The Zombies Tickets

I have to say that curiosity was higher than expectations for the Zombies show on Saturday night. I had a copy of the first couple 45s back in the day and looked forward to hearing "She's Not There" and "Tell Her No", maybe even "Time of the Season" but was unprepared for the power and the glory of today's Zombies. Rod Argent is still a master of the keyboards, adding jazzy organ and piano to the mix. Colin Blunstone's voice is rich and clear, although his stage presence is stonehenge-like, and at times the lighting turned his face an undead green. Jim Rodford and his drummer son Steve provided a rock-solid foundation while guitarist Tom Toomey shone on his solos. all in all...a fine evening. The opening act was interesting but forgettable.

The Zombies were fantastic. To hear a voice so well preserved after all that use is amazing. Aside from the distraction of Rod Argent looking so much like Will Ferrell in a wig (at an organ no less!) I love a concert where the "hits" are the low points and the unexpected performances that highlight the show! It makes getting our asses of our comfy couch and get downtown totally worth it. The venue was great also. The opening act was good but a strange choice except for their name!

They looked and sounded way younger than their years. The Zombies put on a great show, it was worth every penny.

We thought that the Zombie's gave us a great show! What a special night!! It started out with a power failure before the show and we got to visit with the other fans in the dark. It set just the right mood before a group that calls itself the Zombies. It was the only chance to hear them play all their hits live in Montreal, such as ``Time of the Season'', since they have not been back here for forty-seven years. Also, it was a treat to hear Rod Argent's song ``Hold your head High'' from Argent, the group he formed after his time with the Zombie's in the seventies. Listened to that song so many times back in the day. Keep on playing guys, and we look foward to seeing you again the next time you visit Montreal.

Though the show started late due to a power failure, the short wait for the Zombies was well worth it! Colin Blunstone sang like it was 1965 and Rod Argent's singing and keyboard playing were brilliant! The other band members including the former bass player from The Kinks (Jim Rodford) as well as his son Steve on drums and Tom Toomey on guitar (incredible technique) contributed enormously to this fabulous show! It was great to hear their better known tunes but also, songs from their last album were quite impressive! They were the Steely Dan of the British Invasion with their jazzy and complex musical arrangements and still are! Entertainment at its best!!!

Not a STRAWB fan and found it hard to sit thru their session, instruments exc but the singing, yikes!! THE ZOMBIES more than made up for it and were unforgettable, like watching a repeat of their performance on the KCTS British Beat special. Now if only there could be a KINKS or a DAVE CLARK 5 performance! Definitely AMAZING!!! On a side note, who was the complete IDIOT who kept prancing from one end of floor to the other dancing, waving his arms and flicking his lighter. Crappy dancer and totally distracting!!! Also how come people were even allowed to stand in front of the stage blocking the front seats?

Really enjoyed all the Old Hits, the musicians were first rate. Lead singer after 50 years was phenomenal. Keyboard player was overbearing ( I'm being polite here) Loved the Bass player from the Kinks, superb. Overall it was a great show.

Now, I have always been a huge fan of the Zombies so this isn't going to be an objective review. Be forewarned. Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone and the current band put on an amazing show. The original hits were performed flawlessly. Argent's cousin (ex-Kinks and many more) Jim Rodford was on bass and his son, Steve Rodford was on drums. Recent addition Tom Toomey handled the guitar spot with flair and precision. What I wasn't expecting was how fantastically good the songs they performed from the new album would be. Absolutely amazing! Colin's voice seems to have gotten better with time. He is singing better than ever if that's possible. Breathy and ethereal like the old days but powerful and almost operatic when he puts the pedal down. Surprise of the night was Rod Argent's hit "Hold Your Head Up" sung by Colin. Killer!!! "Summertime" from their first album was the encore with the audience singing along. I bought the new album "Breathe Out, Breathe in"(autographed) in the lobby after the show and I have been listening to constantly. It's so good I would recommend it to anyone. What a night, what a band!!

Rod can play the keys as always, and Colin's voice is still a force to be reckoned. Would have preferred less dialoque, as the audience mainly consisted of fans from the 60's who are familiar with The Zombies music. I have seen them at "Richards on Richards",(unfortunately now closed) Langley Casino, and River Rock. By far the Richards on Richards concert was the best, a more intimate affair, that suits the Zombies. There was a good mix of old and new, the album, Breathe Out, Breathe In is very enjoyable, the Zombies of now. Backup band provided the finishing touch for Rod & Colin.

Great performance especially since at the River Rock you can stand right at the stage for the entire concert! Great vocals and that keyboard player is crazy good! LOL! HATED the opening band though...the Strawbs as they were just too old of a group for me and I am 55! I didn't know one song they sang. I appreciated their guitar skills and musical talent, but the Zombies were great and that was all that mattered. I wish that hotel's casino was better, but it's not. It's very boring, no energy and every time I go, I miss Vegas big time!! Anyway, really enjoyed the Zombies and if you're a fan, you will too.

The Zombies put on an excellent show with a mix of their new material and their hits. Unlike many retro groups, the Zombies new music seemed to easily interchange with the old making it a highly enjoyable concert. A good amount of commentary and background on the material increased my appreciation of the The Zombies.

the zombees were awesome the mix of new and old music. Their voices could still do justice to the songs. I couldnt remember any of their songs to begin with, but onec they started playing it didnt matter. Good upbeat music. Their opening act the strawbs could easily be missed. their individual musical abilities were apparenently quite good, but together they didnt complement each other, partially drowining out the voices, which was a good thing. The lead singer(?) did have cool purple socks on.

