The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed - 50th Anniversary Tour

[Thunderbird]

For any Moody Blues fans out there, the band will be touring the US and Canada starting in June.

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of their signature album Days of Future Passed. They will be playing the album live in its entirety, along with various hits from their other albums. Many (but not all) of the dates will feature a full orchestra. I will be going to the Toronto show.

North American tour dates so far:

Month/Day

6/03 — Rancho Mirage, CA — Agua Caliente Casino
6/04 — Pala, CA — Starlight Theater
6/06 — Saratoga, CA — The Mountain Winery
6/07 — Saratoga, CA — The Mountain Winery
6/09 — Portland (Troutdale), OR — Edgefield
6/10 — Seattle (Woodinville), WA — Chateau Ste. Michelle
6/11 — Seattle (Woodinville), WA — Chateau Ste. Michelle
6/17 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Bowl
6/18 — Murphys, CA — Ironstone Amphitheatre
6/20 — Denver (Englewood), CO — Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
6/27 — Minneapolis, MN — Orpheum Theatre
6/28 — Milwaukee, WI — Milwaukee Summerfest
6/30 — Chicago (Highland Park), IL — Ravinia Park
7/01 — Dayton (Kettering,) OH — Fraze Pavilion for the Performing Arts
7/02 — Cleveland (Northfield), OH — Hard Rock Live
7/06 — Toronto, ON — Sony Centre For Performing Arts
7/07 — Toronto, ON — Sony Centre For Performing Arts
7/09 — Wallingford, CT — Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre
7/10 — Boston, MA — Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
7/12 — Wantaugh, NY — Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
7/13 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
7/15 — Philadelphia, PA — Mann Center for the Performing Arts
7/16 — Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Performing Arts Center
7/18 — Bethlehem, PA — Sands Bethlehem Events Center
7/19 — Baltimore, MD — Pier 6 Pavilion
7/20 — Vienna, VA — Wolf Trap
7/22 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium
7/23 — Atlanta, GA — Chastain Park Amphitheatre

http://www.moodybluestoday.com/

 

[Huntn]

I'd love to see them, but looks like they avoided booking the U.S. South except Atlanta and Nashville.

 

[danny_w]

I saw them in the 90s when they came to Austin. My son's bassoon teacher was thrilled to be in the orchestra that night!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'd love to see them - I have that seminal album - but will not be anywhere near the continent of north America at that time.

Thanks for sharing these details - @Thunderbird; sound like a great tour.

 

[Huntn]

I wonder how they decide what size venue to book? Some are large and some relatively small.

 

[AlliFlowers]

I saw them last over twenty years ago. I know because it was when my husband and I were first dating, and we'll be married twenty years in the fall. It was a brilliant performance. (of course) I wish they had more performances in the south. Atlanta is not too bad, but I will be in the West at that time.

 

[rdowns]

I'll be seeing them at Jones Beach on Long Island.

 

[arkitect]

I'd love to see them - I have that seminal album - but will not be anywhere near the continent of north America at that time.

Thanks for sharing these details - @Thunderbird; sound like a great tour.

Don't fret. As is usual for many posters on this site, only the USA matters… there are other tour locations. UK from September and October. Though goodness knows, Weston-Super-Mare and not Bristol? Bizarre.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Don't fret. As is usual for many posters on this site, only the USA matters… there are other tour locations. UK from September and October. Though goodness knows, Weston-Super-Mare and not Bristol? Bizarre.

Oh, bravo.

However, I do think that Days Of Future Passed is a superb album - and (having listened to it again recently a few months ago), it has aged extremely well, which is not something one can say for everything from the sixties.

 

[arkitect]

Oh, bravo.

However, I do think that Days Of Future Passed is a superb album - and (having listened to it again recently a few months ago), it is aged extremely well, which is not something one can say for everything from the sixties.

Yup. When I bought it in the 70s it was a double gate album with "In Search of the Lost Chord". Both classic.
I am conflicted though about seeing bands very far past their prime. Still, might be worth just to say "I saw them when…"

 

[LizKat]

I wonder how they decide what size venue to book? Some are large and some relatively small.

