The Moody Blues
Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie
May 2, 2011
Better than: attending an AARP convention.
Seeing that most of the original members of The Moody Blues are well into their 60s and 70s at this point, it was no surprise that the audience that gathered together last night at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie was also a bit long in the tooth.
But, despite their advancing years, the few thousand in attendance danced and yelled as if the band's music had indeed turned back the clock to the late '60s -- or at least the mid-'80s.
Playing songs from every phase of their four-decade career, The Moody Blues were a tight and professional unit that gave a solid two-hour performance of both their hits and a surprising number of deep album cuts.
For every hit like "Tuesday Afternoon" or "Your Wildest Dreams," Justin
Hayward and crew threw in some obscurities that only true fans would
appreciate. Songs such as "Meanwhile," from 1981's Long Distance Voyager, or
"Isn't Life Strange," from 1972's Seventh Sojourn, were pleasant additions
to the set list that didn't derail the elderly audience's attention.
"Peak Hour," a deep cut from 1967's Days of Future Passed, got one of the best ovations of the evening.
Of course, by the time The Moody Blues got around to "I'm Just a Singer
(In a Rock and Roll Band)" and "Nights in White Satin" late in their
second set, it was clear that it was past the bedtime of many in the
audience.
It was a Monday night for God's sake. There's bingo to be played tomorrow.
Still, The Moody Blues put on an inspired performance before an
enthusiastic crowd. Everyone leaving the venue had a smile on his or her
face when the night was over. It was an evening of memories that just so happened to feature a good
song or three.
The Moody Blues
don't mind helping folks relive a few fond memories.
Who can argue with that?
Critic's notebook
Personal Bias: As a teenager, I had a fond admiration for The
Moody Blues. Their songs always seemed to have a deeper meaning than
most of what was heard on FM radio back in the '70s. "Nights in White
Satin" was pompous to be sure, but at least it had weight.
By the Way: T-shirts were on sale for $45. What's the concert world coming to?
Random Note: I saw exactly two kids in the crowd, both about 10 years
old. One boy was pretty into the songs. I wondered if he lived with his
grandmother who played Moody Blues songs all the time on her eight-track
player.
