JOHN LODGE of The Moody Blues

Infinity Music Hall
Hartford, Connecticut
March 13, 2022

Photos & Review by Frank Piercy

HARTFORD, Conn. – March 4th 2020, was the beginning of a very long break for not only me, but also for a lot of musicians. John Lodge was one of the musicians that was affected by this lockdown caused by Covid and now just barely 2 years later, he made his return to one of the best venues in Hartford to see live music at, The Infinity Music Hall.

Lodge was touring in support for his recently released live album, The Royal Affair and After with a fantastic and talented backing band that consisted of Alan Hewitt on keyboards, Billy Ashbaugh on drums, Jason Charboneau on cello and the incredible Duffy King on guitar.

Lodge and company performed a setlist containing classic Moody Blues tunes and more such as, Steppin’ in a Slide Zone (The Moody Blues), In My Mind, Nervous (The Moody Blues), Peak Hour (The Moody Blues), The Sunset (The Moody Blues), (Evening) Time to Get Away (The Moody Blues), Late Lament (The Moody Blues) (Graham Edge on prerecorded vocals), Nights in White Satin (The Moody Blues), Legend of a Mind (The Moody Blues).

After a short interlude, Lodge returned to the stage with the band and started a second set, with Sitting at the Wheel (The Moody Blues), Saved by the Music (Justin Hayward & John Lodge cover), One More Time to Live (The Moody Blues), Gemini Dream (The Moody Blues), Isn’t Life Strange (The Moody Blues), I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) (The Moody Blues),

Lodge and the band closed the night out with an encore of The Moody Blues song, “Ride My See-Saw.”

A fantastic performance, with some great stories from Lodge, but also a special guest on vocals and guitar, Jon Davison of YES, performing on “Nights in White Satin”, “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” and “Ride My See Saw.”

Once again, I was impressed with not only the prowess of the band, but also the enthusiasm and energy of the crowd as they not only sang along to every song but danced in the aisles, an energy that came back to me when I put my copy of The Royal Affair and After on my record player and turned it up…very loudly.