No idea, but they may be cursing their management during the second half of that schedule. It looks pretty punishing after their break for Fourth of July festivities of their choice. Toronto and forward, they only take single days off now and then. Their spring chicken days are history, even if they're in great shape. I liked that Days of Future Passed album too (and In Search of the Lost Chord); haven't listened to them in years, I should fire some of that up to chase away the blues of another rainy weekend. Good luck w/ traffic to all who plan on getting to one of the venues this summer!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yup. When I bought it in the 70s it was a double gate album with "In Search of the Lost Chord". Both classic.
I am conflicted though about seeing bands very far past their prime. Still, might be worth just to say "I saw them when…"

I think it is nice to be able to say that you saw them play live, irrespective of whatever age they are (and irrespective of whatever age you are).

No idea, but they may be cursing their management during the second half of that schedule. It looks pretty punishing after their break for Fourth of July festivities of their choice. Toronto and forward, they only take single days off now and then. Their spring chicken days are history, even if they're in great shape. I liked that Days of Future Passed album too (and In Search of the Lost Chord); haven't listened to them in years, I should fire some of that up to chase away the blues of another rainy weekend. Good luck w/ traffic to all who plan on getting to one of the venues this summer!

Agreed.

Actually, I listened to a few tracks from In Search Of A Lost Chord recently, also, and think that they, too, have aged very well. I had forgotten how good The Moody Blues were until I loved to listen to them one night a few months ago.

 

[LizKat]

In Search Of A Lost Chord

Grabbed it off Apple Music after that series of posts... listening to it now. I had a CD at some point, God knows where that ended up, but apparently not in any of my libraries of ripped purchases, so it may have taken a hike before iTunes ever landed on my laptop. I've sometimes thought of The Moody Blues while listening to bands like Belle and Sebastian, and The New Pornographers. Members of the latter two are by design (and sometimes accident) more transient collaborators than "permanent" cohorts. Still, there is something of that same determined grip on musicianship combined with a determination to fashion something completely distinctive from the same twelve tones that Western music has offered us all these centuries.

 

[IronWaffle]

I saw them two consecutive years -- 1990 and 1991. Somewhere I still have a concert T-shirt: the front simply reading MCMXC. They were the first act I saw twice and the setlists were both nearly identical (just swapping the order of a few tracks here and there -- both nearly identical to their then-new Greatest Hits). The shows were enjoyable but unspectacular. It's very different music, but their live presence reminds me a bit of the Cowboy Junkies in that both bands do very well within their groove. It's a well-defined groove they don't get out of.

That's not meant as a diss. There's something reliably enjoyable about a band where you get what you expected. A show I almost saw (but missed) in 1999 was Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell (with Dave Alvin opening). I've always regretted it, but that show was probably the opposite of Moody Blues for the reason that each of those headliners is, uh, "erratic" when live. I love Dylan but he's hit or really miss. The one time I saw Morrison he walked off stage for about twenty or more minute while the backing vocalist sang lead. He eventually came back for two or three encores. Very strange.

But I digress. I'm tempted to catch them here but doubt I will. Certainly this is a good excuse to spin what few albums I have of theirs. I'd say A Question of Balance is my overall favorite, though it's pretty minor in their "core 7" canon. I plunked down some extra coin to get the now OOP surround disc a few years ago and it was worth it, even if it's not a stellar mix. The regular CD is still in print and should have the same bonus tracks -- also worth it since they omit the crossfading and feature an extended "Question."

Fans of the song "Question" might want to chase down that Greatest Hits (there were two versions with only a change in cover art and title) since it has a re-recording of that song with the London Symphony Orchestra. It's not quite as good but, being the first version I heard, I tend to prefer it. Also on that album is a re-recording (with the LSO) of "Isn't Life Strange." Both of these re-recordings are comparably sterile but in this case I much prefer the re-recording. When I finally heard the original it just sounded too (unintentially) wonky.

