The Moody Blues have been a favorite of mine for ages. Decades, seriously. My stepdad once used one of their albums as an incentive for me during a softball game, but I don't even remember what the deal was, I just remember that I got it. I couldn't ever explain why I liked them so much, it's just that the music sounded good to me. That's so true of so many of the bands I like.
They were also the first band that I saw in concert, the first one I can remember. I'm told that my *real* first concert was Christopher Cross, at the age of four, but my mom was the one to tell me about that/remind me of it. I was thirteen, the first time I saw them in Salt Lake. I wanted to make sure that we got good seats, so my stepdad woke up early on Saturday to take me to the Smith's grocery store where I could wait in line to buy tickets. There were a few people there in front of me, but I didn't really care too much. The important part was that I was *there*.
I still remember a lot about that concert. It was still the five of them: Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, and Patrick Moraz (who replaced original keyboardist Mike Pinder), and it was so cool. One of my friends was paid to babysit my brother (sooo weird for that, because it was usually my job), and my mom, my stepdad, and I all went. It was awesome--beyond words. I saw them again several times throughout the years, and more recently, have *missed* a lot of dates they've played nearby, here and at Lake Tahoe.
When I saw that they were going to be at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, then, I bought a ticket as soon as I had the opportunity. No one local really wanted to go, and I didn't mind going by myself--I'd done so before a few times.
On Mountain Winery's page, they bill it as something like the world's most beautiful concert venue. Well, I'm not sure about *that*, but it is pretty damn spectacular. The drive to get up there is freaking scary, it's up in the mountains (er, thus the name, of course--sorry), and it's a twisty-turny road once you get up to the gates themselves. I almost drove off the road once, because there's a break at which you can see down into the valley, and...wow. Wow. Seriously wow.
So, yeah. Beautiful venue. The place is gorgeous, and there's no way I could do it justice. It smells nice up there in a lot of places--earth, you know. Growing things--the vines are *right there*. I walked around a little once they took my ticket, and eventually made my way down to my seat. Okay. Here's where I have one small gripe. The seats? They're tiny. Teeny tiny. The girl who sat next to me? About the size of a toothpick, and she filled up the seat. So, here's me, and...yeah. Needless to say, it was an uncomfortable first half of the concert, but once the music started...
The back-up musicians walked out first--the two keyboardists (one female), another woman carrying a guitar, and the second (and really primary) drummer. Then Justin, John, and Graeme walked out--and my first surprise: no Ray Thomas, the flutist. Weird.
They opened with Lovely To See You, which is a *great* opening number, I think: 'Lovely to see you again, my friend / Walk along with me to the next bend.' Next was Gemini Dream, another good touring number, and something I don't think I'd heard live before.
Two songs, and I'd forgotten about the skinny woman sitting next to me who got all sniffy and snarky when I sat down, forgot about the woman on my other side, whose hip was pressed up against mine, I was already gone.
Tuesday Afternoon, which is probably one of the two or three most popular, most widely known Moody Blues songs ever, and it sounded just amazing out there with the sun starting to go down.
Other high points:
Lean On Me (Tonight) from the Keys of the Kingdom CD, I wasn't expecting them to play anything from that one at all, so it's nice to see that album get face time.
The Actor. Oh my god, I thought I was going to melt into a little pile of goo hearing that song. It's my favorite off the In Search of the Lost Chord album, and I could never explain why. I had *never* heard this one live before, so...wow. Bliss.
Story In Your Eyes is always just amazing live, lots and lots of energy.
I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band) is one that everyone loves, and I can see why.
They played the other well-known hits, of course: Your Wildest Dreams (and its followup, I Know You're Out There Somewhere--interestingly, the second one was in the first half, and the first was in the second), Nights In White Satin (which most people can probalby recognize), along with Question and Ride My See Saw.
Other surprises: Higher And Higher, Stepping In A Slide Zone, and Are You Sitting Comfortably.
The music sounded just amazing, very tight--which it should, some of these guys have been playing together for a long time, and they've also been on tour for awhile this time around.
I was really surprised to see that Ray Thomas wasn't there, and sad that they didn't play a few of *his* songs, probably because of his absence. Turns out that he's decided not to tour anymore, though I don't have any more details than that. I missed seeing him up there...the man is just an amazing talent.
Justin was, as always, brilliant. He was much more animated than I've ever seen him--in the shows in Salt Lake, he was always pretty restrained, and I wonder how much of that was just the altitude. Thursday night, though, he was all smiles, waving to the audience, and dancing around on stage.
John...well. He wore those leather pants, which always cracks me up, because I can't see why a guy his age would still be wearing those things, but his prerogative! He can still hit the high notes, too, and wow...he's always just so personable up there, you know? The kind of guy you look at and think that you'd like to buy him a beer sometime.
There were two drummers, of course--every time I've seen them after the first, they've had that. I'm not sure why it is, but it's interesting--the guy who mans the kit and who does most of the primary drumming is really good, very energetic. Graeme kept waving at the kids sitting up in the box to his right, and he was wearing a denim shirt that, when he turned around, revealed a hula girl with a skirt that moved when he wiggled. Made me laugh. :) They were tossing sticks between the kits during Your Wildest Dreams, which was the first song of the second half.
The woman who's playing the flute in place of Ray Thomas is really good. I was all prepared not to like anything she played because it wasn't *him*, but...wow. Extremely talented, and I hope that she keeps on touring with them, if his decision is a permanent one.
The evening would've been perfect, but for the woman sitting across the aisle and one row behind, who kept screaming random crap out in the middle of the softest parts of songs. 'Today's my birthday, boys, how bout some lovin!' And stuff like that. Sigh. :)
On the whole, though, it was a truly magical night for me, and I am SO glad I went. Can't wait til they come around again.
Posted by Liz at June 7, 2003 06:58 PM