| Saratoga Mountain Winery On The Road With MaggieMay... It was the second verse of a beautiful song. The Mountain Winery inspired another fine concert by The Moody Blues. THE FASHION REPORT GE - Jimi Hendrix shirt first half, Hula shirt second half, black slacks JL - Black long slvd shirt with small ruffles, leathers, boots JH - Pink with black pin-striped long slvd shirt worn with a long slvd Moodies concert tshirt underneath, black jeans Bernie - White outfit, red patterned belt Norda - Black top with mesh insert, black slacks, green patterned jacket Paul - White striped long slvd shirt Gordon - Black leather shirt, white slacks JH's pink pin-striped shirt *would* have won the Battle of the Buttons tonight! It was unbuttoned one button lower than mid chest, and gaping open. Unfortunately, he had his tshirt on again! LOL I'm sure he needed it - it was another very cool night on the mountain. They way it looked reminded me of Superman, right before he nips into a telephone booth. It was very attractive and the combo looked good on him. THE CONCERT The Moodies are on a roll and have been producing consistently smooth, excellent, almost outstanding concerts. Their benchmark is becoming very high! When people ask me about bad Moodies concerts, I have to honestly say that I've never been to one. Their product, honed over thousands of performances spanning thirty years is among the very best out there. They are passionate perfectionists. I used to go on to say to people that a Moodies concert is always good, sometimes it's great, and on rare and magical occasions, it is outstanding. If this keeps up, I'm going to have to revise my standard comment and say: a Moodies concert is ALWAYS great and sometimes it's outstanding. We haven't hit the outstanding performance yet this tour, and perhaps we won't. They are few and far between. An outstanding performance is not perfection. That's a misconception. It's characterized rather by passion and brilliance. I've seen glimpses of it this tour, but I know these nights are rare things. When they achieve one, you know it. It's inscribed on your heart. This concert was great! The natural light is such a treat and gives the concertgoer a feel for the whole band, playing as one. It's a quality that you don't get in an indoor venue, or at a concert with a later start. As the evening progresses, the backups fade away into the darkness and it begins to focus center and stage left. While Graeme is still lit well, the mere fact that he is several feet behind the Jays shifts the scene to them. I've really enjoyed the first half of the Mountain Winery concerts for this reason. The 2003 setlist was played in its entirety with a 20 minute break. I suppose it was as close to perfect as I've seen. I can't recall a single flubbed lyric or missed note, though it's certain there were some. None stick out in my mind. There *was* a problem with feedback tonight. It wasn't of the screeching variety, but it was noticable. I heard it and saw Graeme grimace. I only noticed it once, but it was for a prolonged period. It stopped at the end of a song when Justin went over and flipped a switch on his equipment. I don't know if that was the source or if the two actions were coincidence. I wondered if Norda experienced it at another time, because she began pulling at her right ear piece and making a pained face. The sound system was not improved over the prior night, giving the gymnasium effect to the vocals. It seemed more pronounced with John's than with Justin's. The guitars again sounded brilliant. I could barely hear the vocals at all during Singer. Big Red completely dominated that song tonight. While I'm sure that wasn't the Band's intent, it was entirely acceptable to me! More than anything else, that's what I come to hear - pieces of wood, strung with strings and played by a genius. I could hear Graeme pretty well on H&H and I like his new introduction, where he says to the audience "Don't worry, I'm not going to sing. I'm going to shout!" Someone mentioned to me that he thought Justin had put "extra special stuff" in H&H tonight." Well...I don't know! Of course, I *can't* know without the sheet music in front of me. ; ) I thought it was its usual, brilliant performance. You have to respect a man that can pull that performance off, night after night. Perhaps the fact that the guitar dominated the mix in an exceptionally clear voice might give someone that impression. It was a treat, that's for sure! The things I noticed tonight were very small, like perfect snowflakes in a winter storm. Justin again hopping at the start of YWD. Graeme seemed to have an extra "something" in his dancing during H&H. Singer was inspired tonight, more powerful than even the past few great performances. Approaching brilliant! LOL I was caught off-guard last night when John came across the stage and joined the girls for the woos. I had remembered Bernie there as I wrote earlier today, and thought, wait, that can't be right. Yes, Bernie comes out from behind her keyboard and joins John and Norda at the mike. Tonight, Norda leaned back a bit and JL and Bernie leaned in to the mike for the woos. Oh, it was great! I really hope they keep that in! The girls put so much in to their performance and give a good feeling to the concert, and I think their inclusion in that segment of Singer propels it forward. John's physical interaction with them in Singer and and at the beginning of SeeSaw is very appealing and tremendously enjoyable. It's cute, it's fun! Justin's connection with both Norda and Bernie is almost entirely musical in nature (flute and guitar in Slide Zone, Nights, SeeSaw, vocals and guitar most notably in AYSC). It's not a physical interaction. What Justin does musically with them is wonderful, too. This is simply a different element that makes its own addition to the performance. Norda's hula hoop style dance at the beginning of Singer (she's so funny!). Norda's playful onstage presence is blossoming. She banged her tambourine at a fan in Question when we are "knocking at the door". It's always nice when someone on stage makes the effort to connect with someone in the audience. I noticed tonight, again, like a perfect snowflake, the way Justin keeps time with his entire body during AYSC. He bounces gently in time as he plucks the strings of his Olson, making you feel that he is completely one with that song. I thought The Actor was a very strong performance tonight, joining Singer on the level of Almost Brilliant. What was it missing? Passion! Where do you get it? I don't know. That's a spiritual question, for those much wiser than me. I think it's when you sing from your soul. MaggieMay The sound I have heard in your hello, Oh, Darling! |
Lake Tahoe