The only other disc I still have is Days of Future Past. I long ago gave away my first CD copy of it but was able to affordably get that OOP surround disc as well and prefer it to the stereo. I don't remember the details, but this album's got a pretty rough history with different pressings and mixes (not just the usual mono vs. stereo tweaks) omitting certain backing instruments, some songs being a few bars shorter on one version or another and the master tapes ruined -- not to mention the original scoring sheets lost, so that for live performances arrangements had to be extrapolated.

So thanks, OP, for the post. Gives me something to dust off this week. Autobiographically speaking, they were very important for me. I grew up with '80s pop. Eventually I was introduced to The Beatles and everything else disappeared. I tried lots of other "classic rock" but very little hit my sweet spot. This was the first band that helped me transition out of that until I discovered... well, that's a different story and I'm writing too much.

Ciao, folks.

 

[LizKat]

I saw them two consecutive years -- 1990 and 1991. Somewhere I still have a concert T-shirt: the front simply reading MCMXC. They were the first act I saw twice and the setlists were both nearly identical (just swapping the order of a few tracks here and there -- both nearly identical to their then-new Greatest Hits). The shows were enjoyable but unspectacular. It's very different music, but their live presence reminds me a bit of the Cowboy Junkies in that both bands do very well within their groove. It's a well-defined groove they don't get out of.

That's not meant as a diss. There's something reliably enjoyable about a band where you get what you expected. A show I almost saw (but missed) in 1999 was Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell (with Dave Alvin opening). I've always regretted it, but that show was probably the opposite of Moody Blues for the reason that each of those headliners is, uh, "erratic" when live. I love Dylan but he's hit or really miss. The one time I saw Morrison he walked off stage for about twenty or more minute while the backing vocalist sang lead. He eventually came back for two or three encores. Very strange.

But I digress. I'm tempted to catch them here but doubt I will. Certainly this is a good excuse to spin what few albums I have of theirs. I'd say A Question of Balance is my overall favorite, though it's pretty minor in their "core 7" canon. I plunked down some extra coin to get the now OOP surround disc a few years ago and it was worth it, even if it's not a stellar mix. The regular CD is still in print and should have the same bonus tracks -- also worth it since they omit the crossfading and feature an extended "Question."

Fans of the song "Question" might want to chase down that Greatest Hits (there were two versions with only a change in cover art and title) since it has a re-recording of that song with the London Symphony Orchestra. It's not quite as good but, being the first version I heard, I tend to prefer it. Also on that album is a re-recording (with the LSO) of "Isn't Life Strange." Both of these re-recordings are comparably sterile but in this case I much prefer the re-recording. When I finally heard the original it just sounded too (unintentially) wonky.

The only other disc I still have is Days of Future Past. I long ago gave away my first CD copy of it but was able to affordably get that OOP surround disc as well and prefer it to the stereo. I don't remember the details, but this album's got a pretty rough history with different pressings and mixes (not just the usual mono vs. stereo tweaks) omitting certain backing instruments, some songs being a few bars shorter on one version or another and the master tapes ruined -- not to mention the original scoring sheets lost, so that for live performances arrangements had to be extrapolated.

So thanks, OP, for the post. Gives me something to dust off this week. Autobiographically speaking, they were very important for me. I grew up with '80s pop. Eventually I was introduced to The Beatles and everything else disappeared. I tried lots of other "classic rock" but very little hit my sweet spot. This was the first band that helped me transition out of that until I discovered... well, that's a different story and I'm writing too much.

Ciao, folks.

I love posts like this because they help me sort out what the heck I'm looking at when i go music shopping and unexpectedly confront multiple versions of what appears to be the same album. You made my bookmark list with this post, for when I get there with A Question of Balance.

 

[JamesMike]

Another good reason to visit Seattle.

 

[Thunderbird]

Days of Future Passed was released November 10th 1967. It was the first Moodies album featuring their revamped line-up with new members Justin Hayward and John Lodge, who replaced the departed Denny Laine (who later joined Paul McCartney's Wings) and Clint Warwick.

