‘Lovely to See’ the Moody Blues at Chumash

Classic rock favorite the Moody Blues will play on the Central Coast later this month as part of their tour to promote “Lovely To See You, Live,” the group’s first live album recorded without an orchestra since 1969.

“We’re very pleased with it,” said John Lodge, in a Jan. 30 interview with the Santa Maria Times. Lodge took time out for the call from a vacation in Barbados, where he was relaxing before the group’s 2007 tour kicked off Feb. 8 in Las Vegas — although, he said, he did manage to fit in a concert on his own there earlier in January with a variety of Carribbean artists.

“Lovely To See You, Live” was recorded last summer at a performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

“We took a lot of trouble in recording it,” said Lodge in a charming British accent, adding that recording a live album is more complicated than it sounds.

“It seems to take more work to do a live recoding,” he said. “It’s post-production nowadays that takes time.”

In addition to making the album, the group created a DVD and spent hours in the studio mixing the album to ensure the surround sound was just right.

Although Lodge found the result rewarding, spending time in the studio mixing recorded music isn’t his favorite way to use his musical prowess.

“I always like writing new songs,” he said.

Lodge is reponsible for writing some of the Moody Blues’ biggest hits, including “Ride My See-Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band),” “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone,” “Talking Out of Turn,” “Sitting at the Wheel” and “Lean on Me (Tonight).”

For Lodge, songwriting isn’t something that follows much of a process. “A thought goes through your mind,” he said. “You never know where a song comes from — it’s only after you analyze afterwards.”

He recalled writing “Isn’t Life Strange,” for example. He was having dinner with friends at home when an idea for the song popped into his head. He sat down immediately at his grand piano and in an hour he’d written the song.

“I sat down at the piano and the song wrote itself, really,” he said. But in truth, the idea had probably been brewing in his mind for three to four weeks, he said. “They happen when they do,” he added.

And bringing those new songs to audiences provides a special thrill for Lodge.

“There’s something about performing new songs,” he said, especially, he added, for the very receptive American audience.

“It’s one of life’s surprises for the Moody Blues,” he said, referring to how U.S. audiences have continued to be enthralled with the band, for their new songs as much as their old ones.

Lodge credits the ability to download music from the Internet for the band’s growing stream of young fans.

Although such technology was long feared by musicians, it seems for classic groups like the Moody Blues, the capabilities have been a boon.

“No one knew what was going to happen,” Lodge said, recalling when the technology first gained popularity.

But the Moody Blues have found that young music consumers are getting online suggestions to listen to their music. For example, Lodge said, consumers are told, if you like Cold Play, you should try the Moody Blues.

“I think people might have come to find us,” he said, adding that such referrals are keeping their audience young.

He also said that a lot of video footage of the band has made it to the broadcast Web site www.youtube.com.

“It’s even fascinating for me,” he laughed. “I’ve seen things on there I didn’t know we did.”

So which of these ever-popular Moody Blues classics is Lodge’s favorite?

“All of them,” he laughed. “I’m biased.”

But if he had to choose, he said, “Nights in White Satin” would be at the top of the list. “That’s where it really all started,” he said, adding that the 1967 album it was on, “Days of Future Past,” “sort of lunched our ship.”

Also at the top would be “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band).”

“Because that’s who I am,” he said. “Those two define the Moody Blues.”

COMING SOON:

The Chumash Casino Resort is preparing to host several all-star acts. Each concert begins at 8 p.m.:

Tower of Power, Thursday, Feb. 8

Dolly Parton, Thursday, Feb. 15 (SOLD OUT)

The Moody Blues, Thursday, Feb. 22

Styx, Thursday, March 1

Wynonna, March 9

Earth, Wind & Fire, March 22

Tickets for all events can be purchased by calling (800) 585-3737 or online at www.chumashcasino .com.

Emily Welly can be reached at 739-2220 or ewelly@santamaria times.com.