THE big talking point with the Moody Blues over the years was always how they managed to transfer the big sounds of their epic studio-produced concept albums onto stage so pertectly.

But on the way up the M42 to the NEC's LG Arena, we wonder if now, in 2010, they can still do it given that drummer Graeme Edge is about to hit the big seven-o, and Justin Hayward and John Lodge are not that far behind...

These three are the survivors of the band of the late 60s, and for this tour are augmented by four talented and enthusiastic backing musicians: Alan Hewitt on keyboards and Norda Mullen on flute – two elements that have always been part of the Moody Blues unique sound – Julie Ragins adds backing vocals, and the line-up is completed by second drummer Gordon Marshall, who spends nearly the whole gig standing up!

The “big three” up front are, however, soon showing that they have no intention of just going through the motions to please their fans and letting the younger ones do the hard work, and belt into a succession of their finest songs that have us fellow geriatric rockers repeatedly grabbing our partner's arms to gasp “I'd forgotten this one!”

The Day We Meet Again, Slide Zone, Gypsy, Tuesday Afternoon, Never Comes The Day and The Story In Your Eyes are all amongst the 10 or so numbers in the first half of the set, and it continues after the break with Isn't Life Strange, Driftwood, Higher and Higher, Are You Sitting Comfortably and, of course, Nights In White Satin, the latter a stern test of Hayward's vocal chords but he's on top of every note to show that his voice, even after 40 years, is as good as ever.

Meanwhile Lodge, as always, provides rather more than just accompaniment on bass.

Every couple of songs one of the three steps up with a few words for the audience, very humorous – especially Edge's '69' speech and the fact that he's now been through the 60s twice ! He also narrates, sings and dances his way through Higher and Higher, which delights the appreciative crowd.

As the big ones keep on coming we begin to wonder, especially after two-and-a-half hours, what they've got left for an encore?

After a deserved standing ovation – Birmingham is of course the Moody's home ground - the familiar opening bars of “Question” answer that one, and when the fans demand another one the band bring a great night to it's climax with Ride My See-Saw.

Of the few surviving big 60s groups that are, bless 'em, still working hard on the circuit, you get the impression that the Moody Blues are probably the ones best-equipped to outlast the rest, even the likes of The Who and the Stones...

Certainly everyone on stage thoroughly enjoyed themselves on Saturday night!

Steve Townsend