02 September 2026 (gig)
17 h
Possibly the coolest package tour this summer is the pairing of Peter Asher (from Peter & Gordon), Colin Blunstone (lead singer for The Zombies), and The Fixx. A great mixing of different generations of British rock, combining acts from both the original British Invasion in the '60s and the second UK Invasion during the MTV-influenced New Wave soaked bands of the early '80s.
The Fixx, Colin Blunstone and Peter Asher performed on September 2, 2026 at the Somerville Theater in Somerville, Massachusetts. This was actually the first night of the package tour, which is lasting the whole month of September.
Asher began the night with a half dozen songs and told so many amazing stories of his career, that it was more like a "Storytellers" performance. Opening with "Crying in the Rain", as a tribute to the Everly Brothers, Asher spoke of his friendship with Paul McCartney, who was in a long-term relationship with his sister, Jane Asher, during the Beatlemania-era (he even played McCartney's original demo for "A World Without Love" for the audience).
When Peter and Gordon disbanded in 1968, Asher began a very successful career as a record producer and manager and guided the early careers of singers including, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. Asher performed a cover of Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" (also a hit for Peter and Gordon) along to the vocal track of his late-partner, Gordon Waller and did a magnificent job on the Del Shannon penned, "I Go To Pieces".
It's well worth checking out the 2025 documentary, "Peter Asher: Everywhere Man" to fully comprehend Asher's phenomenal career in music.
Blunstone, who is now touring as "The Voice of The Zombies" (since his partner Rod Argent retired from the road in 2024) is still at the top of his game and his set was made up primarily of songs from The Zombies' catalog. Blunstone said that after playing the track, "I Love You" (an early Zombies cut), that the song was not a hit in the US. However, the band People! covered the song in 1968 and it rose to #14 on the Billboard Top 100.
Blunstone pulled out The Zombies' infectious hit, "Tell Her No", early in the set and instructed the audience to sing along during the barrage of "No's" that make up the chorus. Amazing versions of "If It Don't Work Out" and a cover of Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" were set highlights.
The Zombies are best known for the epic album "Odyssey and Oracle". So much so that the four original surviving Zombies (Blunstone, Argent, Chris White and Hugh Brunham) mounted US tours in 2015 and 2017, playing the album in its entirety. Blunstone picked a few numbers from "Odyssey and Oracle" and did grand versions of "This Will Be Our Year", "Hung Up on a Dream" and the epic "Time of the Season."
While some vocalists from the Classic Rock era have sadly been having vocal issues, Blunstone has not lost one bit of the power in his singing voice (and still retains his humorous personality and charming stage presence).
In an unexpected move, Blunstone did a great version of the Alan Parsons Project number, "Old and Wise".
Blunstone ended with an epic version of The Zombies' "She's Not There", drawing a massive reaction from the packed theater.
The Fixx still have all the classic members of the band still onboard - Cy Curnin (lead vocals), Jamie West-Oram (guitar/backing vocals), Rupert Greenall (keyboards/backing vocals), Dan K. Brown (bass/backing vocals), and Adam Woods (drums).
The quintet played a pair of hits earlier in their repertoire; 1982's "Stand or Fall", (the video for the song was a staple of early MTV) and 1986's "Secret Separation".
Some deeper tracks as "Wake Up", "Driven Out", and "Woman on a Train" were ripe with the atmospheric moods and synthesized beats that make The Fixx a unique and outstanding group.
After "Opinions", the band ran straight through their biggest hits with "Saved By Zero", the iconic "One Thing Leads to Another", "Deeper and Deeper" (a spectacular song from the 1984 film, "Streets of Fire") and "Red Skies". They returned for a single encore with, "Are We Ourselves?"
After such a varied night of UK musical brilliance, a third British Invasion would be quite welcome.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Sep 10, New York Society for Ethical Culture - Adler Hall, New York, NY
Sep 11, Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
Sep 12, Warner Theatre - Washington DC
Sep 13, The Kent Stage, Kent, OH
Sep 15, Uptown Theater Minneapolis
Sep 17, Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL
Sep 18, Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
Sep 19, Barrymore Theatre-WI, Madison, WI
Sep 21, DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, MI
Sep 23, Brown County Music Center, Nashville, IN
Sep 26, College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT
Sep 27, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, PA
Sep 30, Troy Savings Music Hall, Troy, NY
