Deep Purple
Live @ Palalido, Milano - 02/03/2006

THE REVIEW

I was expecting this concert to be just okay, the kind you go to even though you know you could have easily stayed at home. I mean, even though I'm a huge fan of Deep Purple (& the family), I wasn't really hopeful: after all, they're getting on in years, who knows if grandpa Ian can still hit the notes, etc. etc. And the concert begins. It starts off well with Pictures Of Home, but... there's something off. Yes, everything is great, of course (I have to say that scenographically, it was the best Purple concert I've ever attended), yet something felt missing. There was always that lingering "but." Then the atmosphere warmed up, the music began to resonate with me, the expression on the audience's faces slowly changed until those five grandpas on stage performed a miracle: I literally exploded with Lazy and Highway Star (along with the entire Palalido), only to collapse in exhaustion at the end of the concert with Black Night (by the way: finally Living Wreck!). Damn, what a class act! There's no denying it, seeing people who, after all these years, play and enjoy themselves immensely is nothing short of fantastic. And in fact, the atmosphere felt like genuine happiness (mixed with ecstasy for the quality of the music). Honestly, I don't know what else to add, except that Ian Gillan, after all these years, despite all the limits of a voice that's not what it used to be, has an irresistible charisma and class that are unmatched. Not to mention his timbre, which has changed, becoming warmer and even more engaging. Impressive (as usual) was Steve Morse: there really are no words to describe the sensitivity and musicality he managed to express with his Music Man guitars. But it's pointless to single anyone out, Deep Purple once again confirmed themselves as the best live band of the last 40 years: it's enviable to see them jamming and having fun like kids! And then there's nothing else to be done: it may be cliché, old and worn out, but how fun it is to shout at the top of your lungs like a fool "smoooooc on the uoter! en faier in de scai!"

P.S. Here's the full setlist for all the detail-oriented folks: - Pictures Of Home- Living Wreck (even more psychedelic than in '71!)- Rapture Of The Deep- Wrong Man- Mary Long- Contact Lost / Steve Morse solo (everyone in silence enjoying it)- Don Airey Solo (with references to Mr. Crowley, La donna è mobile and the Imperial March from Star Wars)- Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye- Lazy (from here on, I entered an official mystical trance)- Highway Star- Perfect Strangers- Smoke on the water- Space Trucking- Before time began- Ted the mechanicEncores (or bis, if you prefer): - Hush- Black Night