The Zombies is one of the early 1960s groups (that’s what we called bands in those days) I missed out on seeing. I can only think that they were not on any of the packages whose tours took in Leeds Odeon cinema, as I saw most of those which did. It was really good to have a chance to remove Colin Blunstone, the lead singer of the aforementioned group, from my list of artists to see whilst they, or I, are still sufficiently active.
Before the main event, there was a superb support act in Jesse Lynn Madera, a country/folk/jazz singer-songwriter from West Virginia. She and her two fellow artists regaled us with a selection from her albums and her new release, Woke Up In LA.
Jesse Lynn Madera in her best bib and tucker for the evening.
She told us that when she is on tour in her own right she works with a full band – not group – but tonight and during the tour with Mr Blunstone, she had pared down to being a trio with Martin Sedlak on violin and Jesse Cole on guitar.
As well as being a great singer, she was also very funny between songs. When introducing Mr Sedlak, she said that his instrument was ‘a violin if you are selling and a fiddle if you are buying.’ Whatever it was he got the most out of it, as did Mr Cole. who is from Memphis and an accomplished singer, songwriter in his own right.
Jesse Lynn Madera with Martin Sedlak taking an exaggerated bow and Jesse Cole breaking free from his guitar strap.
The proof of the pudding is in the listening and so I would recommend you click on the following link where you can hear Ms Madera play a song called Austin, one of the ones she performed for our benefit. The two gentlemen I mentioned above are on the clip, the chap on percussion being the absentee. I would also like to commend the artist for glamming up for us, she had obviously heard that Leeds was the Knightsbridge of the North and Howard Assembly Room was a posh gig. Whatever, I hope you enjoy her performance as much as we did.
After an ice cream it was time for Colin Blunstone to take to the stage. He was preceded by his band who began to get a beat going to welcome him to his home for the evening. I must say that I was taken aback somewhat by his gaunt look, he seemed painfully thin and my heart sank as I was concerned that my memories of the annoyingly handsome chap in his twenties would be erased by someone who had possibly reached his best before date, he will, after all, be 81 next month.
Colin Blunstone takes to the stage.
It was then that the most amazing thing happened. He opened his mouth, burst into song and at least two decades instantly were removed from his age, not only was he not past his best, he was still in the ascendency! His voice was as good as ever, in fact, I had always associated him with the plaintive melodies of Say You Don’t Mind and She’s Not There, but he delved into his rock phase and belted out some real bangers. Even on the iconic counter tenor numbers, his voice was crystal clear and his breath control amazing. He held one note so long that he put Bill Withers, on Lovely Day, to shame. I could only sit back in my seat and marvel, feeling woefully inadequate watching someone four years older than I, act as if he were at least ten years my junior.
Not only was Mr Blunstone on top form, but his band were absolutely brilliant. The ensemble comprised Steve Rodford – an original member of the Zombies – on drums; Søren Koch on guitar; Dean Ross, percussion and a duo of ex-Strawbs; Chas Cronk, bass and Dave Bainbrisdge, keyboards. After the initial song was performed, Mr Blunstone explained the format of the evening, which was to dedicate the first half of the set to the canon of the Zombies in an homage to Rod Argent, the original keyboard player who had suffered a career-ending stroke eighteen months ago. I must say, Dave Bainbridge filled the great man’s role superbly.
Dave Bainbridge, Chas Cronk, Dean Ross, Colin Blunstone and Søren Koch. Sadly, drummer Steve Redford was obscured all evening.
For the next hour plus, we were treated to a set which had us all joining in; singing, clapping and bopping in our seats – I apologise to anyone in my vicinity at the time.
The name of the tour is Don’t Believe In Miracles which is the name of one of his incredible songs and you can see him perform it by clicking on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-aIywkg8ls&list=RDg-aIywkg8ls&start_radio=1 I am sure you won’t be sorry if you do. The band is the one he performed with on the night. If you leave it running when the song is over you will be treated to more goodies, although some of them have a string section which was absent on the night, but that did not detract from the evening in any way.
From my initial scepticism I am now a bigger fan than I was at the start of the evening. If you didn’t let the video run on earlier, then here is probably his biggest hit, Say You Don’t Mind – enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwiOz9b8d98&list=RDg-aIywkg8ls&index=4
As an added bonus, Mr Blunstone comes over as a thoroughly nice chap who is appreciative of the life he has, and still is, leading. Humility personified.
For details of the rest of the tour and tickets, please go to https://www.colinblunstone.net/
To see what is coming to Howard Assembly Room it is https://www.operanorth.co.uk/event-tag/har/
Feature image from Howard Assembly Room. Photographs by Stan Graham
Tyke It To The Limit 