LAST year, The Zombies celebrated their 50th anniversary and had a busy year; this year seems to be rather busier, and in between no less than three US tours, they managed to fit in a month of dates around the UK.

There are no frills with The Zombies. No lasers, no pyrotechnics. Just five middle-aged musicians doing what they do best – playing outstanding music to a theatre full of knowledgeable music fans.

They began with a track entitled simply I Love You, which was in fact the b-side of the 1965 single Whenever You’re Ready (which was played in the second half of the show).

Despite its’ lowly status record-wise, this track is a well-loves staple of the band’s live show and also appears on numerous compilations.

The whole show took us on a fifty-one year journey, from their origins in St Albans, through to their latest album that was released two years ago.

Breathe Out Breathe In, the title track, was but the first of four songs taken from that album and has now become classics of the repertoire.

After five songs, we had the first of singer Colin Blunstone’s solo material with What Becomes of the Broken Hearted and I Don’t Believe in Miracles.

Then just before the interval was a slot dedicated to the band’s magnum opus, the cult album that is Odessey and Oracle.

Five tracks were played including the emotive A Rose for Emily, Care of Cell 44and the mega-hit Time of the Season.

This all brought back memories of 2009 when the band – with it’s surviving original members, toured the album, playing it exactly as recorded.

After the interval was more of the same, old songs, new songs, Blunstone solo material and a breace of tracks recorded by keyboard player Rod Argent’s second band Argent: God Gave Rock and Roll to You and Hold Your Head Up.

The show finished with a rendition of the song that was initially planned to be their first single – a very jazz-influenced version of the George Gershwin song Summertime.

There is a lot of jazz in the music of The Zombies, but it is fused with a bit of Rhythm and Blues (proper R ‘n’ B – not what they call it today) and good old rock and roll.

As for the band themselves, they enjoy themselves on stage, as Rod Argent always tells me – they wouldn’t do it if they didn’t.

The trio of musicians alongside Rod and Colin are all exemplary craftsmen of their art: bassist Jim Rodford (who was at the band’s very first rehearsal but declined an invitation to join the band), his son Steve on drums and guitarist Tom Toomey.

The virtuosity of Rod Argent is an absolute joy to watch and his keyboard solos are just sublime.

And of course, there is that breathy, searing voice of Colin Blunstone, who hits the notes every time and puts so much feeling into the songs, it’s an almost physical feeling.

Five men, 24 songs, one fantastic night.