New Jersey Performing Arts Center We left The Harv smiling and decided to celebrate the afterglow with our last $4 Margarita at the Mahogany Bar at the hotel, knowing that it would probably be a long time before we saw a $4 Margarita again. The bar was very nice, our table was congenial, but there was a fly in the soup. The bartender insisted on torturing us with a vile Dean Martin cd. It was loud enough that you couldn’t ignore it, and repeated and plaintive requests to turn it off were met with stony silence. Either that, or they couldn’t hear us over the music. SueC alone seemed undisturbed; she knew all the songs and said her mother had been a Dino fan. Ah, I thought! Another case of child abuse. I finally gave up and left for bed. It seemed a much wiser course of action than trashing the bar and being dragged out through the maze of fragile and frail elderly gamblers, each poking me with their cane as I was escorted out. The candle burned low as I wrote thru the night. In my moments of reverie, I was amused by the fog which enveloped the parking lot where hidden lights played hide and seek. After yet another hopeful proofing, I sighed, grateful to be able to finally turn in for the night. I picked up the clock to set it for 5am and stared in horror: it was 4:20am! I gulped and realized that if I fell asleep now, Sherman’s army would not be able to wake me. I had discovered JH’s Heart of Steel the evening before and was blown away by it, and so had played it continuously during my writing hours. Heart of Steel, can you see or feel There’s a sign that’s hanging on your door Now I know that your face is real I don’t need your freedom anymore. J. Hayward As I dressed, I wondered just how MANY times I had played it, and at what point does a normal human being become mentally ill from repetition, and finally...had I played it one time too many? God, what a great song, and what brain-damaged sob record executive sentenced it to languish unheard and unloved on the B-side of Marie? Inconceivable! Fantasy moment: wouldn’t it be great if JH would release that and the various other gems of his solo work eg It Won’t Be Easy, Skimming Stones and his other soundtrack work, Let it Begin, The Theme from Shoe People (LOL!), etc. on a cd. Hmmmm...maybe not Shoe People. Buying from the professional bootlegger smacks of scoring drugs in a dirty alley; he pulls out a shiny cd and says to you: “Want it baby? Want it bad???” Sigh Yes, I want it. And how does one KNOW one has gone nuts on tour with The Moody Blues? Wouldn’t that be redundant? We knew the drive to Newark would be long. SueC estimated it at 7 hours. It took 10. We suffered through thick fog, 2 lane highways, bad directions, and poorly marked roads. I was allowed to sleep in the back seat, my sweet girls knowing that it was better to let me sleep than to put up with me in a borderline psychotic state. THE VENUE:  The
NJPAC was a pleasant surprise. It’s a lovely, lovely venue!
Prudential Hall is a concert hall appropriate for a symphony orchestra
within the PAC. It was simple and beautiful. Warm orange hued
wood glowed and needed no other decoration. There were four levels
above the floor/mezzanine level which formed the usual horseshoe design.
I would guess that the Pru seats around 2500. It appeared to
be full. The most striking characteristic of the Pru was a large
globe suspended from the ceiling. It wasn’t solid but an open art-type
work made of chrome. It was retractable, but when I first saw it,
it was suspended over the floor and high intensity lights in the ceiling
made it refract light like a prism. It was similar to a disco ball,
but the effect was much lovelier and quite etherial. I suspect Galadriel
might have owned an object like it.
The stage was about 4 ft high, the equipment was set up as usual, there were black curtains on either side. THE FASHION REPORT RT – White long slvd shirt, black slacks, no change GE – Car shirt, black slacks JH – Black long slvd shirt, black slacks, white long slvd shirt second half JL – Black shirt, black slacks, white oxford shirt second half, shoes THE CONCERT The NJPAC was a wonderful place for a Moody Blues concert. The sound was very good, though I am not overly fond of electric performers in a venue designed and best suited for symphonies. It gives the effect of shooting a butterfly with a 30 ought 6. The permanent setlist ; ) was the same as the prior night at The Harv. I didn’t mention that Forever Autumn was NOT played at The Harv nor at the NJPAC (and subsequently not at RCMH either). Apparently that was a treat for UK audiences only, the unwashed though monied Americans too undeserving. It seems “odd” that they or JH would include it in every concert performed in the UK (Ipswich being the exception). Not just odd, but cruel. What is with that? Why perform it there as part of the tour, and not perform it here? Is there a reason, or is it whim? Why the Moodies do what the Moodies do is a mystery to me. FML was gorgeous, Ray’s voice perfect for the hall, smooth and full and just a bit sweet like Bailey’s Irish Cream. The Actor was characterized by WONDERFUL vocals – it reached its potential in this hall. Oddly, the two songs most striking were the two featuring the Olson. The Pru also saw a great performance of Slide Zone. JL NAILED those high notes and the effect was startling. They really do make the song, and this performance was one for the Moody archives. I don’t know what he had for dinner, but the caterer should serve it every night. GREAT job! IKYOTS was also exceptional tonight. I got chills during the drum crescendo, making me consider again that of all the Moodies’ songs, including even Deep, specifically this part of IKYOTS must be a musical metaphor for climax. (Possibly why Justin has said in an interview that this song “does it” for him. !!!) Hey! Your body doesn’t lie.  I thought
the Gibson sounded particularly good on ILS. I was struck by the
drum and percussion parts in ILS tonight too and their complicated interaction.
The start of Nothing Changes was a bit inauspicious. Graeme held
the mike in his hand and pointed out to the crowd that there was supposed
to be a mike stand there. Russ ran one out, rather than Gary who
usually does it. There must have been a backstage emergency.
; ) There were sound problems during NC; GE’s voice went in and out.
Singer was plagued by further sound problems. I wondered if it was electrical in nature rather than human since the sound went in and out as if there was a short. I was on the left side of the theatre, and while the sound had been heretofore well balanced, on Singer I could only hear Ray and the Gibson. I’m not complaining! LOL I found it quite a treat to be able to enjoy two of my favorite Moody “ingredients”. Nights continued the sound difficulties. JH’s vocals were very loud, and the Gibson was rather pronounced during the flute solo. I liked it! I’m always straining to hear the guitar part. The lights were great at the NJPAC, and I noticed some small lights on the side of the stage that gave a great “fan” type of effect. The only bad thing about them was when they swerved toward the audience, they were at the perfect height to blast your eyes. My new seeing eye dog will be arriving in a few days. All in all, a very enjoyable concert in an exceptionally lovely venue. MaggieMay |
New York