Isn’t life strange?
It took just short of forty years, but I finally watched the Moody Blues perform. On stage, right in front of me. We’ve all aged well, considering.
I’m not much of a concert dog. Takes someone a little special on the marquee to get me out and over to a public venue. I skipped the Stones. I ignored Sir Paul. Not even a nod and a wink for Sir Elton, or any number of other famous folk. But the Moodies… how can I ignore a lifetime of memories?
This wasn’t an arena show. According to the website, the hall holds 1350, and the stage is a limiting 7 m by 12 m. According to my perspective, the hall isn’t much bigger than Duffy (some of you know where I mean), although I wasn’t paying attention to those behind me, despite their noisy nature. I accept that others have to act out in front of famous visitors, but I could do as well with a private show…
Now for the detail. No set list, but the Big Six (as Graeme Edge puts it) were included. Remember, there are only three of the original group on tour; Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward and John Lodge. The sound is beefed out with another drummer, a couple of keyboard players and a vocalist/flautist. Lots of lights (at my age, you get them right in the eye). Enough volume to make me wonder why I always played their albums so quietly. They are, after all, a rock and roll band who happened to play on the soundtrack of my life.
Compared to “back when”, sitting in the lounge in Marian, listening to Nights In White Satin, we’re all a little greyer, a little mellower. Still, they put on a hell of a good show, and I’m glad I went.
