Deep Purple - Astoria - Tuesday 17th January

My first live viewing of Deep Purple. Got in early for a change and witnessed that great rarity - a half decent support band. Called "The Answer", they may actually have a future ahead of them, with some Plant-esq vocals and a hint of AC/DC in the sound. A couple of catchy songs too - new EP out soon apparently.

I was quite impressed by Deep Purple. However, a lot of the regular fans seemed upset at the amount of "new album" material and there was a fair bit of heckling. It probably didn't help that Ian Gillan clearly didn't know the words for the first few songs! One of the things that is always a bit of an issue is the set mix for new and old fans. The regulars are probably sick of the "hits" churned out year after year, but as a "newbie", I was delighted to hear Highway Star, Smoke On The Water and Black Night. Indeed, I'd have been happier too if they'd done Woman From Tokyo and Strange Kind of Woman, whereas for someone like Status Quo for example, I'd happily miss out some big hits, for some more "hardcore" classics. 

Anyway, I was impressed by the musicianship of Deep Purple - especially Steve Morse. A couple of Amstels in the Tottenham (previously Soho's worst/smokiest pub?) rounded off a nice evening.

Setlist

Pictures of Home

Things I Never Said

Wrong Man

Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic

Living Wreck

Rapture of the Deep

Back to Back

Before Time Began

Contact Lost

Guitar Solo [Steve Morse]

The Well-Dressed Guitar

Lazy

Keyboard Solo

Perfect Strangers

Junkyard Blues

Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming

Space Truckin'

Highway Star

Smoke on the Water

+

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Black Night / Bass Solo