While attending an intimate concert — certainly in comparison to venues such as Radio City, Jones Beach or the Garden among other wonderful places to take in shows, last Thursday eve (September 3, 2026) I mused might this gig wind up near the very top of shows covered in my year-end Top Ten Concerts of 2026 commentary.  My daughter, Marisa, and I very much enjoyed Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues at The City Winery.  Justin played most of my fave songs he wrote and sang with the Moodies including Question (one of my all-time fave songs) and The Story in Your Eyes.  On the drive home I promised to create a playlist of just his songs with the moodies — similar to the Songs of Paul Cotton playlist I created last winter in a salute to the late great singer-songwriter guitarist (who replaced Jim Messina) in Poco; so far find a version in AppleMusic.

One surprise (which inspired a song from the setlist as the title for this commentary.): At intermission, my brother Richy (one of the very best and most knowledgable urban planners I know and worked with) and his bride Adrianne found us.  Earlier I had thought my sister-in-law would probably enjoy this show — Shelly and I attended one Moodies concert with them.  Adrianne often played the Moodies during family gathering she and Richy hosted around the holidays.

For a band without a drummer or bass guitarist, I did not feel any loss.  We enjoyed the concert and the overall sound.  Justin’s band includes Billy Adamson, acoustic and electric guitar; Julie Ragins, keyboards, guitar, percussion and vocals; Karmen Gould, flute, keyboards, percussion and vocals; and Josh Johnson,  Guitar tech, guitar, percussion.  

Personal highlights included Question (of course!!!), Voices in the Sky, The Voice, The Story in Your Eyes and Tuesday Afternoon.

The setlist follows: 

Set 1:

*Say It With Love (The Moody Blues song)
*Lovely to See You (The Moody Blues song)
*Tuesday Afternoon (The Moody Blues song)
*Living for Love
*Hope and Pray (The Moody Blues song)
*The Voice (The Moody Blues song)

     (Audience Q&A)

*The Day We Meet Again / One Lonely Room / Out and In / In My World / Meanwhile
*Voices in the Sky
 

Set 2:

*A Minute Ago
*The Land of Make-Believe (The Moody Blues song)
*You and Me (The Moody Blues song)
*Forever Autumn (Jeff Wayne cover)
*Your Wildest Dreams (The Moody Blues song)
*Question (The Moody Blues song)
*Nights in White Satin (The Moody Blues song)
*The Story in Your Eyes (The Moody Blues song)
*I Know You're Out There Somewhere (The Moody Blues song)