Concert Review
Deep Purple
YES
Wednesday September 4, 2024
Saratoga PAC
Saratoga Springs, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Deep Purple are in the midst of another North American tour which finds them out on the road supporting their latest release =1. While the album has not charted on the regular U.S. album charts it did reach #12 on the Top Album Sales chart (for further info on the charts and what they mean go to www.billboard.com). It is clearly the bands best album in quite some time. The band have been releasing albums regularly including five over the past eleven years. This tour also features YES and Hannah Wicklund.
Deep Purple took to the stage as only they know how with a blistering “Highway Star” right out of the gate. Without pausing the band broke into “A Bit On the Side” which would be the first of four new songs to be featured during the 110-minute set. Who would have thought that Deep Purple would be playing longer sets this day and age.
The band still has the stable core of Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover and lone original member drummer Ian Paice. Keyboardist Don Airey took over for Jon Lord when he retired in 2002. Joining them were guitarist Simon McBride who took over for Steve Morse in 2022. They are playing as tight as I ever seen this band play. McBride’s playing was solid yet his own style which seemed to have breathed new life into the songs. Everyone appeared to be on top of their game as the U.S. tour winds down.
The set list really took an overhaul for this tour with lots of songs such as “Perfect Strangers” and “Strange Kind Of Woman” both long time staples taking a seat on the bench. Something had to go for the band to be able to add in new songs “Portable Door” and “Lazy Sod” both standouts from the new album. I also love how the band had just recently added in “When A Blind Man Cries” from Machine Head. These guys are far from being a nostalgia act and are seeing a renaissance of sorts. They are still enjoying performing and are delivering the goods and showing they are far from being finished.
Yes is another band who have been around the block about as long as Deep Purple has been. Today’s version also are still putting out new music including their latest offering 2023’s Mirror to the Sky. With the band’s 70-minute set they decided to mix in some some standards as opposed to mixing in some rarer songs.
The band today has been stable for a few years when drummer Jay Schellen took over behind the kit full-time. Nobody has been in the band longer than guitarist Steve Howe. Joining them were keyboardist Geoffrey Downes, bassist Billy Sherwood and vocalist Jon Davison. To watch Howe play was mesmerizing especially when the band performed “Going For The One” as he played the pedal steel guitar. Howe is a marvel to be playing at such an elite level this late into his career.
I thought the whole band sounded stronger than when I saw them last October on the Classic Tales of Yes tour. It is really hard to come up with a set list when you have 23 albums to choose from. Plus you can only fit in so many in your allotted time. The band did a fine job satisfying everyone whether a casual fan, diehard fan or even for a new fan. Highlights included a stellar version of “Yours Is No Disgrace” and “Sibnerian Khatru”. The encore began with what else than “Roundabout”. Saving the best for last with “Starship Trooper”, I always say the band has never recorded a song any better.
It was a fantastic double bill featuring two bands who are simply legendary. To still see these guys perform at not only the level they did but the fact they are still out there doing it giving the fans quality shows makes it a win-win for all.
Deep Purple Gallery
YES Gallery
Hannah Wicklund Gallery
Set Lists
Deep Purple
Highway Star
A Bit on the Side
Hard Lovin’ Man
Into the Fire
Guitar Solo
Uncommon Man
Lazy Sod
Keyboard Solo
Lazy
When a Blind Man Cries
Portable Door
Anya
Keyboard Solo
Bleeding Obvious
Space Truckin’
Smoke on the Water
Encore
Green Onions
Hush
Black Night
Yes
Machine Messiah
I’ve Seen All Good People
Yours Is No Disgrace
Clap
Going for the One
Siberian Khatru
Encore
Roundabout
Starship Trooper
