By Chuck Cox
Special Contributor
Rod Argent of the Zombies talks to the enthusiastic crowd at the Kessler in between songs. (Photo: Chuck Cox)
I’m not the biggest fan in the world of “best of” lists — especially when it comes to music. They are far too subjective, which is really what loving music is all about in the first place. But pretty much every list of greatest albums of all time includes the Zombies‘ incredible 1968 masterpiece Odessey and Oracle. Rightfully so. It is 1960s psychedelic perfection filled with timeless songs that sound as fresh today as they did when they were recorded 45 years ago.
So when I found out the band, which includes founding members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, would be playing the Kessler, I was incredibly, well, psyched. I knew it was going to be an amazing show. And my third concert in five nights at the Oak Cliff venue lived up to the hype.
With an adoring, sold-out crowd on hand, the band tore through a 21-song set list that included half of the 10 tracks from Odessey and Oracle. Several of those songs, including the all-time classic “Time of the Season” were met with standing ovations and thunderous applause from the crowd. I think the band got at least five standing ovations on the night.
The Zombies also played a couple of cover songs — Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” and George Gershwin’s “Summertime” to close the show. The band also did some songs from other projects, like Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up,” Blunstone’s “I Don’t Believe in Miracles,” and the Alan Parsons Project’s “Old and Wise.”
I sat next to a couple of guys from A Hard Night’s Day, who you could tell were really into the show. Although I didn’t find out until the day after the show, Don Henley was on hand to check out the Zombies. It was truly a terrific time. And it was one of those shows where you could tell the people who were there really enjoyed themselves.
Elephant Stone, an up-and-coming psychedelic band from Montreal, did a nice job opening the show. The sitar was a nice touch and a perfect way to get the crowd warmed up for the Zombies.
It’s pretty rare for me to get to see a huge musical act that started before I was born. But I’ll be seeing another one — Eric Clapton — next Tuesday. Make sure you check back on Wednesday for my thoughts on that show.
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Tommy Smith
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