The Zombies Mesmerize Young and Old Fans Alike at California Show
by Thomas K. Arnold
Founding members Rod Argent (c) and Colin Blunstone (2nd from r) still lead the Zombies
When the Zombies touched down for their concert at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, Calif., on October 7, 2023, it was hard to tell who was more exhilarated: the band or the crowd.
Throughout the 90-minute show, singer Colin Blunstone seemed genuinely happy to be there. During the chorus of “Time of the Season,” perhaps the British Invasion band’s best-known song, his facial expression was rapturous as he lifted his hands and reached into the crowd like a preacher while the stage lights enveloped his head like a halo. Keyboardist Rod Argent, right up front, made frequent eye contact, and shared smiles, with the throngs of fans who pressed up against the stage with the fervor of religious zealots. And the rest of the band played to the crowd rather than for them, resulting in tumultuous rounds of applause, screams and cheers after every song.
The Zombies carved a niche for themselves during their initial mid-’60s run by mixing Beatle-esque pop with psychedelia. The group was formed in 1961 by Blunstone and Argent—born 10 days apart in June 1945—and scored its first hit three years later with “She’s Not There,” followed soon thereafter by “Tell Her No.” The band was quickly elevated to the front lines of the so-called British Invasion, reportedly becoming the first British band after the Beatles to top the U.S. pop charts. But fame was short-lived, and by 1968 it was all over. The group’s swan song LP, Odessey and Oracle, remains an unheralded psychedelic masterpiece, similar to Love’s Forever Changes.
Watch the band perform “She’s Not There” at an earlier stop on the tour
After the band’s dissolution, Blunstone pursued a solo career and Argent formed his own short-lived band, Argent, which had a massive hit in 1972 with “Hold Your Head Up.”
But in 2004, after a handful of one-offs in the 1990s, the Zombies regrouped for good, and they’ve been touring and recording ever since.
Related: Our interview with Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone
The Belly Up Tavern show opened with “Moving On,” a groovy blues rocker from the band’s 2015 album, Still Got That Hunger. Most so-called “legacy” bands have either stopped recording or continue to pump out albums of questionable quality. The Zombies are one of the few 1960s bands that continue to produce great new material, and the crowd’s reaction to the group’s newer songs was every bit as positive as it was to their classic hits.
Next came a pair of songs from 1965, “I Want You Back Again,” a single that went nowhere and is best remembered for its cover by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the obscure B-side “I Love You,” a cover of which became a modest hit in 1968 by People!, a one-hit wonder from San Jose, Calif.
Colin Blunstone, lead singer of the Zombies, at this 2023 concert (Photo by Thomas K. Arnold, used with permission)
The Zombies played a total of four songs from their latest LP, including the title track, “Different Game,” a Procol Harum-like tune that the band recorded in Argent’s home studio, a converted barn, and the beautiful ballad “You Could Be My Love,” featuring just Blunstone’s vocals backed by Argent on piano.
Both songs drew thunderous applause from the audience, which consisted of a surprisingly large number of young people. Up front, pressed against the stage, a purple-haired woman in her 50s swayed to the music right next to a 24-year-old with two lip rings and a large tattoo that swirled around her entire left arm. A health-tech executive in his late 50s with short red hair stood mesmerized right next to a young long-haired man who sang along with virtually every song.
Watch the Zombies perform songs from Odessey and Oracle elsewhere on the 2023 tour
The Zombies were in exceptionally fine form as they performed one of their two earliest hits, “Tell Her No,” with the young girl in the front dancing trance-like as though at a rave.
Watch the Zombies perform “Tell Her No” at the same venue in 2016
The evening’s high point: four deliciously psychedelic songs, in succession, from Odessey and Oracle: “Care of Cell 44,” “A Rose for Emily,” “This Will Be Our Year” and “Time of the Season,” three of which were written by Argent (“This Will Be Our Year” was written by Chris White, who during the group’s initial heyday was its bassist and, along with Argent, one of its two primary songwriters).
Rod Argent, Zombies keyboardist and co-founder, in 2023 (Photo by Thomas K. Arnold, used with permission)
The band followed this iconic quartet of songs with the rollicking “Merry-Go-Round,” off its latest LP, and an extended version of “Hold Your Head Up,” with maniacal organ work by Argent, before closing with “She’s Not There,” one of the most infectious songs to come out of the ’60s Brit years.
Called back for the obligatory encores, the Zombies finished the night with “The Way I Feel Inside,” written by Argent during the band’s first big tour in 1964, and “Say You Don’t Mind,” a U.K. hit for Blunstone in 1972 that was performed as a tribute to Denny Laine, the veteran British rocker currently beset with health problems.
The show was so well received that much of the audience lingered near the stage even as the house lights came on. The 24-year-old girl was among the last to leave. Tickets to see the Zombies are available here.
Watch the Zombies perform “Time of the Season” at the 2023 Solano Beach concert
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationSomehow, whenever the Zombies made it to Phoenix (not enough times, in my opinion) I missed them. So, I have to settle for seeing the band for a couple minutes during the vapid “Bunny Lake Is Missing”.
Just Out of Reach. Although I did get to see Argent in 1972. I think they opened for the Guess Who.