My dear wife, Carrie, and I took a little trip this past weekend.  We went to St. Louis together.  St. Louis is only about a four hour drive from our house.  Actually, less than that.  We live 109 miles from the Illinois border, by way of the route we take.  Anyway, it really is not that far.  Considering we have driven from Maine to Florida along the East coast, you’d think a trip to St. Louis would have been in order by now.

I suppose we have Justin Hayward to thank.  Justin played a concert in a small concert venue that in its day was called the Carnegie Hall of the west.  The Sheldon Concert Hall in the theater district of St. Louis was built in 1912.  The place has been untouched compared to many of the places we have been.  There are 476 seats in the orchestra section and 236 seats in the balcony.  Each of these seats was occupied as no one in the room was very far from a stage that presented Justin Hayward, Mike Dawes with guitar support, and Julie Ragans singing harmony and playing keyboards.  Justin played many guitars and sang songs like Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, Question, and fourteen other solo and Moody Blues songs that were nothing short of a treat to witness in such grand fashion.

Having seen Justin sing with The Moody Blues on the Big Barn circuit that includes Freedom Hall, Deer Creek, Riverbend, Roberts Stadium, Red Rocks,  and Rupp Arena to mention a few, it was a surreal experience to hear these songs acoustic and close up.

Justin told some good stories about the songs he had written and was sharing with us.

Justin, Mike, and Julie.  I spoke to Julie after the show and she thanked me for the post I did on the album she completed recently with her husband, Curtis Brengle.  They are the DUO.  On this night, she was part of a wonderful trio.

Justin Hayward sings his heart out.  He leaves nothing behind anymore.

More updates on a great visit to St. Louis later in the week.

You have a great week…and don’t forget to…

Speak the rights.

Danny Johnson