The HOB 12/15
This took such a long time to get together, with it being X-mas and all but
I still have it in mind since that night in Chicago. Sorry for all the rest
of the internet people that I met at the Best Western that night before and
after the show, I had a ticket for the following show and I had a call that
morning that was a family emergency, no time to wait, had to go. I know from
reading the reviews of the Chicago shows on the three nights the shows got
better each night, with a wedding to top it off on the 17th, wow!
Well, arriving to a packed house on the 15th, I was fortunate enough to get
right up front, by the left side of the stage. I didn't know it then, but I
found out that I was standing behind one of the people that I met on the
internet and I ended up meeting her, her mother and brother at the hotel
after the show. They ended up driving from New York and then headed back
home after the show!
Anyway, as far as my review of the show goes, I have seen Purple before
several times when they were with RB. They seemed to be static at the time,
with the improvisations neatly timed. I don't know, that was my observation
at the time. Don't get me wrong, I still had a good time, but RB seemed to
be in control of the band and I think that they needed some new blood.
Needless to say, the time has finally come in the name of Steve Morse.
I had a great view of the stage. The lighting was simple and there were a
few spotlights that dotted the stage when the time came for solo's. I was
looking forward to several songs that unfortunately they did not play, like
CIT, Flight of the Rat, but you can't have everything! Here is the set list
that was played that night......
Hush
Fireball
Into the Fire
Ted the Mechanic
Pictures of Home
Steve's Solo - from Cascades
Black Night
Bloodsucker
Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
Woman From Tokyo
Seventh Heaven - new song, liked this one!!
No One Came
Smoke on the Water
Jon Lord Solo
When a Blind Man Cries
Speed King
Ian Paice Solo
- Encore -
Perfect Strangers
Highway Star
As I had stated before, thee Ole Purple seemed to be static and showed no
movement on stage. At the HOB
the 15th that was not the case. Everyone had fun and was enjoying
themselves, a new sense of commeradery
that was not apparent before. I was not there to get backstage or take
pictures, I was there for the experience, as about 1000 people were also.
There were great individual performances as well. I did also notice the book
by Ian's conga kit, but they did not impede any of the songs, new or old. It
was just a great show.
One other thing, on my drive from Bettendorf, Iowa to Chicago, I had almost
all of DP's cd's in my 12 disc changer in my car. The first 2 were the 25th
anniversay remasters of In Rock and Fireball. If anyone out there thinks
that it is just the same old songs, think again. On Fireball they have
several songs, including one of my new (rhymes with ewe) favorites called
Slow Train. I also like Freedom and thought it would of been a great encore,
unfortunaly neither made it to the final album in 1971. After listening to
them several times, I thought it should of been. In Rock was an introductory
album for the kind of music that DP would follow for the rest of their
career. Fireball was experimental, I think, but these 2 tracks were the
precedent for things to come in the future. They should of been added to
Machine Head. Ho, Ho, I have said my peace and can barely stare at my
screen. Good luck DP with your album and upcoming world tour.
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