I’ve just returned from seeing The Zombies in concert. No not the living dead type of zombies so prevalent now, but the rock group from the sixties known as The Zombies.
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1962 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent (piano, organ and vocals) and Colin Blunstone (vocals).
The group scored British and American hits in 1964 with “She’s Not There“. In the US two further singles, “Tell Her No” in 1965 and “Time of the Season” in 1968, were also successful.[5] Their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle is ranked number 100 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[6
In 2017 the four surviving original members (Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, Chris White, and Hugh Grundy) re-united to carry out a North American tour marking the 50th anniversary of the recording of Odessey & Oracle
On Friday night’s concert a new up and coming group called Don DiLego and the Touristas opened up for them. They are a country rock band consisting of three guitars, a pedal steel guitar, drums and a female back -up singer. I was very impressed with this new band and they should go places. They have a toe tapping, swinging country rock
They are a country rock band consisting of three guitars, a pedal steel guitar, drums and a female back -up singer. I was very impressed with this new band and they should go places. They have a toe tapping, swinging country rock style and great harmonies. They performed about five songs and did a really nice rendition of the Bee Gees “To Love Somebody.” The audience gave them a nice reception.
After a short break, the Zombies came out. They are celebrating 50 years together and just returned from Cleveland, Ohio where they were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
I must confess that I remember the Zombies when they first came out and knew about their albums from working in various record stores, but other than their hits ‘She’s Not There’ “Tell Her No” and “Time of the Season” (which they all did Friday night) I was never familiar with their other songs on their albums which they also performed Friday night.
They have what I would describe as an uplifting, blues/jazz sound combined with good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. What I like about their style is they start out with slow easy going songs and gradually lead up to a rocking crescendo at the end. In the middle they did a really nice rendition of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “You Really Got a Hold on Me.”
Rod Argent is the founder of the Zombies and is their keyboard player. Colin Blunstone is their lead singer. The Zombies have a history of breaking up and regrouping again and doing solo albums. When they recorded “Time of the Season” they broke up, but after it became a big hit they regrouped again. Over the years they separated for years on end and did solo work. Rod Argent released a mega hit solo album called simply “Argent.” He did songs from that album at the concert so it was like seeing the best of two bands.
A highlight of the concert was them doing the song “Hold Your Head Up” from Rod Argent’s album “Argent” The song starts out with Colin singing the lyrics and then after a few verses walks off leaving Rod on keyboards, the guitarist, and drummer doing a ten minute solo where they trade riffs reminiscent of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Colin then comes back on, getting everyone singing “Hold Your Head UP” repeating it over and over really building everyone up into a joyous up mood. This was followed by their hit ‘She’s Not There.” Their set ended with them doing “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll To You” from Rod’s album.
Whenever I see bands from my generation it never ceases to amaze me how good they always sound.
For a really great uplifting concert check out the Zombies when they come to a venue near you.
Check out this exciting video from March of this year.
the zombies she’s not there – YouTube From March 2017