The first single from Days of Future Passed was Nights in White Satin, which immediately became a big hit in France, but nowhere else. Only after Nights was re-released in 1972 did it become a hit everywhere else.

Along with The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Band, released in June 1967, Days Of Future Passed was one of the first concept albums of the 1960s.



Of the classic 5 band member line-up of Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge, and Mike Pinder, only Justin Hayward (lead singer/guitar), John Lodge (singer/bass), and Graeme Edge (drums) are still together. Mike Pinder (keyboards) left the band in 1978, and was replaced by former YES keyboardist Patrick Moraz, who in turn later left the Moodies in 1991. Ray Thomas retired in 2002 due to poor health, and was replaced by female flute player Norda Mullen (every bit as good as Ray, though she does not sing any of Ray's songs).

Current touring members:

Justin Hayward (lead vocals/guitar)
John Lodge (bass, vocals)
Graeme Edge (drums)

Norda Mullen (flute, backing vocals)
Julie Ragins (keyboards, backing vocals)
Alan Hewitt (keyboards)
Billy Ashbaugh (drums)

If I come across a set list for the upcoming tour, I will post it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I saw them two consecutive years -- 1990 and 1991. Somewhere I still have a concert T-shirt: the front simply reading MCMXC. They were the first act I saw twice and the setlists were both nearly identical (just swapping the order of a few tracks here and there -- both nearly identical to their then-new Greatest Hits). The shows were enjoyable but unspectacular. It's very different music, but their live presence reminds me a bit of the Cowboy Junkies in that both bands do very well within their groove. It's a well-defined groove they don't get out of.

That's not meant as a diss. There's something reliably enjoyable about a band where you get what you expected. A show I almost saw (but missed) in 1999 was Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell (with Dave Alvin opening). I've always regretted it, but that show was probably the opposite of Moody Blues for the reason that each of those headliners is, uh, "erratic" when live. I love Dylan but he's hit or really miss. The one time I saw Morrison he walked off stage for about twenty or more minute while the backing vocalist sang lead. He eventually came back for two or three encores. Very strange.

But I digress. I'm tempted to catch them here but doubt I will. Certainly this is a good excuse to spin what few albums I have of theirs. I'd say A Question of Balance is my overall favorite, though it's pretty minor in their "core 7" canon. I plunked down some extra coin to get the now OOP surround disc a few years ago and it was worth it, even if it's not a stellar mix. The regular CD is still in print and should have the same bonus tracks -- also worth it since they omit the crossfading and feature an extended "Question."

Fans of the song "Question" might want to chase down that Greatest Hits (there were two versions with only a change in cover art and title) since it has a re-recording of that song with the London Symphony Orchestra. It's not quite as good but, being the first version I heard, I tend to prefer it. Also on that album is a re-recording (with the LSO) of "Isn't Life Strange." Both of these re-recordings are comparably sterile but in this case I much prefer the re-recording. When I finally heard the original it just sounded too (unintentially) wonky.

The only other disc I still have is Days of Future Past. I long ago gave away my first CD copy of it but was able to affordably get that OOP surround disc as well and prefer it to the stereo. I don't remember the details, but this album's got a pretty rough history with different pressings and mixes (not just the usual mono vs. stereo tweaks) omitting certain backing instruments, some songs being a few bars shorter on one version or another and the master tapes ruined -- not to mention the original scoring sheets lost, so that for live performances arrangements had to be extrapolated.

So thanks, OP, for the post. Gives me something to dust off this week. Autobiographically speaking, they were very important for me. I grew up with '80s pop. Eventually I was introduced to The Beatles and everything else disappeared. I tried lots of other "classic rock" but very little hit my sweet spot. This was the first band that helped me transition out of that until I discovered... well, that's a different story and I'm writing too much.

Ciao, folks.

Great post; and, as I love reading this kind of post, I agree completely with @LizKat.

As it happens, I also agree with @IronWaffle's well observed comment that live performances can be somewhat erratic and very hit-and-miss.

