The Zombies, Sterling Watkins, and Pastor Appreciation

  

The Stage before the concert

 October is Pastor Appreciation month. Most church congregants don’t even realize there is such a designated month. While I appreciate any gesture shown me by my congregation, every now and then someone exceeds the usual effort and expectation.

   Sterling Watkins of the Claypool United Methodist Church knows how to show appreciation.

Sterling having a good time!

   Many of my sermons or messages make references to 1960s rock bands and musical phenomena. Sterling, being my age, shares similar interests and tastes in rock music and must have been listening to my sermons.

    As a gesture of pastor appreciation, Sterling acquired tickets to see the Zombies at the Star Plaza October 16.

   Having gained popularity and success in 1964 and throughout the sixties and seventies, one would think of the Zombies as an “exercise in 1960s nostalgia” type of group. Contrary to that notion, I submit that they are fully a contemporary band with a timeless sound as relevant to today’s rock environment as during the 1960s.

 

Melissa and friend at the sales table.

   Colin Blunstone’s vocals are inspiring and unencumbered by age. Rod Argent’s talent on keyboard is superb and perhaps his musician-ego is on display as he gymnastically moves his fingers along the keys quicker and with more precision ever before in his career.

While not in the foreground of performance, Jim and Steve Rodford delivered accomplished and stirring effect on bass and drums. And Tom Toomey gives us a guitar sound that prompts one to accompany him with “air guitar” gesture, as many in the audience did.

   They had a two hour show. The first hour revisited their hits of the 1960s and also introduced a couple of tunes from their freshly released new cd “Still Got That Hunger”, more about that later.

   The second hour was a stage performance of their monumental studio album “Odyssey and Oracle” released in the late 60s. “Odyssey and Oracle” is considered their most accomplished and successful album, much like Sgt. Pepper is for the Beatles. The Zombies performed every song on “Odyssey” from beginning to end.

   But as I mentioned earlier, they are not just a 1960s nostalgia band. They are contemporary and current. Six days ago they released their newest CD “Still Got That Hunger” which has a sound that compels one to follow from track to track like reading a “page-turner” mystery.

It was a great show. The musicians were obviously having fun. Their sense of fun and enjoyment of the moment carried into the audience. It was one of the finest concert experiences I can remember.

Thanks to Sterling Watkins who knows how to show appreciation to a pastor.

   My next concert will be, by invitation of my son, Eric, Black Sabbath sometime in February. I’m sure that general audience will be of a noticeably different composition suitable to match the compositions performed.

Ally Ferber and Evan Watkins Jump the Broom

On Saturday, October 10, 2015, Evan Watkins and Ally Ferber began a new chapter in their lives together. In fact, they began a whole new book. Having met in high school and dated quite exclusively for a number of years, the couple decided to add yet more suspense to their romantic plot by tying the knot, jumping the broom, or otherwise accommodating ceremony, tradition, and ritual by declaring intent, exchanging vows and giving and receiving rings.

   Ally, being an English major and lover of novels, theater, and all things English, British and American, set the stage of the ceremony with a novel theme.

With Evan’s help, and much work, the tables at which the family and friends sat were decorated with a novel and props to enhance the literary nature of the wedding.

   If you look closely, you will see small circles lying upon the tables. Those are circular cut-outs from old novels pasted to designs. It must have taken hours upon hours to decide upon the books, find the props, and do the work of cutting, pasting, and organizing such a wonderfully themed wedding.

Congratulations to Evan and Ally as they begin this sequel to their previous novel of dating and getting to know each other and each other’s family. I suspect that in this sequel they will eventually make the plot a bit richer by introducing children and perhaps, after a full development of that theme, they will write a concluding sequel in which grandchildren and retirement will deliver a “happily ever after” sentiment and exclamation mark upon their fulfilling journey through marriage and life together.