Legendary 60s band The Zombies have performed again in London.
Bang on 8 o’clock the imposing Union Chapel organ burst into life, making the most of the grand acoustics in this most characterful venue. To audience cheers, Rod Argent calmly walked around the screen when he was finished, sat at his piano and started to play a rarity, Rejoice the b-side of Argent’s Tragedy. Colin Blunstone joined his longtime partner on main vocals as they eased into the night with title track of their last album Breathe Out Breathe In.
Rod and Colin have been working together on and off for over 50 years. The first Zombies album was released in 1964 and the last in 2013, there have been many break-ups and line-ups but their union remains strong and indeed a new album is currently in production. This familiarity and friendship is evident this evening as they combine musically, vocally and colloquially.
Tonight is an acoustic journey through the sounds of The Zombies. Early classic singles Tell Her No and Time Of The Season are met with spontaneous applause with the combined harmonies delivering much more than the sum of their parts. Colin, all in black wearing jeans, t-shirt and jacket, has an anecdote for every song, and instils an air of joyful tranquillity to a most pleasurable evening.
Their easy repartee takes us through the years with Colin’s Misty Rose a highlight supported by a string quartet and double bass, followed by the moving Her Song and Say You Don’t Mind.
Bathed in blue light the second half started with a solo Rod performing Fiesta soon to be joined again by Colin for a cover of Jimmy Ruffin’s classic What Become’s Of The Broken Hearted. A sublime version of Going Out Of My Head originally recorded by Little Anthony and The Imperials followed. She’s Not There brought the night to a crescendo with their reworking of George Gershwin’s Summertime closing the evenings entertainment.
Enduring talent is on show tonight, and whilst the music industry is gripped by an age of disposable pop this is the real thing. A hugely underrated homegrown musical partnership, whose timeless songs continue to enthral, The Zombies are a true British gem.
Set 1
Organ Intro
Rejoice (b-side of Argent single Tragedy, 1972)
Breathe Out, Breathe In (from Breathe Out, Breathe In, 2011)
Tell Her No (from The Zombies, 1965)
I Want You Back Again (single, 1965)
You Make Me Feel Good (b-side of single She’s Not There, 1964)
Edge of the Rainbow (new)
A Rose for Emily (from Odyssey and Oracle, 1968)
This Will Be Our Year (from Odyssey and Oracle, 1968)
Time of the Season (from Odyssey and Oracle, 1968)
Misty Roses (from Colin Blunstone’s One Year, 1971)
Her Song (from Colin Blunstone’s One Year, 1971)
Say You Don’t Mind (from Colin Blunstone’s One Year, 1971)
Set 2
Fiesta (new)
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (from Blunstone’s appearance on Dave Stewart’s single, 1980)
Going Out of My Head (Little Anthony and the Imperials cover)
I Want Her, She Wants Me (from Odyssey and Oracle, 1968)
The Way I Feel Inside (b-side of U.K. single Gotta Get Hold Of Myself, 1966)
Moving On (new)
Maybe Tomorrow (new)
I Don’t Believe in Miracles (from As Far As I Can See…, 2004)
Old and Wise (from Blunstone’s appearance on the Alan Parson’s Project album Eye in the Sky, 1982)
She’s Not There (from The Zombies, 1965)
Encore
Summertime (from The Zombies, 1965)
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