Author Topic: Deep Purple (Read 290 times)

5a_quilt_top · « **on:** August 07, 2014, 12:29:34 PM »

Apologizing in advance - no Alembic-related content.

Saw them Monday night at a casino in Scottsdale, AZ. Didn't know what to expect in light of all of the personnel changes over the years.

A stellar performance - egos were checked at the door and the music did the talkin?.

They all appeared to genuinely enjoy playing (and playing with each other) and delivered all the expected highlights for almost 2 hours straight with conviction, balls, precision and VOLUME.

Excellent sound & lights, as well.

Steve Morse has a tough job. Blackmore?s parts are iconic and he respectfully paid homage to them while at the same time adding a little of his own secret sauce to the mix. It takes a real deft pro to pull that off. Same could be said for Don Airey handling Lord?s parts.

However - Roger Glover on bass, IMO, stole the show - he has more than a few impressive tricks up his sleeve. I had no idea he is as good as he is ? not just ?chugchugchugchug? on the tonic all night.

He and Ian Paice are a formidable rhythm section and their creativity elevates DP music beyond the typical loud sludge offered by so many heavy groups.

Highly recommended if for no other reason than to witness a convincing demonstration that a group of guys pushin' 70 (well, one is pushin' 60) can rock out as well or better than groups half their age.

hieronymous · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2014, 01:32:16 PM »

The new album is great! It's called Now What?! I never went for the Steve Morse era stuff, but really like this one. Don Airey is on keyboards - he always played support stuff for Ozzy Osbourne but he rips with Purple! Wish I could see them live - sounds like it was fun!

terryc · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2014, 01:49:41 AM »

Saw the original band in 1974 in Newcastle UK
They were loud, very loud..so much so that I couldn't hear my parents for three days(not a bad thing when you are 17 LOL).
When Ian Gillian left he was replaced by David Coverdale who was in a local band in my area called Government.

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2014, 04:54:29 AM »

Some people hate me for saying this, but that is probably the Purple line-out I like the most... including the Coverdale/Hughes contest for who sings the most Oh, and BTW, Hughes solo is wonderful as well!.

jacko · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2014, 06:42:45 AM »

Terry. Might have been the same gig I was at although my recollection suggests 1972. My first ever rock gig at a very young age. Supported by Chickenshack. Always been a fan of Roger Glover - his lines aren't simple by any stretch of the imagination - even smoke in the water has some interesting fills.

Graeme

hieronymous · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2014, 09:45:43 AM »

I was fortunate enough to see Mk. II in 1985 when Destiny Brought Them Together Again with the Perfect Strangers tour - at Budokan in Tokyo! I was 15, one of the live music highpoints of my life!

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2014, 11:50:44 AM »

Re: loud - even though it was a casino, the room was quite large and the volume was formidable - but, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way - ;-)

Morse used THREE Engl full stacks and Glover had an equal pile of TC electronic 4x10's. Airey substituted a Hughes & Kettner tube amp for the traditional Marshall favored by Lord and also had the required array of Leslies for his real Hammond = massive c-r-u-n-c-h-y organ - awesome.

It wasn't quite loudest band record-book loud (117 dB - !), but easily the loudest thing I've seen in awhile.

But - it was a good loud. Not ear bleeding, but you could feel it in your gut and hear every nuance - including the difference between when Glover used his fingers vs. a pic.

Just the way it needed to be, IMO.

Highway Star - anyone?

terryc · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2014, 12:58:19 AM »

jacko..you could be right(senior memory loss moment!)Long time ago to remember the year but the concert is etched in my long term memory

richbass939 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2014, 05:47:02 PM »

Deep Purple was, I believe, the first arena rock-n-roll show I saw. Probably late 1973. Glenn Hughes on bass and vocals. Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Tx.
Local opening act. Then, totally unannounced was Savoy Brown, awesome show.
DP absolutely delivered. Great show.
All the DP players/singers were excellent. But I have to say that Jon Lord has always seemed to me to be the ultimate rock star. Just my opinion, but he always did it for me.
Great memories of the days of great rock shows that didn't cost three weeks' pay.
Rich

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2014, 02:52:22 PM »

David,
Thanks for the good report; after I last saw them here in central NJ 2 or 3 years ago, I was very concerned for the group. On this particular night, Gillan was constantly running backstage, after nearly every verse (not song, but verse), and I was quite worried for the man. We were not sure if it was medical related, or simply too much whiskey before the show. I just remember being very uncomfortable during the performance, and have not considered attending a show since. Perhaps it was 'just one of those nights', glad to hear things are good again.....
Chris

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2014, 12:25:56 PM »

I'm happy to report that Gillan was on his game that night.

Of course he wasn't able to hit the REEEEALLY high notes any more, but he made up for it with stage presence and power.

In addition, Airey and Morse both provided selective instrumental assistance to fill in for the missing high vocals and Gillan did a nice job of blending his voice with the instruments at those times so it sounded full.

I was impressed with their ability to re-work the material slightly to accommodate his requirements.