Deep Purple
Bushnell Theatre
Hartford, Connecticut
8 June 2011
Tony Pijar
Man, it’s about time Deep Purple came back to the US! As you read this, the band will have just concluded a month long tour of America. The special uniqueness to this tour was that the band used an orchestra to back them! It was truly amazing to witness the band live with a 40 plus piece orchestra.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra settled in and played an introductory piece as each member of Deep Purple readied himself – First, Don Airey, then Steve Morse. The legends, then, strode to their familiar positions; Glover stage left, Paice behind a sparse kit that would soon sound like cannons exploding, and the master Gillan at center stage. A swirl of lights, the conductor’s arms raised and poised, the band locked in…and we’re off with the chugging riff of “Highway Star”. Morse excelled during the extended lead using Blackmore’s blueprint as a guide, but adding in flurries of innovative fret mastery. “Hard Lovin’ Man” from “In Rock” followed. The orchestra worked wonderfully with “Highway “Star”, but not so with “Hard Lovin’ Man”, which really did not benefit from the textures an orchestral ensemble offers. “Maybe I’m a Leo”, with it’s stuttering riff, was lifted into the stratosphere via a bevy of violins and cellos that emphasized the hot notes. “Strange Kind of Woman” rocked, while “Rapture of the Deep” was exquisite. Morse and Airey sparred a bit on the latter while the orchestra filled out the sound appropriately. “Woman from Tokyo” was brilliant as was the sultry “Contact Lost” from “Bananas”, which led to Morse’s lead solo spot. “When a Blind Man Cries” was utterly beautiful, especially with the violins gently following from the back – simply staggering! “Knocking at your Back Door”, “Lazy”, and the pulverizing “No one Came” proved why Purple are legends. “Perfect Strangers” led into “Space Truckin” and finally the enduring “Smoke on the Water” closed the set. “Hush” and “Black Night” were the encores.
40 plus years on and the guys look like they’re genuinely enjoying themselves. The energy…the brilliance of the music…and the unrestrained smiles both on and off stage tell all within earshot that the Deep Purple machine shows no signs of slowing down.
