JOHN LODGE: THE ROYAL AFFAIR AND AFTER

John Lodge leads his 10,000 Light Years Band through an impressive set of Moody Blues songs that were recorded during the summer of 2019. Lodge took part of The Royal Affair Tour in the United States. Additional tracks were recorded during his US tour dates that followed.

The 44 minute set opens with Steppin' in a Slide Zone. Lodge and his band rock harder here than the Moodies typically did performing this song live. Duffy King's soaring guitar work really stands out. Saved by the Music quickly follows as an early highlight. This is Lodge's only solo track which is from the 1975 album Blue Jays released by Lodge and his Moody Blues bandmate Justin Hayward during the Moodies 5-year hiatus in the mid 1970s.

"Keeping Moody Blues music alive" with a series of tributes to his former Moody Blues bandmates, Lodge launches into Legend of A Mind (written by Ray Thomas). The trippiness of the original song's arrangement is perfectly captured by Jason Charboneau's cello and Alan Hewitt's keyboard mimicking the flute solo. The next three tracks Sunset (Mike Pinder), Late Lament (Graeme Edge) and Nights in White Satin (Justin Hayward) form a mini suite from Days of Future Passed. Sunset is energized by the sounds of tabla and tambura that blend perfectly with King's guitar soloing and Hewitt's orchestration. Lodge's voice also gets a little echo treatment. This is another standout. With guest narration from a pre-recording of Edge, and guest vocals from John Davison singing the Moodies signature song, there's a very different character from the originals but everything works for the most part.

Continuing with the 1981 hit song Gemini Dream that Lodge originally sung with Justin Hayward, the band does a fine job rocking out. From 1972's Seventh Sojourn is the hit Isn't Life Strange, another song where Lodge originally traded vocals with Hayward. Here, Lodge sings all the lines himself, and with his band, they do a magnificent job with this classic rock power ballad.

Coming near the end of the set is I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band), which retains all the energy of the original. For the encore, Lodge doesn't stray far from the Moodies tradition of closing the show with Ride My See-Saw. Lodge and his 10,000 Light Years Band sound like they've had a wonderful time, bringing back guest vocalist Jon Davison to join in to help sing the chorus.

This is a solid set, through a little short with just 10 songs. Maybe there's a deluxe version in the works with more tracks.

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