When one has paid serious money for a ticket to see someone legendary play live, one wants the reassurance of the certainty of hearing & seeing at least some of their familiar oeuvre. This is what you know, and the is what they are famous for; I don't want "experimentation" or "unpredictability" on stage.

And indulging the concept of "the moody brooding sulky artist" on stage is something I find I have lost patience with. Keep that for the recording studio.

Some years ago, I brought my mother and a good friend of hers to see Yann Tiersen play live; my mother had loved Amélie and adored the soundtrack. However, that night Yann Tiersen was in a sulky, self-indulgent, mood, lank long hair covering his face which he kept lowered, almost buried in his instrument - not making with eye contact or vocal contact with the audience - which was comprised mostly of older people.

Worse still - by far - was the music. Yann Tiersen was in an "experimental" frame of mind, and decided to indulge his desire to experiment. Thus, he declined to play anything that he was well known for, playing loud, jangling, discordant angry heavy metal style music instead.

Now, I don't mind some degree of musical experimentation, or stretching one's musical muscles, but please, in a concert, do remember to give us some of what we are familiar with, which will be some of what had - or has - defined the sound of that group or artist in question.

I longed to throttle him, and cringed thinking of my mother and her friend, who had come (at my invitation - I had bought the ticket as a treat) to the concert, expecting to hear a night that was a modern and sophisticated take on French café accordion style music. Gamely, they both said afterwards that they has enjoyed the concert.

More recently, I have seen Pink Martini (twice over the past five years) and Ennio Morrricone.

Bless them, but both know what their audience would like to hear and delivered concerts that were both utterly professional and pleasantly predictable.

I love posts like this because they help me sort out what the heck I'm looking at when i go music shopping and unexpectedly confront multiple versions of what appears to be the same album. You made my bookmark list with this post, for when I get there with A Question of Balance.

Agreed.

 

[Huntn]

I think it is nice to be able to say that you saw them play live, irrespective of whatever age they are (and irrespective of whatever age you are).



Agreed.

Actually, I listened to a few tracks from In Search Of A Lost Chord recently, also, and think that they, too, have aged very well. I had forgotten how good The Moody Blues were until I loved to listen to them one night a few months ago.

Apologies in advance for this rambling post. When I was in college (1971-75) I liked to think my taste in music was varied as compared to many of my fellow students- rock, jazz, classical, and blues. Would it be fair to call the likes of ELO and Moody Blues the New Age music of their day (which I also love) or at last the inspiration came from the same direction?

Although, New Age might not be quite the right description, as far as I remember it exclusively as instrumentation designed for serenity or to excite your ears, and is probably better described as closer to a new category of jazz, I looked it up and was surprised to read that the category of New Age originated in the late 60s, but I did not become familiar with the category until the 1980s. And ELO is probably better described as a classical-rock fusion, but I feel Moody Blues was right there with them in this regard.

Honestly, the only thing I've listened to for years is my local classic rock station, with brief classical interludes. Since I'm talking music, I'm feeling like I should break out my Moody Blues and Chic Corea disks.

Edit: typo

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Apologies in advance for this rambling post. When I was in college (1971-75) I liked to think my taste is in music was varied as compared to many of my fellow students- rock, jazz, classical, and blues. Would it be fair to call the likes of ELO and Moody Blues the New Age music of their day (which I also love) or at last the inspiration came from the same direction?

Although, New Age might not be quite the right description, as far as I remember it exclusively as instrumentation designed for serenity or to excite your ears, and is probably better described as closer to a new category of jazz, I looked it up and was surprised to read that the category of New Age originated in the late 60s, but I did not become familiar with the category until the 1980s. And ELO is probably better described as a classical-rock fusion, but I feel Moody Blues was right there with them in this regard.

Honestly, the only thing I've listened to for years is my local classic rock station, with brief classical interludes. Since I'm talking music, I'm feeling like I should break out my Moody Blues and Chic Corea disks.

