Deep Purple--Beacon Theater, NYC--Nov. 27, 1996

A week later my head is still reverberating from one of my favorite concert experiences of the year. When the house lights went down, my friend Annie and I abandoned our places in the 5th row for two unclaimed seats in the front and "Hush" kicked in. Nobody sat down and we remained in the front row on RG's side for the duration of the show. What a treat! I found myself 2ft. away from the PA tower and in full blast of RG's very punchy and satisfying bass rig-- which is a great place to forget how awful the house sound at the Beacon usually is.

I had serious doubts about Purple without TMIB. But, after seeing all those smiles fly across the stage I'm convinced it's well worth it. Steve Morse played beautifully. Hearing old tunes I'd never expected to hear live played so tightly was like Christmas come early. The show was superbly well-Paiced. Oh Lord, another pun! I understand we have SM to thank for getting to hear "Hush"--just for that he is totally cool.

My own Purple-outfreakage probably peaked with "No One Came"--that was the essence of hard rock in one strobe-lit moment for me. I never stopped smiling. The setlist is recounted successfully in other reviews--I found myself unable to take any coherent notes while undergoing heavy speedkingization in the front row. At one point I looked to my left and saw two girls no more than 9-13 years old singing along, following right along with the lyrics for--dig this--the o l d songs! Yow! Cool! Then IG pulled them up on stage to dance during "Perfect Strangers"--whatta gentleman! Some security guy, fearing perhaps half the orchestra might follow the lead, decided to cut in early. Even IG seemed miffed.

In a world of bad soft drinks, this concert was like a rare, dusty bottle of the finest 1969 LaFireball-In-Rockschild straight out of the cellar of the Speed King Chateau. I'll have it to stay!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Glover!
from Tilman Reitzle (SWnTR@aol.com)
Stone Ridge, NY, USA

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