Well, we saw a few more shows recently, and the most recent two were night and day. We saw Deep Purple with Judas Priest, and about a week later, Counting Crows with Live. There were some cheap tickets, but not a lot of good shows this summer, so pickings were slim, and being eager to see some large, touring acts this year, we signed up for some things we might not have seen had other options been available.
Counting Crows with Live
So, let's get it out of the way. Counting Crows is probably the whiniest band in all existence. Still, they played faithfully, and for their fans, they are still a good act. Adam Duritz is actually genuinely funny when he talks between songs, and is about as unpretentious as one can be. Perhaps excessively, even. In fact, we got the impression that he was internally deliberating asking the stage crew to bring him a cheeseburger so he could eat between songs, talking all the while. He looked like he was in his own living room, just a few short steps away from spilling the milk on the counter, shrugging, and leaving it there forevermore. His stage presence suggests that his home is probably a sloppy mess . By contrast, his singing sounds like it always has- soulful and well tuned- and he's lost nothing from his performance over the years.
Live was the reason we went to see the show, and they also gave a solid performance. It's hard to comment on a show like theirs. They don't do anything flashy with their stage show, which is fine. It's in line with the culture of the early 90s, which gave birth to the shoegazing phenomenon that followed. Simple shows that focused on the physical expressions of the musicians were a shift away from the supposed excess of the 70s rock bands. At least, those shows are much cheaper to take on the road. Ed Kowalczyk still looks and sounds energetic, and youthful, and they played the songs we had hoped they would. They pared things down from the album versions, but nevertheless, are still tight. Their two drummers were very cool to watch, playing in synch with one another (we wonder why they had two, since they typically played identical parts). It gave us flashbacks to 1995, when Lightning Crashes was at its peak, and Throwing Copper was rising in the charts. While it would have been better to see them then, they haven't slacked off, and their new material was true to their sound, having good energy. Nothing felt stale.
Deep Purple with Judas Priest
As for Judas Priest and Deep Purple, let's begin by reminding you that these people are, for the most part, in their 60s and 70s.
First, 'Priest. Rob Halford is the quintessential frontman, and it was a grave sin on the part of the band to attempt to tour without him a few years ago. This show, speaking of both bands, was one of THE best we have seen in the last 25+ years that we've been seeing live acts. Judas Priest played with a fury and freshness that suggested they just dropped their first hit single yesterday. They have an explosive stage presence. One of the best parts for us as fans was that they still dressed like the rock gods that they are. They refuse to slouch into the dressed-for-retirement uniform that many aging rock bands do. No, they have remained fit and agile, and everything about
their performance exuded virility and power. They are one act EVERYONE should see at least once in their lives. The whole crowd was roaring, and the air felt positively electric. Halford's singing is still as sharp, pitch perfect, and growling as it's ever been. His range has suffered nary a blemish in all these years. It's as if they haven't aged a day.
Now, the headlining act, Deep Purple, what to say of them? Well, they are currently touring without Ritchie Blackmore, which came as a great disappointment to us initially. However, when we learned who had replaced him in the band, we were confident that this would be a worthwhile experience. See, having grown up listening to Steve Morse in the Dixie Dregs and the Steve Morse Band, his inclusion in Deep Purple came as a delightful surprise. This show went from being a two-birds, one-stone experience to being a trifecta of majesty. They had a beautiful backdrop with LED screens (as did 'Priest), and an elaborate light show, exploiting the newest technology to extend their classic, psychedelic display into the modern age.
Their keyboard player, Don Airey, is not original, but his scholarly approach to organ, synth, and keyboard more than compensated. Looking like nothing so much as a hobbit on holiday, Airey is a treasure of the rock world, confidently guiding the audience through a masterful solo that blends traditional classical playing and the occasional, playful homage with high caliber, progressive styling that makes lesser musicians weep in shame. Grinding organ driven rock still has a good deal left to say, and Airey is hell bent on telling us tales of glory.
Each of Deep Purple's current lineup can and does stand alone as a powerhouse in their own right, and they came together or this event in cosmic rapture. Steve Morse brought his mathematical yet emotive guitar mastery to bear, further enhancing the songs that Blackmore built. Blackmore himself has had nothing but good to say of Morse, and with good reason. Morse is a prolific songwriter, composer, and of interest to us, a former Michigan resident, once living in Ypsilanti. They chose well in bringing him into the fold.
Their manner of dress was mixed, some members- chiefly Gillan- deciding on comfort first, and others modeling the iconic look we expect from rock stars. It was largely irrelevant, since their performance took you to their imaginary world of musical color, and rhythmic texture. That brings us to their drummer, Ian Paice, who cannot go without mention.
Paice is unquestionably one of the most underrated drummers in rock. First of all, the guy is hardcore. According to his wikipedia entry, he had a mini-stroke while on tour in 2016, and just 17 days later, got back on stage to continue the tour. That's dedication. He has the ability to hang back and let others do the talking, while he holds a complimentary, unintrusive rhythm, throwing perfect, subtle accents exactly where they belong. Then, when given the opportunity, he launches into a complex, satisfying solo explosion that leaves no one wondering about his capabilities. He has impeccable meter with both complex, busy beats, and sparse, loose ones. He's not a drummer, really. He is a true musician. He and bass player, Roger Glover, are the perfect foundation for the rest of the band.
Deep Purple is, to this day, an assembly of some of the greatest talent in all of rock history. It's evident in how exuberant their fans remain. They continue to win new audiences, and their music deserves to persist for generations to come. They are even better than the hype. We cannot name a band formed since 1980 that is playing on this level. This, coming from people who are only casual Deep Purple fans. They will win you over.
See them.
Next?
Do you have suggestions for bands with shows scheduled for the fall? We're interested in local, national, and international acts. We hear that John Lydon is bringing PIL to the Majestic, and some other promising acts are on their way as well, such as Behemoth and Mephiskapheles. Tell us. What should we see?
