There are times when writing reviews reminds me that the word critical is derivative from the word critic. All of us are critics. To one extent or another, we see what we see, we hear what we hear and, in the process, we make value judgments.
The minute one lays words to paper (or in this case, laptop screen) one becomes a reviewer and, by default, a critic.
This wasn't one of my favorite shows in recent memory.
Yeah, They're The Moodies, But ...
At the Hard Rock (more about this sorry excuse for a concert venue later) the Moodies were down to three original band members, an extra drummer, two additional keyboard players (one could have doubled for Betty in the cartoon band, The Archies) and one extremely talented female flutist/guitarist/vocalists.
It was apparent at the outset that the boys needed some assistance on the high harmonies, and the ladies performed admirably in this regard (although "Betty" could really benefit from working on her stage presence ... it was embarrassingly distracting.)
To be clear, I have always enjoyed Moody Blues music. In fact, one of my earliest altered states experiences came while listening, with a group of like minded friends, to Days of Future Passed. It was and remains heady stuff, indeed. And I've seen them, in various incarnations over a dozen times throughout the years. Usually, it's a sensory treat.
And to be crystal clear, the Moodies have a fiercely loyal fan base. Most of them likely won't agree with the following assessment.
The Muddy Blues?
The Hard Rock is a poorly designed, ergonomic nightmare of a house from a seating/comfortable sight line perspective. It's more of a challenge for the folks working the board, attempting to mix concert sound in a venue more suited to extreme fighting or WWE wrestling.
The Seminoles and their architects cheaped out on the design elements of this house, but not on the face value of tickets. The Hard Rock in Hollywood commands the highest ticket price in South Florida. Guess the casino take is a bit skimpy.
The band was short-changed by a sound mix that often had them sounding like the Muddy Blues. They attempted to replicate, almost exactly, the sound of a Moodies studio effort, no small feat under ideal circumstances. This particular venue rendered the exercise impossible.
They played most of their classic tracks -- some sounded great, others mediocre and others were just an assault on the ears (not from a musical perspective, the sound mix was just mired in muck.)
Pay Attention to the Venue
If you would like to see this band at (what I believe to be) their optimum, my recommendation would be to do one of two things:
A.) Catch them in a venue that you know has great acoustics
B.) Catch them when they perform with local Philharmonic orchestras
If you opt for the Philharmonic route you'll be treated to a very special evening. This particular evening was anything but special.
