Review of Deep Purple in the Orange County Register. I was there.

[Big Poppa]

Here is a two bit reporter for the Orange County Registers review of the Deep Purple show this week. I cannopt tell you how much I disagree with this review. The crowd even in the back row was on their feet all night...I know I was on the stage.

But to not allow a a working band that is still playing all over the world and still recording to play the set they want is crazy....but the way he discounts Steve Morse is pathetic.

I was with John Ferraro a world class drummer who has toured the world with every dozens of major acts and a important studio musician (just did Steven Tylers new cd) and he cannot believe this review The show was outstanding

Deep Purple puts fans in a haze at Pacific Amphitheatre - The Orange County Register

 

[dave1812]

I wasn't there, but that sure sounds like a BS Review
Who allowed this Guy to write Concert Reviews?

 

[uOpt]

I disagree with the Morse bashing, but otherwise it sounds a bit like what I thought of the last tour in Boston. The Boston gig was the first of the tour, maybe they weren't warmed up or hadn't fine tuned the show. But it does sound a bit familiar.

 

[kestrou]

The gig in Laughlin, Nevada just finished - sold out show of (I think) 2,500 and it rocked!

The crowd was on its feet much of the time and very into the set list - didn't bear any resemblance to what the author of that review described...

Kevin

 

[stratamania]

A reporter that writes they didn't do Burn, and also knows that Coverdale, was the singer at that time is slightly less than informed to be kind.

 

[Big Poppa]

what kevin said....

 

[fogman]

What an idiot!!! I have not seen purple in years, but I've seen plenty of recent YouTube videos to know what's going on.
The writer obviously knows nothing of the band, nor tried to do any research.
That is proven by his comments of the songs he didn't get to hear. If he did, he would know that the band actually doesn't like to play "Knocking at Your Back Door"; and that goes as far back as when they wrote it and Ritchie was still in the band.
Purple fans don't want to hear the same set list everytime or they wouldn't bother going to the show. DP has a huge catalog to draw from...and no! They're obviously not going to play David Coverdale stuff.
Now I think it's time to go flame the writer on his social media

 

[agt]

"But Morse is no Blackmore"

Of course not. I have tremendous respect for Ritchie Blackmore, but Steve is an alien from another planet with superhuman musical powers. In all seriousness, can't the reviewer acknowledge that each guitarist made his own unique and important contribution without having to compare and rank them? Steve is with the band now.

The rant about the setlist ... Music is art. Deep Purple should be massively applauded for still going as strong as ever and for not resting on their laurels and instead continuing to evolve, innovate, and create and crank out awesome new music. The closed-minded mentality of pigeonholing artists into certain genres, decades, age groups, genders, markets, cultures, and other expectations is sad. I was not at the show, but everyone in the band is a seasoned professional and I am sure the band gave 110%. Had the reviewer gone to the show not expecting it to conform to his preconceived expectations, he probably would have enjoyed and appreciated it.

Finally, the comment about Steve not being loud enough in the mix. I agree with that one. There is no such thing as too much Steve Morse.

 

[BUC]

Morse is no Blackmore...thank god.

Saw Purple last year and I was very impressed. And again, the crowd was on it's feet almost the entire show.

 

[Spudmurphy]

So the DP fans outside Europe don't know Black Night???? Really?

 

[Big Poppa]

Is Ritchie playing still? Just wondering a great guitarist...but cmparing someone from 30 years ago is silly I would be very impressed if he played with the same precision now

 

[kestrou]

So the DP fans outside Europe don't know Black Night???? Really?

Sadly, very few do - it's a great song, but never hit the RADAR on this side of the pond - which is why I appreciate them putting it in the set.

As fogman stated, everybody doesn't want to hear the same set list every time and the band mixes it up from a huge catalog. Kudos to them for not phoning it in with the same set list for the last few decades and for continuing to release new albums of great music.

To BPs point, Steve has been "in the game" very nearly as long and still continues to be growing and thriving in numerous musical directions.

That's my opinion at least - which is what the Internet was invented for, right?!

Kevin

 

[fogman]

So the DP fans outside Europe don't know Black Night???? Really?

Yes that's true. I read that in an interview back in the 80s.
Again, the writer doesn't know what he's writing about.

 

[fogman]

Is Ritchie playing still? Just wondering a great guitarist...but comparing someone from 30 years ago is silly I would be very impressed if he played with the same precision now

Yes. He's got a midieval gig called Blackmore's Night playing at castles with his wife Candice Night.
He occasionally breaks out the strat instead of using his ancient musical instruments and plays some Deep Purple. It's kind of funny for a former guitar, but Ritchie has always been eccentric. The music is good for what it is.

Since Jon Lord's passing, there has been talk of all living former members of Deep Purple getting together. Whether or not that means the talk is actually between them remains to be seen or confirmed.

 

[Bravo Victor]

The wife and I were at the Orange County show as well. The sound was excellent (not that more Steve isn't always better). These guys are like a well oiled machine hitting on all cylinders. Incredible pros at the very top of their game. This was our 6th time seeing them since 2002 and easily the best overall. The people around us were standing most of the show and the reaction to the 4 songs from the latest album was terrific. As were the reactions to Steve's solos. My only disappointment was that there wasn't more of the newer material such as Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming. I heard Ian asked one time if he wasn't tired of play SOTW. He said something like...well, if someone gave you a box with a button, and if you push the button 10,000 people go crazy..you are going to push the button.

 

[kbaim]

Can i ask on this thread if Steve's wrist troubles would prevent him from playing dregs and smb songs?
Just wondering and hoping we haven't seen the last of that.
Kicking myself for missing the last FC gig.
Glad i saw DP last year.

 

[ty2k]

Steve is the reason I started listening to DP. I love what he brought to the mix!
I saw DP a few years ago & they rocked the house!!

 

[kestrou]

Can i ask on this thread if Steve's wrist troubles would prevent him from playing dregs and smb songs?
Just wondering and hoping we haven't seen the last of that.
Kicking myself for missing the last FC gig.
Glad i saw DP last year.

Well, he pulled off a SMB gig on May 16th in Daytona!

Kevin

 

[kbaim]

Well, he pulled off a SMB gig on May 16th in Daytona!

Kevin

That's right! The one-off club gig.
Probably played the "easy" stuff.
Ha!

 

[Axis-of-Evil]

I'm not going to stick up for the reporter, but if you read the article his main beef is with Deep Purple not playing enough "hits". That's very common these days from entertainment reporters. They tend to be, like many other people, spoon-fed the "hits" and never go deeper into great bands catalogs. Also I didn't think he really ripped Steve, he just pointed out Blackmore as a legend, and he is. Unfortunately this guy, like many, doesn't really know who Steve Morse the musician is.