Just when I thought that Deep Purple were about to hang it up, they proved last night that this band is FAR from done if they want to continue. This is their 50th Anniversary tour even though it seems they are not playing that up much. The main issue for years has been Ian Gillan's voice but he proved last night that he's got plenty left. Best I have heard Ian sound in MANY years and I don't have an explanation for that. The videos below should be proof of that, although there appears to be some problems with the sound on Highway Star. I know because I was there that Ian's voice did not sound as bad on that tune as it does in the video; possible that I had my thumb over the microphone on my little Canon point and shoot; also possible since that was their first tune that the sound guy hadn't worked out the bugs quite yet.

Overall though just a tremendous show. As they always do, they gave Don Airey a ten minute or so keyboard solo where everyone else left the stage. About all I can say is that now that Keith Emerson is dead, Airey might be the most accomplished keyboard player in rock and roll. His solo leaned heavily towards classical at times. Other musicians besides Gillan and Airey are Steve Morse guitar, Roger Glover bass, Ian Paice drums (the ONLY drummer Deep Purple has ever had in 50 years!!!)

Tons of old stuff, particularly from Machine Head: Highway, Pictures Of Home, a mind-boggling Lazy, Space Truckin', and of course the requisite Smoke On The Water. How many times have you heard someone say "Deep Purple? Oh yeah........I know them.......Smoke On The Water." That really makes me chuckle and it made my chuckle last night because age-wise I would say that this crowd leaned heavily on 30's and many of them other than that one tune seemed not that familiar with Purple. I love the way they blew them away with their musicianship and waited until an hour into this 75 minute set to slip Smoke in there. By then these people had become quite amazed at the musical prowess of this band. And of course they HAVE to play it. Strange Kind Of Woman and Knocking At Your Back Door were both great. They closed with Hush from their very first record which was a nice surprise.

Overall, just amazing the level that these guys are still on after 50 years...........really glad I went.

Judas Priest opened and if anyone thinks they can't still bring it they are sadly mistaken. I was really into them in the 70's when I was my 20's and they did do some stuff from that era: Sinner, Hell Bent For Leather, Delivering The Goods, and a crowd pleasing, show-ending trio of Electric Eye, Breaking The Law and Livin' After Midnight. Other than that I was unfamiliar with most of their stuff because I lost interest after the 70's. Rob Halford's voice seemed to have lost NOTHING, especially his range. Ian Hill is still on bass, Scott Travis drums. The two new guitar players BRING it but you knew they could find two guys who would; think of the competition level at THOSE auditions.

Knocking At Your Back Door:

Hush

Highway Star/Pictures Of Home

[Edited on 10/1/2018 by robslob]