DEEP PURPLE-Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center-August 14, 1998
If concerts were ever written up in Consumer Reports Magazine, I am certain that any reviewer would give this triple bill a high rating! Definitely one of the "Best-Buys" of the year, concertwise! On the afternoon following the concert I asked my radio listeners to call in with their thoughts. An overwhelming amount said they really felt like they "got their money's worth": 2 legendary bands---Deep Purple and Emerson, Lake and Palmer and also an opening act in Dream Theatre that was no slouch either. They also echoed a feeling that may sound cliché but is very accurate---there is a REASON why THESE BANDS are legendary and still popular around the world…THEY CAN PLAY like few others!! They are TOTAL pros!! And---their catalogues are SO DEEP that anything they play is GREAT! NO FILLER!! But because this is a DP website I will focus on Deep Purple for this review.
The setlist was very "user-friendly"---all the BIG DP songs that the non-fanatics all knew plus a sprinkling of depth, some new stuff and personal faves of mine ("Lazy", "Pictures Of Home" "Perfect Strangers"). As of concert-night I was still "warming up" to the newer-era DP but have to admit the band really "SOLD" the new material, live. I have a new appreciation for it now. I went back home and listened to "Abandon" and like it all MUCH better, now. Isn't that the whole point of touring? :-)
For the sake of the "mainstream" audience at FLEAPAC, I was glad to see that DP did not take the "snobbish", masturbatory approach and play only depth tracks, new material. Lord knows I have been to TOO many concerts by many legendary bands where this had been the M.O. Those shows often leave the people who are NOT FAN-a-tics---feeling cheated. This is why I call DP---TOTAL PROS. To many bands make people pay a ridiculous ticket price only to subject them to self-serving nonsense. NOT the case with this tour---especially on DP's part (although they are a band that is so strong, musically, that they COULD easily fall into this mode; they choose not to)
Their solo breaks are another testament to their professionalism---entertaining, but focused; there was definite direction but also sincerity. This balance is hard to find in most bands. Again--too many bands play to only the "musicians" in the audience. DP's solo breaks were all tight without being too contrived.
As for what I call The Morse Factor---there is a lot that can be said about Steve and his addition to the DP team. Overall, he lends a playfulness, a youthful vigor and earthiness to DP that they sometimes lacked with Blackmore. Now I love the RB-era Purple as much as most fans do, but Steve adds a DIFFERENT dimension. For example, while RB's improv would lead the band members into intriguing directions, often, things would sometimes be all over the place. This would often give the viewer or listener a sense that everyone was "off on their own brilliant tangents"---not really reacting to the audience but heading into their own worlds. OK. So that was the RB-era Purple and it was never boring. BUT. The Morse Factor gives us more of a band-feel. While Morse's improvs are also inventive---albeit a bit jazzier---he seems to tighten everyone up a bit. This gives DP an overall more modern, 90's sound. It is very hard to describe what I mean---you have to see it live; you cannot just get the feel from listening to the new material. You have to hear how Steve affects the old classics.
DP allowed a few people up onstage. They actually had one guy from the audience play the tambourine for several minutes. This proves they are not the musical snobs they COULD BE, considering their legendary contributions to musical history.
EVERYONE played well enough that I totally enjoyed every minute of it! People sitting in seats around me kept saying "THEY ARE JUST SOOO GOOD!!" The only negative was that I wanted to hear Ian a little louder. His mic seemed very low, but then I had read about how he might have been having throat problems. To me---it simply sounded like he needed to be "potted up", more. He hit quite a few high notes and hit them quite well and looked to be in great shape.
In fact, all the guys looked healthy and not at ALL like old, stodgy Classic Rock dinosaurs. I especially liked the minimalist stage setting (after all---with DP---the BAND and the TALENT has always been the focal point; who needs a frilly, stupid set when you have the talent that they do?). I also LOVED Ian's onstage garb!! He looks tasteful, yet comfortable and not trendy or stupid!! So many bands try and LOOK LIKE JERKS!! Ian should design his own line of comfortable menswear. He wore a black silky-looking (but NOT feminine) pair of loose pants and muscle-type shirt also made out of the same black material. Very sexy and yet tasteful and simple. In fact, the entire band stayed away from overly-trendy clothes which was a great decision on their part. DP does not HAVE to be gimmicky to be successful.
I was not expecting any of the band members to come out backstage and greet their guests, but most of them did. They were gracious and signed whatever the fans gave them to sign. DP was the very first REAL rock band I had ever seen in-concert (California Jam). You never forget your "first time." :-) And, now, some nearly 25 years later, I still get the same thrill seeing them onstage!
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