PNC Review
Let's see...
I'd never even heard of Dream Theater before, but they were excellent (especially the bass player). I may get their albums (I believe there are 2?). ELP played their usual songs, nothing new there. This was my first time seeing Carl Palmer. He is really good. I'd seen Emerson, Lake and Powell years back and the set seemed much better then.
Deep Purple opened with Hush, and followed with Bludsucker, then (the order may be wrong) Strange Kind of Woman, Pictures of Home, Ted the Mechanic, Lazy, Woman from Tokyo, Seventh Heaven, Almost Human, Smoke on the Water, and Highway Star for an encore. I don't remember them playing Any Fule Know That, but everyone else says they played it. I must have been distracted by the 2 assholes in front of me who got up and started dancing and disrupting everyone else's view until they were escorted out.
The band sounded extremely well rehearsed, and the sound system was absolutely superb. Steve Morse played great although his solos all sound alike after the 4th song or so. I guess the main difference between this lineup and the previous is that the other guitar player never played the same solo twice. Other than that, no complaints (not that this was a complaint). I think SM is a great fit for the band. They have actually become A NEW BAND that is a lot more lively than the old one with all that classical influence. He really shines best on the new material. I can't get used to someone else playing Smoke on the Water or Highway Star, so I think these numbers should be dropped in favor of tunes like "Cisco", or "Somebody Stole my Guitar" and to hell with pleasing the masses. After all, since when does DP give a hoot about pleasing the masses? They always played on their own terms. I can't believe they're getting soft after all these years.
By the way, Gillan sounded great. I've heard that in subsequent shows his voice was shot so I'm glad I saw him at the first show of the tour where he was rested. If you get a chance, go see them. You won't be disappointed.
[ reviews | the highway star ]