Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Venue: Nashua Center For The Arts, Nashua New Hampshire
(https://nashuacenterforthearts.com/ )
Date: Tuesday July 23, 2024
Tour: Performs Days of Future Passed Tour 2024
Growing up in the 60s, we started with AM radio. It was mono (single channel) and they played mainly the top 40 pop hits. In 1968 my parents allowed me to move the stereo console up into my bedroom. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the predecessor to today’s 2.1 stereo systems with a set of speakers on each side and in the center a single bass speaker. The other great thing about this system was it had an FM radio receiver. While scanning (turning the dial) I located an FM station out of the Detroit area. It was the first time I hear other bands outside of the top 40 forty or Motown. The great thing about this station was they played full albums at a time. One Sunday night, I heard this strange but amazing album, Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues.
This album was one of the first concept album and helped usher in the Progressive (Prog) rock movement. The album was recorded to showcase the stereo recording techniques of Decca Records’ new imprint, Deram. It was the turning point for the Moody Blues when Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined the band for this album. Days of Future Passed is a combination of spoken word, symphonic and rock music. This was my first introduction to the band and I became a fan and purchased all of their albums. It is also one of my top 10 albums of all times. When it came out on CD I was in heaven because I could finally listen to it without having to flip the album on the turntable.
I was lucky enough to take my wife with me to see this show. When we were first married, one of the first concerts we saw together was the Moody Blues when they performed in Tucson in 1983. She did not see this show in Phoenix last year, so it was special that she was able to join me for this concert.
This is the second time I have seen this concert. The first was in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theatre. But tonight, I was in Nashua, New Hampshire and saw them at the Nashua Center for the Arts. The concert was divided into 2 sets. The first set was a compilation of Moody Blues songs. The second set was the performance of Days of Future Passed in its entirety.
The show started with the very upbeat “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone”. It wasn’t until the fourth song, “The Voice” that Jon Davison came out to sing lead on the song. They ended the first set with another amazing song, “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)”. Everyone was on their feet with a standing ovation.
If you ever heard Days of Future Passed, the opening is a symphonic passage and then there is a spoken word. John enlisted his friend and Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge to perform the poem, “Morning Glory”. Unfortunately, Graeme died a couple of years ago, but this is John’s homage to his good friend. Jon Davison came out to perform the songs that were initially sung by Justin Hayward, “Tuesday Afternoon” and the classic “Nights in White Satin”.
Both sets were about 45 minutes each with a short 15-minute intermission. At the end of the concert, they did an encore of one of my favorite Moody Blues songs, “Ride My See Saw”. Everyone was on stage and they seemed to have a really fun time performing this last song. The audience really enjoyed the show and gave the band another standing ovation.
In December John Lodge had a stroke, but other than him walking a little slower, you would never have known it. His voice was crystal clear and strong and he played the bass like I had seen him in pass years. I was also lucky enough to meet John after the show and he was extremely nice and talked with me for over 15 minutes. I would like to thank Emily for everything she did for us.
The band consists of John Lodge on bass and lead vocals, guitarist Duffy King, keyboardist Alan Hewitt, cellist Jason Charboneau and drummer Billy Ashbaugh. They were joined by Jon Davison of YES (Steve Howe’s YES) as lead singer for “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Nights In White Satin”.
If you get a chance to see John and the 10,000 Light Years Band, I very highly recommend it. Personally, I want to see this concert again because it was that good and I love Days of Future Passed. The band was extremely good and John is an outstanding performer. He told little stories during the first set about him and the Moody Blues and a little about the songs. Also, Jon Davison was great singing with the band. So, hopefully I will see you at one of the future shows and possibly on one of the rock cruises that John and the band are part of. Check out John’s website for future tour dates.
If you get a chance to see a concert or show at the Nashua Center For The Arts in Nashua, New Hampshire, I would highly recommend it. It only seats about 750 people but looks like it was recently remodeled. The seats are extremely comfortable and there is plenty of leg room. The sound system is outstanding. The lighting is very good (great for us photographers) and if run by a good controller, like John had, it is fantastic.
John Lodge Social Media sites:
Website: https://www.johnlodge.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnlodgemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnlodgemusic/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnLodgemusic
Jon Davison Social Media sites:
Website: https://www.yesworld.com/we-are-yes/jon-davison/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonDavisonYES/
John Lodge & 10,000 Light Years Band w/ Jon Davison
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
John Lodge & 10,000 Light Years Band
Set 1
Steppin’ in a Slide Zone
Talking Out of Turn
Legend of a Mind
The Voice (with Jon Davison)
Gemini Dream
Isn’t Life Strange
I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
Set 2 (Days of Future Passed)
The Day Begins: The Day Begins/Morning Glory
Dawn (prelude)
Dawn Is a Feeling
Another Morning
Peak Hour
Tuesday Afternoon (with Jon Davison)
(Evening) Time to Get Away
The Sunset
Twilight (prelude)
Twilight Time
Late Lament
Nights in White Satin (with Jon Davison)
The Night (Finale)
Encore:
Ride My See-Saw
