From our ``check your coats and cynicism at the door'' department, an assessment of last night's sell-out concert by Deep Purple at The Warehouse.

That the quintet of hard rock/heavy metal refugees from the '70s appeared at all was a miracle, given the band's many Toronto cancellations over the years and promises (or threats) of makeup dates.

The group had reason to show up this time. It has a new album to flog, one that appeared, dead on arrival, two months ago.

The group, consisting of everyone from the glory days of 1970-73, with the exception of lead guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, offered a few of the new tunes, including a thunderous delivery of ``Ted The Mechanic,'' aiming to make at least the die-hard fans give the new album a second look.

Famous for such quarter-century old headbangers as ``Highway Star,'' ``Child In Time'' and ``Smoke On the Water,'' the band obligingly played many of these songs, even though the result wasn't so much a blast from the past as five guys going through the motions.

Just the same, the crowd, which alternately looked like a class of '74 high school reunion or walk ons to a Wayne's World movie, was mildly appreciative throughout the evening. This, despite the dreadful sound, poor sight lines and a hopelessly wobbly performance of opening song ``Hush,'' Deep Purple's first hit single from the summer of '68.

Derided from the beginning by critics, Deep Purple did record some good songs, but they're better as memories. Maybe they should have cancelled last night's show, too.

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