Review

Well, I guess it's time to get around to posting this baby. This is, to my knowledge, the only review from the standpoint of a Steve Morse fanatic going to see him and his new band as opposed to a Deep Purple fan going to see them and their new guitar player.

I've been a huge Steve Morse fan for many years now (Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Kansas, whoever he plays with). I've seen him live several times with the Dregs and SMB as well at clinics. I can confidently say that I have never seen him having this much fun on stage before. Not to say he doesn't always have fun, just not this much. Someone that is into music like this must go through the more "Normal" or "Mainstream" music in order to get here, so it's not like I don't know who Deep Purple are.

I went to the show at The Meadows in Hartford, CT (I actually live there). I really had no idea what to expect whan I got there. The opening band, Machinery, was really nothing to write home about. I think I've seen them before anyway. The drummer was actually quite good, however. Then comes Deep Purple.

The opening notes of Hush ring out and the crowd is on it's feet (As we were for the entire show less The Aviator, only because Ian G. asked us to). The show was amazing. The band was extremely tight. I was especially impressed with Ian Paice. He has a great feel around his set. Steve was on fire as usual. His licks seemed a bit faster (as if that's possible), cleaner and more delicately picked than the last time I saw him. It did seem to me that he was in the spotlight more than the rest of the band. It gave me a great feeling to see one of the nicest, and obviously one of the most talented people in music, finally get some of the recognition that he so greatly deserves. Deep Purple fans are certainly lucky to have such an amazing person and musician to fill the spot of old whats-his-name. And he does with great ease. He probably could with one hand :) Sorry, just a bit of favoritism there.

Well, I hope you all get the chance to see the band in the near future. Let's all hope this lineup sticks around for a while and keeps on recording. Good luck and good listening to all.

Jon Bulkley

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