 2:33:45 GMT
This evening I saw a stunning show. Two former members of the seminal band The Zombies (She's Not there was their biggest hit and was made bigger when in the late 1970's Santana covered it and made it an even BIGGER hit!) are back together. Stunning is no way near to describing their brilliance. Songs I'd know for 25+ years were coming to life, and I had a front row seat!
More...
Venue - Albert Halls, Bolton, UK
Date - 8pm - 8th April 2004
This venue is relatively small holding approx 600 people so very intimate. I was on the front row and had a great view!
Although because of my position, the sound was a little one-sided, overall the sound and mix was immaculate. Colin made me smile with his little trot-dance as he approached the mic, and I hadn't expected Rod to do most of the talking. Colin seemed so modest, but he had great stage presence when he sang.
Rod said at the start of the show, they would be entertaining us with music from the "past 40 years"! It made me realises that they've been around for many years and still sound so fresh. They could blow many bigger one-hit-wonders off stage without trying with pure talent. Sometimes the audience stood up and clapped when Colin merely announced what song they were going to perform! There was a lot of genuine appreciation in that room and I felt very proud to be present. It is a gig I will never forget.
Although I'm a huge fan of Colin's album 'One Year' and Rod's 'Counterpoint' and 'Nexus' albums, I have to admit I've only heard a few of their other albums, but after tonight's gig I will be searching for everything as they knocked me out!
I wasn't familiar with some of the Zombies songs, nor some of their solo material, but it was hard to fault anything they did as everything was so perfect. Normally it is easy to lose interest hearing an unfamiliar song as you want to hear something you are familiar with, but tonight was different. Every song was a joy and I'll certainly be increasing my Zombies, Blunstone and Argent music collection.
The evening opened unceremoniously with 'I Don't Beleive In Miracles' and closed with what Rod claimed was an obscure b-side from 'Odessey and Oracle'. Rod added, that they would "open up what the producer had hidden in the final mix of the original" I'm sure I heard bits of hymns and chants I can't place in there. Anyone expand on this?
The low point of the evening for me was 'Misty Roses'. Why? Because that was the point I had to visit the toilet and only heard the last line as I re-entered the room! Probably my all-time fav Colin song and I was taking a pee! Fate deals low blows sometimes...
Finally the evening culminated in the well-known 'She's Not There' before the band left the stage to a standing ovation. When they returned, they performed 3 encores! Fantastic. Got to be one of the best gigs I've ever experienced in the last 27 years of being a concert-goer.
After the show the guitarist ? mingled with people in the bar, and Colin signed merchandise in the foyer.
We were informed during the evening by Rod, that the guitarist was previously in the Alan Parsons Project Band, and his brother is Don Airy (keyboards with Whitesnake, Deep Purple and, I think, but don't quote me Asia in the 1980's). He performed some unique and excellent riffs to the heavier numbers.
Rod, now the voice of the band, informed us, that the bassist Jim Rodford (?) played with The Kinks for 20 years and was a founding member of the band Argent with Rod, and although I didn't catch the drummers name, the band think very highly of him in his role of production manager for ther current album.
This lot can surely 'Hold Their Head Up' very high!
This evening certainly made up for the disapointment last year when I went to see Colin perform a mere 3 songs as 'special guest' for The Manfred Mann Band. I wasn't alone in my disappointment as many people walked out when Colin left the stage.
Songs played that I can remember and not mentioned above include...
'Time of the Season'
'A Rose For Emily'
'Old and Wise'
'Misty Roses'
'Care of Cell 44'
'Time of the Season'
'This Will be Our Year'
'Just Out of Reach'
'God Gave Rock and Roll To You'
'Hold your Head Up'
More...
Venue - Albert Halls, Bolton, UK
Date - 8pm - 8th April 2004
This venue is relatively small holding approx 600 people so very intimate. I was on the front row and had a great view!
Although because of my position, the sound was a little one-sided, overall the sound and mix was immaculate. Colin made me smile with his little trot-dance as he approached the mic, and I hadn't expected Rod to do most of the talking. Colin seemed so modest, but he had great stage presence when he sang.
Rod said at the start of the show, they would be entertaining us with music from the "past 40 years"! It made me realises that they've been around for many years and still sound so fresh. They could blow many bigger one-hit-wonders off stage without trying with pure talent. Sometimes the audience stood up and clapped when Colin merely announced what song they were going to perform! There was a lot of genuine appreciation in that room and I felt very proud to be present. It is a gig I will never forget.
Although I'm a huge fan of Colin's album 'One Year' and Rod's 'Counterpoint' and 'Nexus' albums, I have to admit I've only heard a few of their other albums, but after tonight's gig I will be searching for everything as they knocked me out!
I wasn't familiar with some of the Zombies songs, nor some of their solo material, but it was hard to fault anything they did as everything was so perfect. Normally it is easy to lose interest hearing an unfamiliar song as you want to hear something you are familiar with, but tonight was different. Every song was a joy and I'll certainly be increasing my Zombies, Blunstone and Argent music collection.
The evening opened unceremoniously with 'I Don't Beleive In Miracles' and closed with what Rod claimed was an obscure b-side from 'Odessey and Oracle'. Rod added, that they would "open up what the producer had hidden in the final mix of the original" I'm sure I heard bits of hymns and chants I can't place in there. Anyone expand on this?
The low point of the evening for me was 'Misty Roses'. Why? Because that was the point I had to visit the toilet and only heard the last line as I re-entered the room! Probably my all-time fav Colin song and I was taking a pee! Fate deals low blows sometimes...
Finally the evening culminated in the well-known 'She's Not There' before the band left the stage to a standing ovation. When they returned, they performed 3 encores! Fantastic. Got to be one of the best gigs I've ever experienced in the last 27 years of being a concert-goer.
After the show the guitarist ? mingled with people in the bar, and Colin signed merchandise in the foyer.
We were informed during the evening by Rod, that the guitarist was previously in the Alan Parsons Project Band, and his brother is Don Airy (keyboards with Whitesnake, Deep Purple and, I think, but don't quote me Asia in the 1980's). He performed some unique and excellent riffs to the heavier numbers.
Rod, now the voice of the band, informed us, that the bassist Jim Rodford (?) played with The Kinks for 20 years and was a founding member of the band Argent with Rod, and although I didn't catch the drummers name, the band think very highly of him in his role of production manager for ther current album.
This lot can surely 'Hold Their Head Up' very high!
This evening certainly made up for the disapointment last year when I went to see Colin perform a mere 3 songs as 'special guest' for The Manfred Mann Band. I wasn't alone in my disappointment as many people walked out when Colin left the stage.
Songs played that I can remember and not mentioned above include...
'Time of the Season'
'A Rose For Emily'
'Old and Wise'
'Misty Roses'
'Care of Cell 44'
'Time of the Season'
'This Will be Our Year'
'Just Out of Reach'
'God Gave Rock and Roll To You'
'Hold your Head Up'
