Justin Hayward: Spirits...Live—Live at the Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta

Although he's the only original member present at this 2013 Atlanta engagement, this Justin Hayward concert plays a bit like the Moody Blues Unplugged. His band includes Mike Dawes (acoustic guitar), Alan Hewitt (keyboards, backing vocals), and Julie Ragins (keyboards, percussion, backing vocals). While Hayward's voice is no longer as pliant, it's still strong enough to do justice to Moody standards like “Nights in White Satin,” with Dawes substituting guitar for flute. Unfortunately, Ragins encourages the audience to clap along to the quietly reflective “Tuesday Afternoon,” which proves more distracting than not. Fortunately, that doesn't continue throughout the 15-song set, although these Hayward enthusiasts clap at everything the front man says between songs, no matter how mundane. One recollection concerns a visit to Lubbock, TX, to pay tribute to Buddy Holly, who might not seem like an obvious influence, but there's certainly a touch of Holly to the title track from Hayward's 2013 album, Spirits of the Western Sky. Other fan favorites include “Question,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You're Out There Somewhere.” Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette with rehearsal footage and fan interviews. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)