The Zombies gave an amazing performance and they some of the nicest gents you would ever meet!!!

One of the best preformances I have seen in years. No nonesense, just pure entertainment magic from great musicians who know there craft .that clearly confirmed their place in rock and roll history.

From the start of the show these guys grabbed the audience and held them through every tune. There were no lulls or dead spots in the repertoire - every song was a good one. I would highly recommend this band.

The Zombies were the most underrated group of the 60's. Great singing and musicianship. They played many of their old hits along with songs from their newly released CD. For a group of "old" rockers on tour, The Zombies showed high energy and enthusiasm.

This was an interesting pairing. The Strawbs are touring to promote their Acoustic Gold album and sounded amazing. It was surprising how many in the crowd were familiar with the band and their songs and the set was very well received. I was disappointed that their set was only 35 minutes as they really had the crowd into their set. The Zombies sounded as good as ever and while Colin is starting to actually look like a zombie when he isn't singing, his voice is still as powerful and clear as ever, and Argent is, well, Argent. Good set but the winners for me were The Strawbs. Hope they pass this way again and put on a full show.

The Strawbs opened for the Zombies with a short half & hour set followed by an hour long feature performance by the Zombies. Both acts were in fine form belting out their hits from the 60's.

The Zombies hit Winnipeg’s McPhillip’s Street Station last night (10/5/11), celebrating their 50th anniversary as well as a brand new album titled Breath Out, Breath In. Seeing and hearing this legendary 60s British Invasion band, which features founding members lead singer Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent, it’s hard to fathom they’ve been around for 5 decades, as their energy, vitality and appearance (particularly Argent who seems to defy time), belie the statistic. Despite their undead moniker, The Zombies are anything but lifeless, whether playing material from their back catalogue, or songs from the new album, the band injects its utmost into the vocal harmonies and musical arrangements. Watch the showmanship of Argent as he intensely attacks each solo with seeming life or death urgency, or listen to Blunstone nail the high notes in the bridge of Tell Her No, and you’ll quickly realize that you are in the presence of some serious musical ability. The set list changed from their last visit in July 2009 with some differences in song order and additions from the new album. The band opened the night paying tribute to their past with a handful of trio of early songs, starting with a solid r&b cover of Ray Charles’ classic “Sticks and Stones” from their 1st UK release, 1964’s Begin Here. Next up was “I Love You,” a single written in 1965 by former Zombie bass player Chris White that - in keeping with the group’s legacy of performing and writing hit songs which were largely ignored during their original release - was a North American cover hit 3 years later for a group called People, followed by a rendition of the Solomon Burke classic “Can’t Nobody Love You,” also from Begin Here. The Zombies great live sound benefits from the formidable talent of longtime bandmembers ex-Argent/Kinks bassist Jim Rodford, son Steve Rodford on drums and new addition electric/acoustic guitarist Tom Toomey. As Blunstone, impeccably dressed in a blacks suit and white shirt, was about to introduce a selection from the new album, a rowdy crowd member yelled, “You’re great Colin.” The singer joked, “I didn’t hear you, but I think I agree.” They then jumped 50 years in time, playing the title track from Breath Out, Breath In, which, as Argent, fashionably dressed (for the ‘Peg) garbed in a Winnipeg Jets jersey and jeans, explained they had just recently performed on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. A fine cover of the David Ruffin classic “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” proceeded some further selections from the new album including: “A Moment in Time,” “Show Me the Way” a rocker which featured Argent on some feisty lead vocals, and the Blunstone penned “Any Other Way,” which featured an excellent acoustic solo from Toomey. The mid-set highlight of the show was a mini presentation of songs from their critically acclaimed 1968 classic album Odessey and Oracle album. Tracks performed included: Rose for Emily, Care of Cell 44, Beechwood Park, This Will Be Our Year, I Want Her She Wants Me (featuring Argent on vocals), and the magnificent Time of the Season, featuring Blunstone’s haunting lead vocals, which netted the band their 1st well deserved standing ovation. A couple of more well received tracks from the new album “Play It For Real” and “Let It Go” moved the night into the homestretch which began with an early single “Whenever You're Ready” followed by the Argent penned 1964 smash Tell Her No. Argent’s 1972 anthem hit “Hold Your Head Up” from All Together Now, complete with extended keyboard solo and excellent lead vocal work by Blunstone, had the audience singing and on their feet – thanks in no small part to Argent’ ability to work the crowd from 1 end of the stage to the other, and the night was wrapped with their 1964 Canadian/US Top 2 smash She’s Not There followed by a moody cover of George Gershwin’s masterpiece “Summertime’ for an encore.

When Colin Blundstone announced this band has been recording for 50 years, I almost had to pick my jaw off the floor. One of the original British Invasion groups they still really only have 3 songs most people would recognize, but they put a show together despite that. A couple of needlessly extended mixes at the hands of Ron Argent on keyboards (and a couple of his old Argent hits thrown in) and a still sweet yet strong voice from Colin made for a good show. Guest guitarists were spot on and the drummer was solid. If you're a fan of that 60's rock style -- go for an entertaining show. Careful with the seating we were in the fourth row but on the far left aisle -- Too far off to the side -- the band was dead centre and didn't travel much. Would have been much better to get cheaper seats, farther back, but more central.