Saw John Lodge - impressed...

js1 · #1 09-23-2011, 10:52 PM

Tonight I saw the Moody Blues, and I had great seats, close enough to see everything that John Lodge was doing. Prior to tonight, never gave much thought to the gentleman.

But, he seriously impressed me.

I did some searches on this forum, and came across some comments like "he can't play well", and "the tough lines were all played by keyboard". No way that either statement is remotely true. Those inventive lines that you hear on record is all him, and he can still deliver it today (at a not very young age).

js

Jeff K · #2 09-24-2011, 01:26 PM

Yeah, I always felt that John Lodge was very under-rated as a bass player.

MysticMichael · #3 09-24-2011, 01:36 PM

It doesn't surprise me in the least. I appreciate a bassist with a superb sense of musicianship, like John Lodge, over any fire-breathing chops-monster-of-the-week you care to mention...

MM

js1 · #4 09-24-2011, 03:43 PM

Thing is, his chops were excellent. Many of his lines are quite technical, and I don't think he ever looked at his fretboard once through all the position changes. While singing at the same time.

Now he is a pick player....

js

JimmyM · #5 09-25-2011, 10:17 AM

Who says John Lodge can't play? Anyone who says that is an idiot. Jiohn Lodge's basslines are the best thing about the Moody Blues.

fretlessguy · #6 09-25-2011, 10:51 PM

To me he is the best of the Moody guys, although all were always really good musicians. I cannot fathom why anyone would say that. John is one of the influences that encouraged me to play bass in the first place.

stratovani · #7 09-26-2011, 08:01 AM

So, what about gear? What was he playing? Amps? Pedals?

iamthebassman · #8 09-26-2011, 02:15 PM

I play bass and sing in a Moody Blues tribute band, I LOVE playing those bass parts, some are quite tricky, especially while singing too.

http://www.vitsband.com/

iamthebassman · #9 09-26-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

So, what about gear? What was he playing? Amps? Pedals?

Currently: active Fender Jazz, doubleneck Fender P-Bass/Tele. Ampeg amps.

vettfingers · #10 09-26-2011, 09:29 PM

Saw them live back in 94-95. I had 2nd row seats and could see everything he was doing. Great bass player no doubt, and yes he hardly ever looked at the fretboard. Glad he is still kickin' it!!!

Exploiter8 · #11 09-26-2011, 09:37 PM

I've seen them eight or so times since "Octave." One tour he even played Alembic, "The Other Side Of Life," I believe. I always try to work his name in when threads discuss "underrated, singing bassists, and pick users."

X8

lunarpollen · #12 09-26-2011, 09:53 PM

Anyone who's heard any of the classic Moodies albums and doesn't rate him highly is a fool.

Hifiguy · #13 09-27-2011, 10:50 AM

I've seen the Moodies twice and Lodge impressed the hell out of me both times. He's always been a tasteful and highly melodic player - very underrated, IMO - and an excellent singer. What's not to be impressed with?

Rickengeezer · #14 09-27-2011, 11:44 AM

Lodge is a very creative and melodic bass player; the Moodies may not be to everyone's taste but hard to imagine people dissing him. Nice to hear that he's still playing as well as ever! I will say that more recent clips suggest that his voice isn't what it used to be.

woodyng · #15 10-06-2011, 01:40 PM

At playing really well integrated melodic basslines (while singing!),and adding so much to a song . One of my favorite examples is a Moodies song called "it's up to you"', which you won't find on a greatest hits compilation,upbeat and a very nice bass part.

iamthebassman · #16 10-07-2011, 09:32 AM

My MB tribute band has a big show tonight, Austin,TX, gonna pay a ton of great J.Lodge bass parts!

elroyjetsn · #17 11-22-2011, 12:42 PM

Funny thing, I was playing around with my multitrack trying to use the IPhone "Manetron" for the Mellotron in "Knights in White Satin". The minute I added my version of Lodge's bassline to the song, the song took on a grand big sound, almost magical.

Ended up with a really muddled version of the song and my vocals made Alfalfa sound good. But, the bassline is one of my alltime favorites. JL and JJ have been my main bass inspirations!

mellowinman · #18 11-22-2011, 01:28 PM

If I ever catch anyone saying anything about John Lodge, I am going off.

OFF!

I used to date a woman ten years younger than me, and I won tickets to the Moodies from a local radio station.

She said, "are we really going?"

I should've taken someone else.

She was bored, and I was LOVIN' IT!

(it was my Seventh Sojourn with the Moodies, or maybe my Octave, I can't say for sure)

Not only is Lodge a great bass player, Justin Hayward is an excellent guitar player and singer. Those two are the soul of that band, and what a great band, indeed.

JimK · #19 11-22-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellowinman

Not only is Lodge a great bass player, Justin Hayward is an excellent guitar player and singer. Those two are the soul of that band, and what a great band, indeed.

The direction of that band certainly changed once those two came aboard...

markob · #20 11-23-2011, 10:33 AM

I played an 80's party for a friend's 40th BD a few weeks back. Her song request included "Wildest Dreams". Quite a bassline. I worked more on that song than any in the set. Lodge is a fine player. We should all be so talented.