The Zombies concert review: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

photo: William Vasta/Lewis Family Playhouse

The Zombies launched the 13^th entertainment season at Lewis Family Playhouse in rocking fashion on Saturday night.

Filled with concertgoers of all ages, the intimate Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. venue (capacity: 560 seats) was the perfect place to witness the celebrated English rock band, whose 1968 album “Odessey and Oracle” has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece by musicians ranging from Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, the Lemon Twigs and Portugal. The Man to Brian Wilson, The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs and the late Tom Petty.

Before the live proceedings got underway, a pre-show party featured a raffle of gift baskets, a DJ spinning pop and rock tunes from various eras, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and mini dessert cakes. After about an hour, the sounds of Brian Setzer Orchestra’s “Jump, Jive ‘n’ Wail” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” were enough to lure some people out to the small dance floor. One young gal seemed to have era confusion and sported a fake mustache and ‘80s-styled sunglasses! Kudos to the decorators, who adorned the room with Sixties-centric lava lamps, a peace sign made of flowers and large dessert table letters that spelled out L-O-V-E.

“This is such a beautiful theater. We’ve heard a lot about it from our road manager,” raved Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone, early in the group’s excellent 90-minute set. Indeed, I hadn’t been to a show at the Playhouse (part of the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center) show since Kenny Loggins in ‘08 and had forgotten what a gem it is.

The Zombies kicked off the concert with a lively “Road Runner” and perfectly sublime “The Look of Love” (by Bo Diddley and Burt Bacharach/Hal David, respectively), then it was onto their own material, starting with 1965 single “I Want You Back Again.” Smiling ear to ear, Blunstone sang with arms outstretched, the musicians added high flying backing vocals and Rod Argent delved into the first of many tasty keyboard spotlights. Also, from the same year, came “I Love You,” a vinyl single B-side (and a top 20 U.S. hit for People! In 1968). Blunstone’s dramatic vocal outbursts were a wonder to behold.

“Sanctuary,” from Argent and Blunstone’s 2002 duo album “Out of the Shadows,” brought drummer Steve Rodford over to the side of Argent’s keyboards to play some small bongos with brushes on the relaxed Latin-tinged groove.

A brawny “Moving On” and rollicking “Edge of the Rainbow,” from the band’s aptly-titled most recent studio effort “Still Got That Hunger,” fit nicely with the older material. Yet when the musicians played “Tell Her No” (#6 U.S., 1964), the crowd really responded in kind. The same was true for a fine cover medley of Smokey Robinson’s “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home to Me,” which fit like a glove and the audience clapped along.

Before a mini-block of songs from “Odyssey and Oracle,” Argent recounted how the album suddenly started gaining popularity in the late ‘70s when Paul Weller of The Jam began talking up its merits in interviews and others followed suit.

The sprightly “Care of Cell 44,” baroque pop of “This Will Be Our Year,” “I Want Her, She Wants Me” (featuring Argent on rare lead vocal) and big hit “Time of the Season” all sounded splendid as ever. The latter saw the keyboardist do a vigorous solo and an even longer prog-rock-styled one during the Argent band’s AOR radio classic “Hold Your Head Up.” Toward the end, The Zombies played a strong “She’s Not There” and the Argent band’s “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You” for a swaying, good-time finish.

Remaining Zombies U.S. tour dates:

9/18 Seattle, WA

9/20 Los Angeles, CA (opening for Arcade Fire)

9/21 Palm Springs, CA (acoustic duo/podcast interview)

The Zombies and Colin Blunstone will also perform at On the Blue Cruise (Nassau, Bahamas and Isle of Labadee), alongside Todd Rundgren, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, Dave Mason, Steve Hackett, Alan Parsons, Procol Harum, Al Stewart, Poco, David Pack, Vanilla Fudge, Stephen Bishop, Rick Derringer and others, Feb. 10-15, 2019. Go to www.onthebluecruise.com for more info.

Selected upcoming Lewis Family Playhouse events:

In the Mood (1940s musical revue), Nov. 10

Brian McKnight, Nov. 16

Jane Lynch’s “A Swingin’ Little Christmas feat. Kate Flannery,” Nov. 17

The Nutcracker, Dec. 1-2, 8-9

Blind Boys of Alabama: A Christmas Celebration, Dec. 15

A Peter White Christmas feat. Rick Braun and Euge Groove, Dec. 16

Under the Streetlamp: Hip to the Holidays, Dec. 20

For more venue season information, go to www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com