Justin Hayward – ASB Theatre October 16, 2017

 

Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward performed a solo show at Auckland’s ASB Theatre last night, just days after celebrating his 71^st birthday. Hayward proved that age hasn’t taken a toll on his voice or his songs.

You’d be excused for thinking that the conservatively dressed…button down shirt, neatly tucked in…English gentleman on stage last night at Aotea Centre was a retired accountant, rather than a member of one of the bands that defined the counterculture of the late 60s and early 70s with albums such as In Search Of The Lost Chord and On The Threshold Of A Dream. But, yes, Justin Hayward helped usher in the era of prog and art rock, paving the way for the likes of Genesis, Yes, and countless others.

Tonight he’s taking a break from the band that he’s fronted for over 50 years to concentrate on his solo career, although there are still plenty of Moody Blues tunes peppered throughout the set list to keep fans happy.

Accompanying Hayward is keyboard player Julie Ragins, who does a fine job of replicating Mike Pinder’s mellotron during Tuesday Afternoon. Also on hand is electric guitarist Mike Dawes who adds a tasty solo to This Morning.

But it’s Justin Hayward who is front and centre, and he spends the evening sharing both songs and stories from his fabled career.

In between songs from his latest solo album, Spirits Of The Western Sky, he reminisces about growing up with his brother in Swindon, listening to Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers, then visiting Holly’s hometown while on tour with the Moodies in the US in the sixties while the band was opening for the likes of Canned Heat and Cream.

Hayward’s manner is genteel and charming.

“I know I was there in the 60s,” he tells us, “because I’ve seen the photographs”.

New songs such as The Wind Of Heaven and One Day, Someday, fit nicely alongside older Moody Blues tunes such as Watching And Waiting and Lovely To See You, although they lack the resonance that 40 plus years will tend to add to a song.

Of course the highlights were Forever Autumn…still a beautiful song…and Nights In White Satin. The only time Justin’s voice gave way to age was during Question, when he asked the audience to sing a line that he was no longer able to do justice.

Here’s another example of a veteran rocker do looks to be still out there making music simple because that’s what he loves doing. And why shouldn’t he when he still sounds this good?

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk:

Justin Hayward set list:

1. Out And In
2. Tuesday Afternoon
3. This Morning
4. Lovely To See You
5. In Your Blue Eyes
6. The Western Sky
7. The Wind Of Heaven
8. Watching And Waiting
9. The Best Is Yet To Come
10. One Day, Someday
11. Forever Autumn
12. Never Comes The Day
13. Your Wildest Dreams
14. Question
15. Nights In White Satin
16. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere