I was fortunate to catch this show last night up in Laval (Montreal) Quebec. Starship was good with sole original member David Freiberg.
Cathy Richardson was lead vocalist with Mickey Thomas back for this show/tour. They played 7 songs, 35 minutes, quick set including
White Rabbit & Somebody to love. Vocals were good, musically excellent.
Kansas was outstanding. Eric Holmquist filling in for Phil Ehart that last original member. Joe Deninzon on violin, Tom Brislin, Zak Rizvi,
Dan McGowan, Scott Bernard played a great set. They played the hits but also much loved deep tracks.
Hold on, Paradoz, Miracles out of nowwhere and Portrait were all really good. They played a solid 80-85 minute set.
Deep Purple - I was hoping they could still play and Ian Gillen sing turns 81 tomorrow. He unlike some other senior artists sang within his
range and delivered solid vocals. Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Don Airey & Simon McBride (not easy trying to stand in Ritchie's shoes)
were outstanding. Starting with Highway Star, various keyboard (Don Airey excellent) & guitar solos that would lead into the hits.
The band was on fire. Lazy, Perfect Strangers, Space Trucking, monster Smoke on the Water with Hush as the encore.
Great set, they played a good 100 minutes. Don Airey & Simon traded organ & guitar licks like Derek & Warren.
I caught both Starship & Kansas 40 + years ago and was very happy hearing both bands. Deep Purple was a band I've followed since
Machine Head 1973, 1974 perhaps. Never thought I would get to to see them. I'm considering making a long run to Ottawa Thursday for the next show, yeah that good.
Thanks for reviewing this. It really belongs on Anything Goes, but that's a minor complaint. Count me a huge Purple fan, I know I've seen them ten times. I'll miss this tour, they are doing a Texas run but are not coming to El Paso. Here's a show from this tour recorded in Clearwater, FL only 11 days ago. Someone shot it on their I-Phone, which to me is quite a tribute to I-Phone technology, because it really came out great and the sound is quite good. Setlist very similar to what you just described. So I take it guitarist Rich Williams is no longer with Kansas. He had been a member since the early 70's and was with them the last time I saw them only two years ago.