CONCERT REVIEW: DEEP PURPLE BRINGS COLOR TO NOKIA
The “explosion” on the stage started at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night and did not stop for two hours. Yes, they are senior citizens, but if you put your hands over your eyes you would not know that the average age of the members of Deep Purple is 62. In the first of two shows in Tel Aviv, the British nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rocked like it was 1972 and put on a show at the Nokia Arena that had the nearly full room of fans almost as old as the band dancing and singing along to the songs. Deep Purple has been performing in one form or another since 1968 (with a brief hiatus), and with the current lineup of longtime vocalist Ian Gillan, original drummer and bassist Ian Paice and Roger Glover respectively, and relative newcomers organist Don Airey and stellar guitarist Steve Morse in the fold for “only” 20 years or so, they still sound like they really enjoy playing together. That was evident from the first song, “Apres Vous,” through the 16-song set of greatest hits and onto the one-two encore punch of “Hush” and “Black Night.” The crowd was very enthusiastic, and when the band launched into their signature tune, “Smoke on the Water,” the place went completely nuts, with the flashing of digital cameras and smart phones and a lusty sing-along. Despite boasting one of the most accomplished guitarists in Morse, Deep Purple is one of the few classic rock bands to place the instrumental emphasis on the keyboards, and Airey rose to the task. Gillan’s vocals were likewise spectacular throughout, knowing when to take a back seat to the instrumental dexterity of Morse and Glover. During the intense encore version of “Hush,” one overexcited fan rushed the stage and hugged Gillan, who shook off the distraction as the intruder was whisked away by security. It’s only rock and roll and at Nokia on Saturday night, Deep Purple proved that they deserve to be in the pantheon of rock legends.