There is a particular kind of hush that falls over a crowd just before the house lights drop, not silence but a collective held breath of anticipation. That was the mood at RBC Amphitheatre last night where Deep Purple proved that longevity and vitality are not mutually exclusive.
The band walked out after a montage of visuals from there storied history. No introduction needed. Fists punched the air as the first riffs of Highway Star blasted through the speakers. Band t-shirts worn proudly by folks with graying ponytails, swaying in the aisles. The crowd enjoyed every minute of the show.
The keyboard work by Don Airey was a particular highlight of the night, weaving between searing organ swells and moments of near-classical restraint, teasing O Canada at one point even. The rhythm section locked in with a tightness that felt less like muscle memory and more like a conversation still being actively worked out in real time. Roger Glover and Ian Paice are masters of time and space. Simon McBride coaxed out tones that ranged from a whisper to something closer to a scream. Firing up some blazing solos that excited the crowd. Ian Gillan still has a passion for performing. He basked in the adoration of the audience’s warm enthusiasm and was grateful for the outpouring of love.
There was little pretense of trying to sound exactly like decades-old studio recordings; instead, the songs breathed and stretched, verses lingering a beat longer, choruses arriving with new emphasis. The setlist balanced the expected monuments with a handful of cuts from the new album Splat. Personally, I got to hear a bunch of my favourites including Highway Star, Lazy, Space Truckin’ and the encore Hush.
By the encore, the enthusiastic crowd clapped wildly and raised cellphone lights, swaying like a digital constellation above the crowd. Toronto didn’t just watch Deep Purple last night. For two and a half hours, the city got loud with them.
Kansas and Starship opened as supporting acts. Unfortunate circumstance impacted my opportunity to get photos of Starship. Kansas put on an excellent set with prog elements (Song For America) and of course the endearing Dust In The Wind had the crowd singing along. They wrapped up with another fan favourite, Carry On My Wayward son. It was a wonderful night of classic rock!
Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.
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