It’s surprisingly quiet on this still July 14, 2017 evening in the heart of Englewood, NJ.
The usual hustle and bustle of people on the sidewalk is conspicuously absent as we traverse Van Brunt St. and cross Palisades Ave. at the start of this ostensibly busy summer weekend.
As we continue up Van Brunt St. — still eerily alone — we witness the first signs of life inside BergenPAC’s spacious lobby.
Here, folks are picking up concert tickets at the ticket window while others are purchasing LPs, CDs, and T-shirts emblazoned with the name of the ’60’s band that took the world by storm with its 1969 smash hit, “Time of the Season” — The Zombies!
Recorded in 1967 at London’s Abbey Road studios as a track on their LP, Odessey and Oracle, “Time of the Season,” was initially released as a single, but it did not achieve success. After several other singles failed to catch on with the public, at the urging of Blood, Sweat and Tears’ founder Al Kooper, “Time of the Season” was re-released in 1969 and climbed the charts — a year after the band had already split up!
Seven years earlier, virtuoso keyboardist, Rod Argent — a student who had once served as a choirboy — formed The Zombies in St. Albans, England.
Argent wanted his older cousin, Jim Rodford, to be the bass player of his new group, but Rodford was already part of an established band. That notwithstanding, Rodford still helped his younger cousin by loaning music equipment to Argent and Argent’s partner, talented lead vocalist Colin Blunstone.
Calling themselves The Mustangs, Argent, Blunstone, and the rest of the group soon learned that other emerging bands had similar names, so they changed their name to one which Argent claimed “no one else” would possibly have — The Zombies.
The Zombies went on to release their first hit, “She’s Not There,” in 1964 to see it rocket up to #2 on the pop charts in America. They followed that up with their second Billboard Top Ten hit, 1965’s “Tell Her No.”
Following the 1967 recording of Odessey and Oracle — a revolutionary album which featured the actual electronic keyboard which Beatle John Lennon purchased for use on “Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds,” called a mellotron — The Zombies went their separate ways. Argent created his new band, Argent, and Blunstone sang for The Alan Parsons Project.
Over the years, however, the duo worked together on projects in the studio and touring out on the road.
In 2015, Argent and Blunstone reunited to record their latest album, Still Got That Hunger. On bass, the album featured Argent’s cousin, Jim Rodford — who, in the intervening years, had gone on to become a member of the legendary English band, The Kinks — in addition to musicians Steve Rodford on drums and Tom Toomy on guitar.
With Still Got That Hunger — along with their seminal Odessey and Oracle — The Zombies again proved to the world they’re not just your everyday rock band!
Yes — they can rock with the best of them — but they also can write and play the blues, jazz, classical, folk, Broadway, pop, soul, and more as authentically as any single group of musicians anywhere can do, thanks to Argent’s top-notch writing and performing skills and Blunstone’s killer voice.
Inside the BergenPac auditorium, as fans wait for the start of tonight’s show, some speculate on just what type of Zombies’ material they might get to hear tonight.
Will The Zombies play some of their classic rock hits from the early 1960s? Or might they perform some classical, folk, or pop tunes from Odessey and Oracle? Or will they entertain the crowd with some of their outstanding jazz, blues, or Broadway-sounding numbers from Still Got That Hunger?
Before these fans’ questions can be answered, American singer/songwriter Don Dilego and his band are introduced to the packed house.
Dilego opens his portion of the show with his country-influenced rock sound, the feel-good music embracing the crowd with its catchy melodies and upbeat tempo.
One highlight of Dilego’s set is the Neil Young-like “A Wishful Poem” which Dilego dedicates to his grandfather. Featuring a fitting tremolo electric guitar accompaniment, Dilego says the song was “written about photographs left on walls where the person in the photo is saying, ‘Don’t forget about me.’”
Another highlight is Dilego and his group’s cover version of The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody,” the band’s five-part vocal harmonies ringing out over the audience like a nostalgic embrace along with the sound of a country steel guitar twanging along.
Announcing to the audience, ”It’s a blessing for us to be here,” Dilego reveals, “I used to listen to The Zombies, and it’s pretty cool to be able to open for them tonight!”
Soon, The Zombies — Colin Blunstone on vocals, Rod Argent on keyboards, Jim Rodford on bass, Steve Rodford on drums, and Tom Toomy on guitar — take the stage, where they are immediately greeted with a standing ovation!
Opening with 1965’s “I Love You,” the rich, full rock sound of The Zombies fills the theater.
