Deep Purple

Telewest Arena, Newcastle

10 November 2004

The sound was better than I was expecting from the Arena, though still a bit muddy and impenetrable in places and not a patch on City Hall or other real music venues. Interesting to note that the Arena security forces were much more easy-going and less obtrusive than at the other venues. I think that's a big point in its favour—and, oh, look, even without nazi security there were no fights, riots, or stage invasions. Amazing. Why can't other venues grasp the idea that we go to enjoy a night of music, not to cause trouble? Ah well...

The warm-up bands did a great job as usual, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the place was packed to the limit by the time Purple hit the stage.

A seat at the side and almost level with the edge of the stage gave me a very odd perspective, though I could actually see the entire stage clearly (except for Don who was annoyingly blocked by a speaker stack half the time). I could also see the various goings on backstage, things like Roger's lightning guitar change, the guy whose job is to throw fresh towels at Ian Paice, and the person flashing morse-code messages in the direction of the mixing desk. Very interesting.

But not interesting enough to detract from the five guys on stage who, as usual, gave an incredible performance full of energy, humour, and top-notch virtuosity.

The set was 90 minutes again, but the mix of songs and jams seemed to work out much better than previously—the songs felt spacious with stretched-out solos, as in Glasgow, but they still fitted in Hush (including a brief drum solo this time) as the second encore. The best of both worlds.

It's hard to pick highlights when absolutely everything works so well. Well Dressed Guitar, which is still a phenomenal piece of music; Smoke, which is of course Smoke; and a proper, stretched-out, jam-filled version of Speed King, which is still the best live song there has ever been.

The new songs fit in very well and feel like classics, and the classics are just... classic.

I've got nothing left to say...