Mansfield, Aug 8 (Short review)

Still breathless from p'bly what was my best concert by Purple yet. IG's voice was in top form. Much better than the Purpendicular shows. Went over to Jimmy's Pub to hang out with the netters before the show. Met a lot of cool people. The DPWWW editors & record companies had a "stump-the-experts-for-goodies" game. Got the _I_ tour book, singles of /-\ and some posters. Great work in organizing it folks!
Had a little tailgate part, met so many cool Purple fans on the parking lot. Met some guys who saw them in Hartford the previous night. Got tanked up and strolled over to the seats.

Dream theater
I love this band, and they did not disappoint me. Recognized a couple of tunes from Images & Words album, (pull me under). I loved the way they played some Floyd & Metallica riffs in the middle of "Peruvian sunrise??"
I'm surprised though, that they are not nearly as popular here in the US as they are in Europe, being a young band & all that.

ELP
Nothing to scream about. Lakes voice sucks and the only good thing about their set was Palmer's drumming. How the heck they had more T-shirts & other stuff for sale than Purple... Beats me.

Deep Purple
The set list was pretty much the same as Hartford.
Hush
Bludsucker
Strange Kind of Woman
Ted the Mechanic
Pictures of Home
Almost Human
Woman from Tokyo
Watching the Sky
Smoke on the Water
Lazy
Perfect Strangers
(Introduced as, "This song is the title track from Perfect Strangers album, its called Perfect Strangers")
Speed King

Encores:
Any Fule Kno That
Highway Star

The band was in top form. Steve Morse has really moulded into the band and has put his stamp on all the classics. The crowd was great and wild. It was obvious that the band appreciated this. But the classics got more cheers than the new ones. Gillan was f&^%ing awesome. He was on fire and put on a great display of his vocal prowess. He seemed to be a bit more trim and in shape than the previous tour. I would have liked more songs from Perfect strangers or Purpendicular like "A touch Away". IMHO, they could have done away with SKOW. IP, RG & JL were as cool as ever. JL & SM have a great vibe together on stage.

Highlights
Bludsucker
IG just blew me away. How old is he again?? His voice seems timeless. Everyone were going ballistic at the end of this song.

Speed King
One of my all time fav's. Loved the way the crowd started to settle into the seats when IG introduced this as a lullaby and then everyone were on their feet a few secs later

Would have liked to hear
When a Blind Man cries
Hey Cisco
Fireball
Loosen my Strings
King of dreams... (Naahhhh just kidding!)

The next day, my wife goes "You had a big grin on your face the whole night" Of course, I damn proud to be a Purple fan and to see the guys having a lot of fun and churning out such awesome music is a big thrill for me.

The media in Boston pretty much ignored the show. Not even a review in the Globe, while of course every-other shit, including SpiceGirls gets one.

Up the Purps,
Dan Sumanth

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