Colin Blunstone, at age 72, sounds amazing — his vocal tone is clear and pure, and he possesses a vocal range which is astounding.
Moreover, Rod Argent, also 72, not only proves that he is one of the finest — if not the finest — rock organist on the planet, but he also demonstrates to the packed house that his vocals are powerful and soulful as well.
Members of the audience shout, “Yeah!” as the group launches into its second number from 1965, “Can’t Nobody Love You,” a slow, mellow Solomon Burke cover tune featuring top-notch vocal harmonies by Argent, bassist Jim Rodford, and Blunstone.
Taking a moment to welcome the crowd, Blunstone says in his endearing British accent, “It’s a wonderful thrill to be on the same stage where so many great artists have performed!”
Going on to add, “We’ll play all the hits and some more obscure songs — but all have a connection to us,” Blunstone animatedly exclaims, “We are not a cover band! This is the real deal!”
Introducing their next number by saying “We did this song many years ago. It wasn’t released, but it ‘escaped,’” Blunstone reveals, “Tom Petty did a live version that we loved, so we started doing it again.”
Performing their high energy Zombies’ number, “I Want You Back Again,” the “B” side of a 1965 single which they recently re-recorded for Still Got That Hunger, Argent’s incredible keyboard expertise and Toomy’s guitar skills are featured in electrifying solos on this catchy tune as the Rodfords — Jim on bass and Steve on drums — rock out!
Jazzy keyboards and rock guitar alternate on a modern classic from 2015’s Still Got That Hunger, “Moving On.” This appealing number —one of many Rod Argent-penned numbers on the album — features a resonant and soulful Jim Morrison-style lead vocal from Blunstone.
Moving on to a toe-tapping blues number, the band performs another track from Still Got That Hunger, “Edge of the Rainbow,” which starts off with a simple keyboard and vocal, until Jim Rodford and the rest of the band join in by adding background vocals and a top-notch instrumental arrangement. Through his expressive vocal talents, Blunstone tells the crowd a story as audience members chime in screaming on the instrumental break.
Next up is Blunstone’s Broadway-like “I Don’t Believe in Miracles,” lead and background vocals fitting beautifully together as purple circles bounce along the walls. Crooning, “But I don’t believe in miracles/I don’t believe in miracles/But I thought you might show your face/Or have the grace to tell me where you are,” Blunstone’s exquisite voice elicits emotion as does the moving melody-harmony combination he created for this lovely original tune.
Next, The Zombies perform four songs from their classic Odessey and Oracle LP.
Explains Argent, “‘Odessey and Oracle had ‘Time of the Season’ on it, but it wasn’t a hit. Ten years later, Tom Petty talked about how influential a record it was, and now it’s listed as one of Rolling Stone’s Top 100 albums of all time!”
First up is the catchy “Care of Cell 44,” the audience clapping along to the happy-go-lucky Beatle-esque vibe.
The group follows “Cell” with the classical-sounding, “A Rose For Emily,” expressive piano and vocals telling the sad tale, “And as the years go by/She will grow old and die/The roses in her garden fade away/Not one left for her grave/Not a rose for Emily.”
The easy melody of the pop gem, “This Will be Our Year” gets audience members leaping to their feet!
Lastly, The Zombies perform their psychedelic rock classic, “Time of the Season.” As the audience sings along with Blunstone — sounding fabulous on the famous melody he originally recorded a half century ago — Argent’s swirling organ trips along supported by Jim Rodford’s mighty bass.
In their seats, audience members drum or dance along until Argent begins his organ solo — one of the finest we’ve ever seen. Gliding up, down, and around the keys; crossing his hands to get just the right effect; and caressing the keyboard so that the notes float right over and into the audience’s hearts and minds, Argent stuns the crowd with his brilliant artistry.
For their efforts, Argent, Blunstone, and the band receive a standing ovation from the cheering crowd complete with scores of individual audience members also rewarding them with a heartfelt “thumbs up!”
Going back to 1965, The Zombies perform their cover version of Titus Turner’s “Sticks and Stones,” the keyboard talking in a way that only Rod Argent can, telling his story in a jazzy style reminiscent of jazz legend Ramsey Lewis. In the meantime, Blunstone rocks out, sounding much like a young Mick Jagger!
Next, the group performs their mid-’60’s hit, ”Tell Her No.” The crowd happily sings along, heads bopping to the easy beat, before responding with yet another enthusiastic standing ovation!
