Review: Moody Blues

Sustaining a commercially productive decades-long career in popular music is a rare achievement.

The Moody Blues, part of the British Invasion movement of the mid-'60s, have outlasted changes in its membership and countless musical trends. On Thursday the band attracted a near-capacity audience of about 2,400 nostalgia-minded fans to the Midland Theater.

While satisfying, the Moody Blues' workmanlike outing revealed the perils of presenting a representative career survey. The seeming necessity to perform insufferable late career hits alongside earlier classic material resulted in an untenable compromise. For every sterling selection such as the voluptuous "Nights In White Satin" there was a bit of processed cheese from the '70s or '80s like "I Know You're Out There Somewhere."

The variable quality of the set list may have been frustrating, but the band's performance -- a few minutes shy of two hours -- was admirably efficient. With tasteful assistance from four supplemental musicians, longtime core members guitarist and vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist and vocalist John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge were in fine form.

Edge, the sole original member of the Moody Blues, spoke briefly about the band's hippie heyday and noted that he recently celebrated his 70th birthday.

"I've been through the sixties twice," he joked.

The seductively smooth voice of Hayward, who joined the band in 1966, is seemingly undiminished by the passage of time. The flawless sound mix accentuated his extraordinary singing on technically challenging material like the 1970 hit "Question." The song is representative of the groundbreaking fusion of classical music and rock associated with the Moody Blues. Accordingly, most fans behaved as if they were attending a night at the opera. Save their polite applause at the conclusion of each selection, they sat motionless for most of the concert.

Their reception was occasionally overly generous. Contrasted with the blues-based frenzy of 1967 nugget "Peak Hour," the soft rock of 1981 song "Meanwhile" seemed impossibly innocuous. "Steppin' In a Slide Zone" was an unwelcome flashback to the worst excesses of the late '70s. Yet the audience responded to each familiar song with equal enthusiasm.

Much of the band's earlier material, such as the flute-inflected "Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time)" and the jaunty "Tuesday Afternoon" are sterling examples of sweet-natured psychedelia. Relatively recent selections like the colorless pop ditty "Your Wildest Dreams" and the forgettable "The Other Side of Life" have not aged nearly as well.

Not every newer song was tiresome. A rendition of the melancholy "Driftwood" was exquisite. Nor did every venerable hit held up. "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" hit as hard as a feather pillow. Only a madcap take on "Higher and Higher" offered respite from the band's business-like demeanor.

The Moody Blues are hardly in need of career counseling. Even so, more frivolity and less somber fulfillment of perceived obligations might have transformed Thursday's concert from a merely enjoyable event into something extraordinary.

SET LIST

The Voice, The Day We Meet Again, Steppin' In a Slide Zone, Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time), Tuesday Afternoon, Lean on Me (Tonight), Meanwhile, Peak Hour, I Know You're Out There Somewhere, The Story In Your Eyes, Your Wildest Dream, Isn't Life Strange, The Other Side of Life, Driftwood, Higher and Higher, Are You Sitting Comfortably, I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band), Nights In White Satin, Question, Ride My See-Saw.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Steve]

I can't stand the Moodies, but I salute anyone who can play the drums in a touring rock band for two hours in his 70s.

[Tony]

This reviewer is obviously not a Moodies fan. Why else attack their later years output? Admitedly, their "newer" material is not of the same quality as their classics from the 60's and 70's, but having those songs in the setlist introduces the Moody Blues to a newer generation. One that might, just might, do some research and seek out the music from their hayday. I've seen the Moodies numerous times and have never been disappointed. You always know what you are going to get and they never fail to deliver. Rock on!

[pellboy]

Good point, Tony. While I agree that their 80s-era material might not hold up as well as their earlier work, I always thought that the Moody Blues were kind of unique in that they had success thru three distinct phases...the British Invasion blues-based version...the art-rock version that produced their best and most well-known material and then the light-rock version that had chart success during the early 80s. While other acts have "reinvented" themselves over the short-term, I think the Moodies are fairly unique in having had success thru those three diverse periods. Not a huge fan, but I've always respected their long, varied career.

[klemmer]

I am thankful that the Moodies make their own music for us, the fans, instead of catering to the masses or reviewers.

THAT is the secret to their longevity, nothing else.

[Bubba]

I thought about catching the MOODY BLUES this time but money IS tight these days. How come you all didn't post any photos? I saw them in 2004 at Starlight - they're still a great British Invasion / art rock / progressive band to see - play live.

[Carol]

We saw the Moodies in Tulsa on Tuesday night, before they were in Kansas City Thursday night. The Tulsa show was "wild." ! The audience never sat down, screaming, singing, dancing in the aisles - the Moodies were obviously enjoying every minute of it, and they had a blast. Tulsa audiences always do this - when the Moodies were here in 2008, the same thing happened. Show here was sold out.

[howard]

I have seen the moodies 17 times since 69, and admit the core 7 were the best years but there was some good music later too for another generation to enjoy. Cant get enough of the moodies, just wish they were all there togther, but the may 5 concert i attended was great

[Justin Fan 1 <---aka Arline in Florida]

I can't imagine an audience sitting still after a Moody Blues song! For me, it's absolutely impossible!! While I won't be able to make any of their concerts during the spring tour, I did get to eight concerts last year and enjoyed every song in every concert I attended. They received standing ovations for about 98% of the songs they did!!! As long as The Moodies keep playing, I will do my best to keep traveling to their concerts. I hear they may be in Canada this summer, which is wonderful since I plan on being in Canada at that time, even though my home is in Florida. And Graeme and I are the same age!! Rock on, Moodies, rock on!!!

[Big John]

You can call the Moodies' later material cheesy or overproduced or whatever snobby term you want, but I like it. Music is personal taste. The 80s Moodies' stuff is catchy and gets my toes tappin' and makes me feel good, and what more should I want in music?

[Moodies fan a few decades ago]

Saw the Moodies at Kemper and Sandstone during the 80's. Glad I went! Loved them. But after seeing the PBS show that was 4 years old last month, I couldn't stomach the idea of ruining my memories, had to shut the TV off. Same reason I hate going to nursing homes and funerals. God Bless 'em, but count me out.

[Lenette]

Timothy Finn isn't the person I'd choose to review ANY band that comes to KC! He always seems to have a burr in his saddle about something with each performance. I've seen the Moodies MANY times over the years, even traveled out of town to do so, and they're great every single time. Other than missing Ray Thomas' addition to the band, I'll still see them whenever they get close to KC and will continue love their music. Always!!