Deep Purple, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Dream Theater
Holmdel, NJ August 6, 1998
My friend Pete Dickinson and I made our way down to Damien DeSimone's place in Monmouth Beach New Jersey. After spending an enjoyable day at the beach and hanging out, we made our way to the PNC Bank Performing Arts Center. We met up with the usual web crew and friends from last year, checked out the merchandise and scoped the grounds.
Our seats were in the fifth row (thanks, Damien!) on the left side of the stage. Show time was set to start at 8 PM, but Dream Theater started what was to be their usual routine of going on 15 minutes early. I'm a big Dream Theater fan, and I think they do well as a support band. They get the crowd pumped up, and have a higher energy level than their headlining sets. Their set consisted of: New Millenium, 6:00, Peruvian Skies, Pull Me Under, Hollow Years, and Metropolis.
ELP followed, playing their longest set of the tour (due to time constraints ELP later shortened their set). I'm also a big ELP fan, and they played well and a good set. Their set consisted of (not 100% of the order) New song, Karn Evil 9, Hoedown, Touch & Go (later dropped), Keith's Piano Concerto, C'est La Vie, Lucky Man, Tarkus, Fanfare For The Common Man.
And onto Purple! What can I say, Deep Purple were AWESOME tonight. They played with so much energy and Gillan has never sounded better! He hit everything he went for and wasn't shy on his "I thaaaaaank yoooou's"! From the start of the set, he was up front shaking hands with the front row and generally goofing around! I couldn't see much of Paice from where we were sitting, but the others were just having a blast, and playing GREAT. Tonight they played Seventh Heaven during the set, but did not do Any Fule Kno That for the encore. It was great hearing Seventh Heaven, I hope they add it back to the set!
The audience was receptive, sometimes sitting, but always bobbing their heads and giving their support, even if sitting at times. I'm sure Purple won over a lot of Dream Theater and ELP fans tonight. All in all a great show! On to Hartford!
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