Deep Purple - Moscow November 21, 1998 - Olimpisky Sport Palace
I am back from the gig - just a few words in the dead of night as I have to prepare my trip to St.Petersbourg - for the next purple appearance in Russia.
Overall impression - AWESOME. Mmmm, I think I am not discovering anything new for you....
I've seen Purps twice in 1996. Now they are twice better - Gillan (though not feeling well) was great, fantastic solos from Steve and Roger (great bass solo in POH as usual, okay, but also in Speed King), great Lord's work on solos - among others - Moscow nights, (remember Fireball 25 ann.edit.?) and - wow - an arrangement of USSR national anthem.;-). Paicey's solo just blew the heads away - that was a real massive drum clinic.
The band was in fantastic mood - not surprising as the audience was enthusiastic at the point of going mad, singing almost all the songs together with the band. The show seemed to be sold out - huge venue was packed. 16,000 - the promoters told me. Good mix (vocals a little low), simple but well done light show, stage decoration - Abandon back cover. Two big screens let us see Purps closer.
Set list
Ted the Mechanic
Strange Kind of Woman (no interplay this time)
Bludsucker ("This one is very sincerely dedicated to the management" - introduces Gillan)
Pictures of Home (including jazzy jam that makes kids shout)
Almost Human (what a powerful thing!)
Watching the Sky (Gillan sings last verses sitting on the board of the stage - I am sitting alone...)
Woman from Tokyo
Fingers to the Bone (cool intro by Steve, powerful and melancholic)
Any Fule Kno That
Smoke on the Water (no Steve's intro from 96' tour, sounds closer to the original than before, Jon's solo mentioned above)
Lazy (the crowd is going wild, Ian looks good in this cowboy hat, plays great harmonica)
Perfect Strangers (majestic)
Speed King (fantastic Paicey's and Rog's solo, Gillan/Morse vocal-guitar interplay, Morse/Lord guitar-organ interplay)
Encores
Black Night
Highway Star
I just have to add that for the first time I could meet all the band, had a chance (and time!) to talk to Roger and Steve.
The briefing on the eve of the gig was poor. I think no really interesting questions were asked so the band had no occasion to communicate any particular information).
A few hours before the gig Roger and Steve were interviewed on local FM station and Steve played live a few bits from Cascades, Fingers to the bone, etc.
Fantastic event. A rocking feast!
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