In an evening filled with musical highlights, one certainly is The Zombies’ outstanding cover version of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles’ Motown smash, “You Really Got A Hold On Me.” Featuring a brilliant musical arrangement and sophisticated vocal harmonies, in addition to a reprise of Sam Cooke’s “Bring it On Home to Me,” the audience enthusiastically sings along with Blunstone’s five star lead vocal as the group gets “tighter” and “tighter.”
Moving on to a classic early rocker, the band performs its 1965 cover version of Bo Diddley’s 1957 “Roadrunner” blues. On this tune, Jim Rodford’s bass and Tom Toomy’s guitar duel as lights flash and the band rocks and rolls along to the beat.
“Chasing the Past” is another number from Still Got That Hunger which relies on a tasty amalgamation of Argent’s perfectly executed classical piano arpeggios and tight jazz vocal harmonies which support Blunstone’s excellent lead, all expertly placed within a rock setting reminiscent of the classic 70’s band Yes. Also of note is a wild electric guitar solo from Toomy.
Moving on to a tune by Rod Argent’s band, Argent, The Zombies knock the audience’s socks off with their electrifying rendition of “Hold Your Head Up.”
As Argent explains to the crowd, many people often sing the song incorrectly with lyrics including “Hold your head up, woah,” but he instructs the audience how to perform the tune correctly by singing the actual lyrics, “Hold your head up, Wo-man!”
As Argent’s magical keyboard rumbles out the famous intro, he makes each audience member’s body vibrate in anticipation of the tune’s famous chorus.
The bass and drums drive the beat into the audience’s soul as the crowd sings along — the correct lyrics, naturally— given Mr. Argent’s instructions!
Then, the audience is invited to clap along to Argent’s brilliant keyboard solo, which sounds almost like a Bach church organ piece accompanied by a bass-oriented rock backbeat.
Audience members scream as Argent mixes a bit of Booker T and the MG’s 1962 classic, “Green Onions,” into his cornucopia of a solo, as Rodford’s bass and Toomy’s guitar step and dip along to the lightning quick sounds firing from Argent’s fingers!
Now incorporating Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” into his fugue-like improvisation, the audience cheers with their fists in the air as Toomy’s guitar slides down and back up to the “Hold year head up, Wo-man” refrain.
Following this monumental performance, Blunstone introduces each of the band members before launching into a tune which he describes as “The Zombies very first hit,” ”She’s Not There.” His voice sounding just like his original 1965 recording, Blunstone easily hits all the high notes, as Toomy rocks out on guitar and jams to a performance which is interlaced with snippets from two ’60’s-era Spencer Davis Group hits: “Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m a Man.”
The entire packed house erupts in cheers and leaps out of their seats!
After a well-deserved bow, The Zombies come back for a rollicking encore of the Argent hit, “God Gave Rock and Roll to You,” the group leaving audience members still standing on their feet!
“Thank you and good night!” exclaims Blunstone, as all five band members take a bow together, toss their set lists out into the crowd, and wave goodnight to their adoring fans!
Making our way out of the auditorium, we take a moment to chat with several fans about tonight’s performance.
Exclaims Stephanie from Washington Twp., “The Zombies never disappoint! I saw them last year and they still sound fabulous — they still have the same energy! I love that they make eye contact when they perform. They really make me feel like I’m part of the family.”
Stephanie’s friend, Andrea from Cliffside Park, reveals, “I love The Kinks and Jim Rodford is one quarter of The Kinks, so I came here tonight to hear him play. But I love The Zombies, too — they are freaking amazing — and I even got a set list from tonight’s show!”
States Stephanie from Oradell, “The Zombies are so good! I had no idea about the caliber of their musicianship — it is exceptional and their keyboardist is amazing!’
Stephanie’s husband, Jeff — a fan of The Zombies since the 1960s — agrees, calling the show, “very polished” in addition to “a combination of modern technology and modern vibes with good old rock n’ roll,” before concluding, “They are just as cutting edge today as they were in the 1960s.”
And what about our opinion of The Zombies?
As music journalists, it’s not often we get to witness a single group of musicians who can play so many different styles and genres of music so superbly.
The Zombies incorporate rock, jazz, classical, folk, blues, soul, pop, and Broadway sounds into their repertoire so meaningfully and so seamlessly, it’s no wonder we feel compelled to report — at least at this “Time of the Season” — that it’s simply the other-worldy talents of Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, and company that let The Zombies take over BergenPAC!
For more information on The Zombies, please go to thezombiesmusic.com. To learn more about upcoming performances at BergenPAC — including Gordon Lightfoot on August 8 and Robbie Krieger of The Doors on September 28 — please go to bergenpac.org.
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