- October 20, 2000 - Chronicle Pavilion - Concord, CA - October 20, 2000
- The night was cool, but just right, under the starlit skies that amplified the mood that was to be set to music in but a few moments as the true legends of rock, those proper British gents The Moody Blues were to take the stage. A brisk yet pleasant October night was a perfect setting as the audience filled the open amphitheater out in the hills of Concord. Not always a pleasant task, for the majority of fans from the rest of the Bay, to have to drive the distance out in the wilds, but worth the effort none-the-less. The Moody Blues are the stalwart recollectors of days gone by with their timeless songs, some dating back to the 1960s, mixed in with more modern, upbeat numbers.
- The lights dimmed as the band aligned on the stage to open with "The Voice." This followed into "Tuesday Afternoon" and "For My Lady." The staging was simple with back curtains of thickly striped black and white. The foursome was filled out with two keyboardists (one of whom was a dead ringer for Gene Wilder, at least from a distance), an second drummer (who provided some stick throwing theatrics with Graeme Edge at some points), and one female backup singer, in mod dress (and quite a lovely vixen!) who and the "hottie" appeal to the show. The show was to be split into two sets so we were to wonder which would contain more of the newer material and which the classics. It didn't really matter as the whole show flowed. The first set ended up containing such tunes as "English Sunset," "Words You Say," and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," ending with "The Story In Your Eyes." At this point, the band politely bowed out and everyone hit the drinks, souvenirs and "beer relieving stops."
- It was at this time that I noticed some rather young ladies in the front row, who had been dancing wildly throughout most of the first set. Bands of the age as the Moody Blues are often classed in with the term "dinosaur rock." I decided to talk with the girls to see what the game was. As it turned out, it was two 13-year-olds - quite a shock considering the average Moody fans' age - who could not have been happier to be there. The two, Antonia Gommerman and Mallory Linder, explained how their obsession with the band came from one of their mothers - who was also in attendance. The two girls also love bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. These two were so noticeable in the front that flautist Ray Thomas had even given them a wink and a wave during the first set. It is truly enlightening to have seen that. It shows a ray of hope for the newer generations to know that there are some teens out there who are appreciating the roots of music. Real music, good music, lasts through all ages and times.
- The second set then was about to begin as the lights dimmed once more and the band launched into "Your Wildest Dreams," the title of which, for many fans this evening, sums up each and every Moody Blues show. The second set included such songs as "Isn't Life Strange," "The Other Side Of Life," and "Legend Of A Mind." It was during this second set that the two drummers became a bit more animated with their acrobatic stick attempts. During one point, drummer Graeme Edge came out to the microphone and then assured the audience, "Don't worry, I'm not going to sing." as he did a poetic piece for "Nothing Changes." The song "Just A Singer (In A Rock 'N' Roll Band)" featured a very welcome extended jam that opened up the band to a newer, more rockin' direction. After this finally came the obligatory "Nights In White Satin," sans middle poem (unfortunately). "Legend Of A Mind" followed, during which Ray Thomas gave a very nice flute solo. The final song was "Question" before the band came back on for an encore of "Ride My See-Saw."
- There is something so right, so proper about this band that never seems to captivate anyone seeing them - from the very first time to the tenth or twentieth time. On this particular evening, while really sitting there and paying close attention, I suddenly realized several locked away views of how I had always envisioned the band. Flautist Ray Thomas - the Omar Sharif look-alike - is the pristine mustachioed gentleman, confident yet conservative. Even the way he was onstage suggested a careful approach to things as his moves were subtle and, when he did walk about a bit, his feet walked gingerly and cautiously. Drummer Graeme Edge is the more mischievous looking gent. He rather appears to be a giant teddy bear, albeit one who looks as though he might sit on a drum throne that doubles as a recliner, while having a smoke on a Sherlock pipe. Guitarist/singer, Justin Hayward will always be "the cute one," no matter what. He is forever the "Paul McCartney" of this band no matter how old he may get. And finally, bassist/singer John Lodge, forever locked in my mind as a double of actor Guy Williams (of TV's "Lost In Space" and "Zorro" fame). This I cannot explain, but that is how I have always seem him. These four Brits have something special that shines through, year after year after year. The fact that they can still attract a crowd that collects ages from 13 to 113 is most impressive. Always magical and enchanting, the band remain ageless no matter how many years go by. The Moody Blues are firmly locked in a firmly dedicated fan base that will continue to be loyal until the very end.
- Written by Philip Anderson
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