Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Falling a few years after the release of its latest long album “Still Got That Hunger” and right around the 50th anniversary of “Odessey And Oracle” gave The Zombies a lot of ground to cover on the “Edge Of The Rainbow” Tour in the first of two standing room only shows at the esteemed City Winery. The group led by co-founding front man Colin Blunstone and keyboardist/vocalist Rod Argent actually began on both Bo Diddley and Dusty Springfield’s turf to respectively cover “Road Runner” and “The Look Of Love” through the lens of the British Invasion, but then sped right up to today with “I Want You Back Again.”

Alternating Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up” with The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” coaxed everyone to their feet, which is where they stayed for “God Gave Rock And Roll To You” in dedication to late bassist Jim Rodford (a 19-year member who also logged time in Argent and The Kinks).

Technically speaking, that tune was first recorded by the band in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers rescued it from obscurity that The Zombies gave it another shot to stirring results that landed somewhere between rock, soul and blues. “I Love You” and “Tell Her No” painted the two most impressive pictures of the group’s well-preserved harmonies, “Moving On” lived up to its rave from “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” host Steven Van Zandt (also of the E Street Band), while “Chasing The Past” gave Argent a chance to weave together vintage and contemporary keyboard elements throughout an extensive solo.

The Zombies’ “Odessey And Oracle” segment kicked off with “Care Of Cell 44” (an admitted life-changer for the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl), wound through the experimental psychedelic pop of “This Will Be Our Year” and “I Want Her She Wants Me” before climaxing with the crisp “Time Of The Season.” Strangely, the album flew fairly far under the radar when it was initially released, though as these four tracks demonstrated, it’s right up there with any of the era’s defining moments that never stopped gaining momentum and mattering to subsequent generations.

Alternating Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up” with The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” coaxed everyone to their feet, which is where they stayed for “God Gave Rock And Roll To You” in dedication to late bassist Jim Rodford (a longtime member who also logged time in Argent and The Kinks). It may sound like a bittersweet way to wave goodnight, but it turned out to be a joyful remembrance of not just his vast musical life, but also these key players who keep right on rolling along at an optimal level.

Click here for more photos of The Zombies at City Winery.

For additional information The Zombies, visit TheZombiesMusic.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include The Zombies with Don DiLego (Mar. 20); Stanley Clarke Band (Mar. 21); The High Kings (Mar. 22); Michael McDermott (Mar. 23, 25); Joshua Radin with William Fitzsimmons (Mar. 26-28); Howie Day (Mar. 29); Bilal (Mar. 30); Christopher Cross (Mar. 31-Apr. 1); Al Jardine (Apr. 2); António Zambujo (Apr. 3); Karla Bonoff (Apr. 4); Storm Large (Apr. 5); The English Beat (Apr. 6-7); Jake Shimabukuro (Apr. 8-9); Ana Moura (Apr. 10); The Baylor Project (Apr. 11); Berlin featuring Terri Nunn (Apr. 12); Jimmy Webb with Robin Spielberg (Apr. 13); Willie Nile (Apr. 14); Candlebox Acoustic Duo with Lullwater (Apr. 15-16); Whose Live Anyway (Apr. 17); Max Weinberg’s Jukebox (Apr. 18); Delbert McClinton (Apr. 19); Kevin Nealon (Apr. 20-21); Wasabassco Burlesque (Apr. 21) and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers (Apr. 22). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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