Moody Blues Member Performs Classic Album At Keswick Theater

GLENSIDE, PA —Isn't Life Strange?

"It's good to be here," former Moody Blues member John Lodge said in addressing the crowd for his show at the Keswick Theater on Tuesday night. "It's good to be anywhere these days."

The bass player and co-lead vocalist of the classic rock band had made a comeback after suffering a stroke that forced him to cancel shows over the past few years.

But while the 81-year-old walked gingerly at times to and from the stage, Lodge's strong bass playing and singing showed that the Moody Blues were a force on the music scene when they debuted in the mid-1960s.

The band had a history of hits and numerous albums that soared in the charts but one in particular, the first with Lodge joining the Moodies, is recognized among the greatest records ever.

And Lodge performed "Days of Future Passed" in its entirety during this second set.

The first set, though, was filled with some other classic hits that Lodge wrote, sung, and performed with the group," including the Top 10 hit "Isn't Life Strange?" that he wrote after buying a black piano that the Englishman showcased in his "drawing room."

After opening with "Stepping In A Slide Zone," Lodge and his four bandmates breezed through songs known to many fans in the audience, paying tribute to the late Ray Thomas by performing "Legend of the Mind," as the third song, a slice of psychedelic pop inspired by Timothy Leary's LSD trips.

With Justin Hayward no longer by his side, Lodge brought out his son-in-law, Yes lead singer Jon Davison, to perform "The Question" to the crowd's delight.

He then ended the first set with the rocking blast of "Gemini Dream" and "I'm Just A Singer In A Rock N' Roll Band" before a 20-minute intermission break.

When "Days of Future Passed" debuted in 1967, it was considered groundbreaking, combining rock music with classic orchestration.

The album is known for two major hits —"Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights In White Satin" —that Davison performed well, though lacking the emotional touches Hayward brought to those two songs he wrote.

But besides the orchestration —produced on keyboard at the concert —it's the snippets of songs that weave throughout the album and resonate so well over time.

The album captures the life of a day, from morning to afternoon to evening and night.

"Dawn is a Feeling" gets the day going before Lodge takes over Thomas' part for "Another Morning."

Lodge wrote two pieces for "Days of Future Passed" and provides "Peak Hour" as a Beatlesque rocker. His "Evening (Time To Get Away)" showcases the falsetto that Lodge once displayed and tried to reach for on Tuesday night.

It's amazing how some bands can perform classic albums on stage these days. Imagine if the Beatles could have pulled that off with a few of their albums.

These veteran cosmic rockers, though, are vanishing from the music scene.

Seeing Lodge continue to carry the torch of the Moody Blues despite his health issues is admirable and makes us remember that time is ticking away.