Montreal, 10.08.04 (Montreal Gazette11.08.04)

Deep Purple Vibrant

PERFORMS MIX OF NEW AND OLD SONGS
Group reminded that classic rock can be dramatic without being bloated

JORDAN ZIVITZ GAZETTE MUSIC CRITIC

For a band that enjoys playing with fire, Deep Purple doesn’t get burned very often.

Often one step away from overthe-top absurdity, the Duracellpowered British quintet could rival the worst progressive-rock excesses if their frequency was fine-tuned. But last night at the Bell Centre, they proved the virtue of listening – each player respecting the others – and reminded that classic rock can be dramatic without being bloated.

Silver Tongue – from last year’s fair-to-middling Bananas – was a brave opener, perhaps an implied statement of faith in new material from an oldies act. But when it was followed by the far superior Woman from Tokyo, any old-vs.-new debate was settled.

What’s striking about Deep Purple’s show is that Woman from Tokyo still sounds so vibrant. Indeed, all evening long, songs long ago stripped of their initial thrill were performed with complete conviction. A stomping Strange Kind of Woman, the ominous Perfect Strangers – even Smoke on the Water. They all sounded fresh.

Ian Gillan’s rich voice has grown a little pinched – most noticeably when he valiantly tried to stay true to the screeching-tire chorus of Highway Star – but has weathered the years remarkably well. Only a first-class singer could deliver the infantile sexual wordplay of Knocking at Your Back Door and not send a shuddering cringe through a room of 6,400 people in 2004. (About 6,392 of those were male, although a fair percentage of younger fans belied any cynical claims that Deep Purple has nothing to offer a new generation of listeners.)

Guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey did get a few chances to exercise their self-indulgence. Well Dressed Guitar showcased Morse’s dexterity, as it switched from classically inspired chops to heavy-metal shredding. Speaking of classical influences, Airey’s subsequent solo touched on Beethoven, Holst, and – in a step too far – the Star Wars theme. If Airey didn’t get burned, he at least got singed. It was a rare lapse in taste for someone who has filled the sizable shoes of organist Jon Lord.

Some shoes can’t be filled, and some band names should be retired. If the current Doors reunion is suspect, Thin Lizzy’s opening set last night was grounds for arrest on impersonation charges. Only two members from the Phil Lynott-led outfit were present, and while singer/guitarist John Sykes had the good sense to dedicate “every note of every song of every show” to the late frontman, it wasn’t enough to justify soulfree resurrections of badly dated boys’-night-out rallying cries.
jzivitz@thegazette.canwest.com

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