There is sometimes disappointment when you see a band from your youth (in this case nearly 50 years ago), especially to see that they consist of one obscure member from the old days and session musicians. However, this is not the case with The Zombies – they are a working band, they are producing new music and they are touring. The core of the band are original members Rod Argent on keyboards, Colin Blunstone on vocals and they are ably supported by Jim Rodford on bass who has been an influence from the early days. The present band have been together for about 4 years with Jim’s son Steve on drums and Tom Toomey on guitar.
Back in England after a six week tour of the States – where they are nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and saw their newest album Still Got That Hunger reach the Billboard Top 100 Album chart – they came to The Haunt at the top of their game. The band is tight, their musicianship impeccable and Colin’s voice, although not as silky smooth as it was in the 60’s and 70’s, sounded great. Coming onstage to little fuss they were straight into ‘I Love You’ from their back catalogue and from that moment they kept the audience, full of 50 shades of grey hair plus a good smattering of youngsters, moving and singing along.
They mixed songs from their new album with old favourites, classics from Rod and Jim’s Prog Rock band Argent, and sublimely beautiful tracks from Colin’s solo albums – you must check out his One Year, Ennismore and Journey releases from the 70’s which are full of musical gems. Talk was kept to a minimum but Colin did reveal that ‘Caroline Goodbye’ was written about his girlfriend from Rottingdean when he was 19 years old, and Rod also let us know that the intervention of Paul McCartney saved the release of ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ on the new album which included a reference to his song ‘Yesterday’.
Highlights were ‘Chasing The Past’ and ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ from the new album; all of Colin’s solo songs especially ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ and ‘I Don’t Believe In Miracles’; the Argent hits ‘Hold Your Head Up’ and ‘God Gave Rock And Roll To You’; a beautiful cover of Smokey Robinson’s ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’; and a sprinkling of songs from their seminal album Odessey and Oracle (their own Sgt Peppers or Pet Sounds experimentation album).
The Zombies were a hard working R&B band in the 60’s and still are today. Their new material holds up well against their old hits and has a bluesy rock feel to it with a tinge of Jazz. They knew how to satisfy the expectant audience but were obviously having a lot of fun themselves. If you get a chance to see them, do. If not, check out their back catalogue and Still Got That Hunger – you won’t be disappointed.
Ian Lauder