Photos by Jeff Talbert
There are some concert bills that feel like a trip through music history. Saturday night at Washington, D.C.’s Warner Theatre was exactly that as Peter Asher, Colin Blunstone and The Fixx brought decades of British rock and pop history to the stage — and proved that the British Invasion is still going strong.
The evening was a celebration of longevity, great songwriting and, most importantly, musicians who still know how to connect with an audience.
For longtime fans of The Zombies, seeing Colin Blunstone perform live remains something special. More than six decades into his career, Blunstone possesses the kind of voice that simply cannot be duplicated.
His singing Saturday night was remarkable. There is a delicate, almost haunting quality to his voice, but there is also an extraordinary strength behind it. Most impressive was hearing Blunstone reach the notes that have been part of his signature sound since the 1960s — and still deliver them with remarkable clarity. From “Tell Her No” to the “Time of the Season”, when I hear those classics live from the stage, I felt transported to a more innocent time when music was pure music.
Blunstone moved comfortably through selections from his career, including Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” Russ Ballard’s “I Don’t Believe in Miracles” and “Old and Wise,” the latter associated with his work with The Alan Parsons Project.
“Old and Wise” was particularly moving, showcasing the emotional depth that has always separated Blunstone from so many of his contemporaries. His performance wasn’t an attempt to recreate the past; it was a reminder that the voice that made those songs memorable is still very much here.
Before Colin performed, sixties legend Peter Asher offered something equally valuable: perspective. Beyond the music, Asher proved to be a terrific storyteller, sharing stories and memories that gave the audience a glimpse into an extraordinary period in British music history and some part of American music history as well. His anecdotes transformed the evening into something more than a concert — it became a living history lesson delivered with warmth, humor and an obvious appreciation for the audience gathered inside the Warner Theatre. One of those anecdotes involved James Taylor, Carole King & one magical evening that was worth the price of admission.
Asher has spent decades at the intersection of British pop and rock, and his stories helped put the music into context without ever feeling like a lecture. The audience wasn’t simply hearing songs from another era; they were hearing the stories behind the people, places and moments that helped shape that era. That connection between performer and audience was one of the evening’s greatest strengths.
Then at the tail end of the night, came The Fixx, who transported the audience straight back to the early days of new wave. Their performance demonstrated why the band’s music has endured nearly fifty years on. Songs such as “Stand or Fall,” “One Thing Leads to Another” and “Beautiful Friction” brought the Warner Theatre to life, blending the distinctive sounds of early-’80s new wave with the energy of a live rock performance.
“Stand or Fall” served as a reminder of just how influential that early Fixx sound remains, while “One Thing Leads to Another” provided one of the night’s most recognizable moments. Hearing those songs performed live decades after their original release was a nostalgic trip without making the evening feel stuck in the past.
Instead, The Fixx demonstrated that great songs can survive changing musical trends and generations.
What made Saturday night’s concert so enjoyable was the contrast between the three acts. Blunstone represented the timeless elegance of British pop and rock, Asher provided the stories and historical perspective, and The Fixx delivered the sharp, rhythmic energy of new wave.
Together, they created an evening that spanned multiple generations of British music. Saturday night at the Warner Theatre was proof that great British music doesn’t have an expiration date. The British Invasion isn’t over. It just keeps evolving — and this amazing trio proved that it still rocks. If Peter Asher, Colin Blunstone and The Fixx are coming to your town, don’t miss them.
FINAL GRADE: A++
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