John Lodge from Moody Blues

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Lodge is out playing the seminal Moody Blues album, Days of Future Passed in its entirety, along with a selection of their classic songs.

He and his great band – that includes current Yes singer Jon Davison – brought the show to Bristol’s St George’s Hall.

​Last summer, the now-81-year-old bass man released Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn, a reworking of the Moody Blues’ sophomore concept album from 1967, this time with Lodge at the wheel.Formed in Birmingham, England in 1964, the Moody Blues have sold over 70 million albums worldwide. Their landmark album established the band as pioneers in the development of progressive rock and included such hits as Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon.

Founder Denny Laine had given the group success with his hit Go Now, but had left the group. Enter Justin Hayward and John Lodge, a dynamic duo on guitar and bass, who took over as the main songwriters and joined organist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas and drummer Graeme Edge to form a tight tandem.

But the group was out of money and had one last stab at a record, to test out sound equipment for a classical album. Instead, they worked with record company Decca to combine classical orchestration with rock and pop components.

The result cemented the Moody Blues as one of music’s legends. In fact, they did not receive the full respect and admiration that they were due, as without their innovations prog rock as we know it would not have existed.

The band may have started as an English R&B act but quickly transitioned towards rock, then almost single-handedly paved the way for the symphonic and progressive styles long before either penetrated the mainstream.

The album was among the very first orchestral collections to ever be released, which is probably why it’s endured to this very day and continues to be the subject of Lodge and his band’s latest show.

Lodge who, along with Hayward, tours separately these days after the death of drummer Edge, presented Days complete along with some of his classic hits from the group’s heyday, including his self-penned hits Isn’t Life Strange? Gemini Dream, Ride My See Saw, and I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band.

Now 81-years-young, he also carefully picked from the Blues’ extensive songbook. Steppin’ In A Slide Zone, Talking Out Of Turn and Legend of a Mind were just a few examples from their vast repertoire, presented accurately and impressively by Lodge’s talented 10,000 Light Years Band with Alan Hewitt on keyboards, Billy Ashbaugh on drums, Jason Charboneau on cello and Duffy King on guitar.

Yes frontman and guest vocalist Jon Davison produced a marvellous rendition of The Voice, hitting the higher tones of ex-Blues singer Justin Hayward.

After an eight-song opening set, they showcased Days, a concept album in the true sense. It’s a day in the life of a day, from dawn to dusk. What makes the album special as well is the poetry Edge uses to introduce and close the album. The late drummer appeared on screen reciting Morning Glory and Late Lament.

It was truly a group effort and Lodge stepped in and picked up some of the songs sung by Pinder and Thomas, reflecting and reinterpreting the masterpiece, which was thankfully sonically similar, yet saw the lyrics about an ordinary person navigating a typical day taking on additional gravity and perspective.

Lodge kicks off with Hayward’s opening ballad Dawn is a Feeling after the introduction and then shows his versatility to jump into Thomas’ Another Morning.

Then comes his own lead, the Beatles-style rocker Peak Hour. As the day progresses through lunch, the first big hit comes with Davison shining bright on Tuesday Afternoon, before more orchestration and Lodge’s own Evening (Time To Get Away).

The remarkable combination of The Sunset and Twilight Time yields to Late Lament, poetry recorded by Edge before his death. And then comes one of the greatest songs of all-time, Nights in White Satin, again sung by Davison with a soaring vocal.

A supreme bass player, Lodge still has the vocal range of yesteryear though he left the heavy lifting on the two classics to guest vocalist Davison who, with a voice full of power and emotion, was spot on and striking.

We reached the final encore with a stunning full cast rendition of Ride My See-Saw that had the Bristol audience on its feet to salute the living legend.

With a tinge of sadness, there was a feeling that this album may never be played live again. To hear this one more time shows the magic of music and an album that will always stand the test of time.

Lodge and his band celebrate the Moody Blues’ legacy with affection, panache and good humour, and stunning musicianship.

By the time the band took its final bows, it was clear it was more than just a performance – it was an opportunity to reflect, reminisce, and celebrate the timeless beauty of music.