"Deep Purple and Yes Ignite Holmdel, NJ: A Night of Legendary Rock and Unforgettable Moments"

Touring North America in support of their guitar-centric new album, “= 1”, their first studio release written with new Guitarist Simon McBride, Deep Purple & support Act Yes performed at the PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ) on Sat 31 Aug, a familiar venue to both of them, having played there many times prior.

Revitalized by the new material & their new addition, a Shredder nearly half the age of Veterans Gillan, Glover, Paice & Airey, the Band delivered an energized set emphasizing more new songs & deep cuts & less classics & staple tracks from “Machine Head”, a refreshing change.

For this Reviewer, having see Deep Purple 21 times prior, tonight was a special show & hands down my favorite DP gig since the Beacon Theater, NYC 1996 (“Perpendicular” tour). The Band vibe was superb, crowd energy terrific & most importantly the Band was having fun on-stage.

The always charming & witty Ian Gillan, now 79 years old, sang with vigor, strength, yet was cautious with his stamina as to assure a sustained performance throughout the 15-song set. And his quirky humor was ever present, telling (fact or fiction?) tales about his house burning down (“Lazy Sod”), being an Inventor at age 14 (“Portable Door”) & his memories of an Atlantic City show Dancer (“Anya”). But perhaps his most notable remarks came in his feedback to the audience on several instances, calling out the great vibes he was receiving & how at curtain close called the crowd BLOODY AMAZING!

The feature of the night however was Simon McBride, who brings more of a Hard Rock or Metal edge to his playing than his predecessor, Steve Morse, as heard in tracks such as “Hard Lovin’ Man”, “Show Me”, & the epic new track, the heavy & proggy “Bleeding Obvious”, the highlight on the new album. Additionally, he played a “Metal” guitar solo, filled with smoke & affects, however his versatility & flexibility was showcased during his improvisational jams with Don Airey on “Uncommon Man”, plus the expanded versions of encores “Hush” & “Black Knight”. Booked with tour dates around the globe until end 2026, it’s simply amazing to see such a high caliber performance from a Band now in it’s 7th decade!

Setlist:

Intro: Mars, the Bringer of War
Highway Star
A Bit on the Side
Hard Lovin' Man
Into the Fire
Simon McBridesSolo
Uncommon Man
Lazy Sod
Lazy
Show Me
Portable Door
Anya
Don Airey solo
Bleeding Obvious
Space Truckin’
Smoke On The Water
Green Onions jam (partial)
Hush
Black Knight

DEEP PURPLE - FULL SHOW@PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ 8/31/24 (youtube.com)

Openers Yes, with long-standing Guitarist Steve Howe leading the helm, performed a surprisingly lengthy 75m set of classics, including “I’ve Seen All Good People”, “Yours is No Disgrace”, “Roundabout” & “Starship Trooper”. The unit also featuring Veterans Geoff Downs (Keys), Billy Sherwood (Bass) complete with his Chris Squire-esqe stage outfit & Bass guitar, Jay Schellen (ex-Hurricane Drummer) & Jon Davison (Vocals), presented the complex & progressive musical passages that they are known for with precision, accuracy & perfection, even if a bit subdued for the audience. Yes continues to prove that the Brand can be sustained even with a refreshed Lineup of Members, in ways more than the Songs themselves, always complementing the show with amazing stage backdrops & visual imagery.

Setlist:

1. Machine Messiah

2. I've Seen All Good People

3. Yours Is No Disgrace

4. Clap

5. Going for the One

6. Siberian Khatru

7. Roundabout

8. Starship Trooper

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