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Kunzelau, July 22nd 2011: Smoke on the Street, And Fireworks in the Sky!
Why on the street, you ask yourselves? Well, it is a bit macabre I must admit, but this phrase came to my mind on the way to the venue. When we were a few kilometers ahead of Kunzelsau, we saw thick black smoke in the distance. We first thought a barn or something is burning somewhere. Then the traffic stopped and 200 meters in front of us we saw a burning car in the middle of the road. Lots of fire engines, police cars and emergencies around. Must have been a terrible accident. And somehow – being on our way to hear ‘Smoke on the Water’ – ‘Smoke on the Street’ came to my mind.
The show itself was great. Ian’s voice was in best shape. Of course not as good as in the good ol’ times of the 70s, but this was one of his best concerts since the last 10 years I would say. Keep in mind he turns 66 next month!
The Setlist:
1. Intro by the orchestra
2. Highway Star
3. Hard Lovin’ Man
4. Maybe I’m A Leo
5. Strange Kind Of Woman
6. Rapture Of The Deep
7. Woman From Tokyo
8. Steve Morse Solo (partially with orchestra)
9. When A Blind Man Cries
10. The Well Dressed Guitar
11. Knocking At Your Back Door
12. Lazy
13. No One Came
14. Don Airey Solo
15. Perfect Strangers
16. Space Truckin’
17. Smoke On the Water
Encores:
18. Hush
19. Roger Glover Solo
20. Black Night
It was the same as on the whole tour so far. Together with an orchestra it is rather difficult to change anything.
Well, the orchestra. It was there. We could see it. But we could not HEAR it unfortunately. For that the band, especially Don’s Hammond, was much too loud. Only during ‘Knocking at Your Back Door’ was it balanced and Don controlled himself, so that we could hear the riff being played by the orchestra. Some songs like Maybe I’m a Leo or Space Truckin’ they didn’t even play at all. Too bad.
Instead the violin solo of the conductor during Lazy was most impressive. Guitar and violin in a duel, now that’s really something new.
All together a successful evening. Even the weather cooperated. Just in time it stopped raining and in the crowd in front of the stage it was so warm, that we didn’t even need our jackets.
At the end there was a firework display, what inspired me to the second part of the headline: “Fireworks in the Sky”.
Helge, from Uhingen, Germany
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Great to read that what I got to witness here in the States in June, is consistent and is carrying over Everywhere. Funny how the majority of the Naysayers haven’t attended one of these gigs.
Nice review. Short, sweet and correct based on the Majority of us whom witnessed it.
Cheers
July 24th, 2011 at 01:00A 99% Blackmore area set. I Think that says it all about the ambitions of Purple in 2011. Must be Strange for Steve and Don.
July 24th, 2011 at 07:33Why not accept that this is what it’s all about from now on. Fine with me but dont pretend that Deep Purple is more than a nostalgic jurney.
To me it’s a bit sad, because im sure they could do so much more. Maybe it’s time to get a real rock banjo player.
If you Think it’s not possible to do great new stuff these days, then go for Black Country Comunnion.
Really strange no one mentioned the Verona Arena gig…wonderful place and probably the best gig of the year…They were on fire and a blu ray is planned…I saw them 9 times and this last one has surely beeen one of their best…just incredible…
July 24th, 2011 at 19:34I’ve been there and it was great to hear Don’s Hammond so loud and clear and expressive… A fantastic night !!
July 24th, 2011 at 20:09Roberto, from what I’ve seen on YouTube (I won’t judge any of the music from that) the Verona gig was truly beautiful, the way they lit the crowd wa fantastic!
Some of the band have said it was one of the most memorable and fantastic gigs they’ve ever played! I look forward to the BluRay, I think it’s die for an October release.
July 24th, 2011 at 20:31*due not die!
July 24th, 2011 at 20:32@5, yes particulary Morse and Airey were on fire…the rest of the band in great shape too…the atmosphere in that historical place with 13.000 people was fantastic…really a great evening…
July 25th, 2011 at 12:46Can’t wait for the dvd…. Long Live The Morse Era!!! Ritchie who?
July 25th, 2011 at 14:18Hey John @8,
Amen, brother! And I am quite sure you and I both have The Black Guy up on a deserved pedestal. But we get The Whole Picture, eh?! :>
Peace,
Ted (What a guy?)
July 26th, 2011 at 01:24Regardless the waved reviews, as a fan I won’t spend my money to watch them if they keep nostalgic singing 95% old stuff and Blackmore licks like this. Dunno but maybe Morse and Airey are one of the nicest persons on earth who don’t or never care about the antique set list (look at Whitesnake, Scorpions, Nazareth, Glenn, etc;) I feel real pity for them both. They are very talented and deserve more credits for creating and smashing their own DP music on stage..
July 26th, 2011 at 18:56@ Bo`s commentar:
July 28th, 2011 at 10:48If I read the setlist, I can´t see, that is 99% R. Blackmores Setlist. Of course, the elder man play the well known Songs. but this stuff the audience want to hear. It was Steve Morse and last but not least Don Airey, who give DP new Life. They play with a lot of enthusiasm and they arranged the old stuff in some modern kind. And look at the setlist: there are 6 songs, R.B. didn`t play and WfT wasn`t play by R.B. in the whole classical arrangement.
If you don`t like DP and their way making music, stay at home or visit R.B. playing incredible sh…
Yeah, a nice review but I’ll have to wait ’till december to give my
two cents on the orchestral tour…can’t wait actually, strange…glad you
mentioned Scorpions, Andre, saw them last weekend & am I glad I did:
they were fuckin’ great, entertaining, tight etc., played some newer songs as
well…certainly going out on a very high & loud note! 🙂
Great to see Maybe I’m a Leo & No one came on the setlist, but ain’t it about time to skip The not so well dressed guitar in favour of a really good Purple-song…ie. Sun Goes Down with an orchestra would be a killer…etc. etc.
July 28th, 2011 at 21:26@10 “I feel real pity for them both”..surely you jest!! If you don’t want to see them DON’T, but please do not pity them, they are great musicians having a great time (I don’t think they would be there if they weren’t) and by the way making a ‘good wage’. Long Live DP
July 28th, 2011 at 23:23cheers
Same old same old huh…. well, it produces just that around here too. Pathetic, really. Move on with your lives if you are done with something, no amount of complaining will do anything but render you a biotch!
July 30th, 2011 at 02:09@13…
That sums it up perfectly. Short, sweet and directly to the preverbial point. It would have taken me 5 paragraphs and 7 sarcastic remarks to get across what you did in 2 sentences…..
Nice!!
Cheers
July 30th, 2011 at 15:39Oh, let me hurry and correct my miss-spelled word before “Holy Crap”-the spelling police takes a shot at me….
above I meant ‘proverbial’……
Cheers
July 30th, 2011 at 15:43but yours makes for a more interesting read Tracy, hope you are doing well……..
July 31st, 2011 at 02:58stoffer….
Doing great. Hey, keep an eye out for Purple related gigs at the Pageant. We love going to that venue. Maybe we can hook up for a brew or 2 this time. Last time we were there to see BCC in June, we stayed at the Moonrise Hotel, which is right next door. Nice joint and convenient. Highly recommended.
cheers
August 1st, 2011 at 02:39Some pictures of the really, really great Verona concert: .
Hope seeing the whole concert on DVD soon!
August 18th, 2011 at 11:21JR….
What pictures…..
Cheers
August 25th, 2011 at 04:14