I liked the Moody Blues, and ELO (but also like - and have long liked) an awful lot else, as well, including classical, Baroque, Renaissance, jazz, folk, trad, and classic rock (not least The Beatles which were and are still a firm favourite).

 

[Thunderbird]

An incredible show in Toronto! They had a full orchestra!

The Sony Centre was very nice and conducive to the Moodie's music. The audience got very loud at times and it was a tremendous atmosphere. The actor Jeremy Irons was featured on the rear projection screen reciting the band's spoken word lyrics. The retro psychedlic visuals were stunning.

As promised, here is the set list for the 2017 North American tour:

1. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
2. The Voice
3. Steppin' In a Slide Zone
4. Say it With Love
5. Nervous
6. Your Wildest Dreams
7. Isn't Life Strange
8. I know You're Out There Somewhere
9. Story in Your Eyes

Break

Days of Future Passed album
10. The Day Begins
11. Dawn is a Feeling
12. Morning
13. Peak Hour
14. Tuesday Afternoon
15. Evening
16. The Sunset
17. Twilight Time
18. Nights in White Satin

Encore
Question
Ride My See-Saw

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-...rforming-arts-toronto-on-canada-4be41bf2.html

If you are a Moodies fan and anywhere near a concert city (and there aren't many left) it's definitely worth going. Also, note, for those in the UK, Justin Hayward will be touring the UK solo in September.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

An incredible show in Toronto! They had a full orchestra!

The Sony Centre was very nice and conducive to the Moodie's music. The audience got very loud at times and it was a tremendous atmosphere. The actor Jeremy Irons was featured on the rear projection screen reciting the band's spoken word lyrics. The retro psychedlic visuals were stunning.

As promised, here is the set list for the 2017 North American tour:

1. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
2. The Voice
3. Steppin' In a Slide Zone
4. Say it With Love
5. Nervous
6. Your Wildest Dreams
7. Isn't Life Strange
8. I know You're Out There Somewhere
9. Story in Your Eyes

Break

Days of Future Passed album
10. The Day Begins
11. Dawn is a Feeling
12. Morning
13. Peak Hour
14. Tuesday Afternoon
15. Evening
16. The Sunset
17. Twighlight Time
18. Nights in White Satin

Encore
Question
Ride My See-Saw

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-...rforming-arts-toronto-on-canada-4be41bf2.html

If you are a Moodies fan and anywhere near a concert city (and there aren't many left) it's definitely worth going. Also, note, for those in the UK, Justin Hayward will be touring the UK solo in September.

Thanks for posting and sharing - it sounds as though it was a brilliant concert and you had a wonderful time.

I'd have loved to have seen it.

 

[JamesMike]

An incredible show in Toronto! They had a full orchestra!

The Sony Centre was very nice and conducive to the Moodie's music. The audience got very loud at times and it was a tremendous atmosphere. The actor Jeremy Irons was featured on the rear projection screen reciting the band's spoken word lyrics. The retro psychedlic visuals were stunning.

As promised, here is the set list for the 2017 North American tour:

1. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
2. The Voice
3. Steppin' In a Slide Zone
4. Say it With Love
5. Nervous
6. Your Wildest Dreams
7. Isn't Life Strange
8. I know You're Out There Somewhere
9. Story in Your Eyes

Break

Days of Future Passed album
10. The Day Begins
11. Dawn is a Feeling
12. Morning
13. Peak Hour
14. Tuesday Afternoon
15. Evening
16. The Sunset
17. Twighlight Time
18. Nights in White Satin

Encore
Question
Ride My See-Saw

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-...rforming-arts-toronto-on-canada-4be41bf2.html

If you are a Moodies fan and anywhere near a concert city (and there aren't many left) it's definitely worth going. Also, note, for those in the UK, Justin Hayward will be touring the UK solo in September.

Well worth seeing.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well worth seeing.

Agreed.

If I were in the US, I'd have leapt at the opportunity to attend this concert.

 

[rhett7660]

To this day when, every time I hear Nights in White Satin, I get chills. There is something about that song. I tend to stop what I am doing, close my eyes, and just listen. What a great song.