All Photos © Steve Galli + Story by Chloe Catajan
Ian Paice – Deep Purple
There’s no doubting the impact of Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water.” The first chords alone are both a calling card for ‘70s hard rock and a staple for guitarists across generations and expertise. Simply put, it’s got a riff that’s forever embedded into rock history. It’s hooky, headstrong, and a homage to Beethoven— and it’s no wonder this Grammy Hall of Famer’s legacy lives on.
Half a century later, Deep Purple is “Celebrating 50 Years of ‘Smoke on the Water’” by getting back on the road. They played a show at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre where the “Highway Star[s]” proved that they still shred.
Ian Gillan – Deep Purple
While the tagline for the North American tour calls to celebrate the anniversary of their signature song, the show itself covered Deep Purple’s catalog from then and now. Fans got to hear songs off 1970’s Deep Purple In Rock, 1972’s Machine Head, and new material from 2024 release =1.
The English rockers took the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre stage by storm after a video intro with suspenseful orchestral sounds queued their entrance, spotlights flashing in a frenzy. Drummer Ian Paice started up the beat as bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Don Airey, and guitarist Simon McBride built up the rhythms and Ian Gillan broke into the first verse of “Highway Star.”
Roger Glover – Deep Purple
Each member seemed to be in high spirits as they played their parts with effortless precision. They served up a bright, crunchy sound that spiraled and swirled in signature Deep Purple fashion. And Gillan’s vocals were a force, especially on screamers like “Into The Fire” and “Space Truckin’.”
Adding fuel to the fire, the band’s stage production leaned heavily into psychedelic visuals that often projected Gilan, Glover, Paice, Airey, and McBride in fractals and kaleidoscopic patterns. The lights punctuated each hard-hitting note, too, creating an experience that catered to multiple senses.
The band got straight to business on most songs, filling the in-betweens with masterful solos from both McBride and Airey. They also took a moment to dedicate “Uncommon Man” to the late Jon Lord.
New song “Lazy Sod” packed a feisty punch, especially with lyrics like “Don’t mind me coz I’m a lazy sod, you can like it or not.” Fittingly, the band followed with classic cut “Lazy.”
Deep Purple rounded out their main set with none other than “Smoke On The Water,” before jumping into a three-song encore that consisted of “Green Onions,” “Hush,” and “Black Night.”
Simon McBride – Deep Purple
Yes and Hannah Wicklund got the good vibes going earlier in the evening. Yes’ performance was full of lush harmonies and a standout live rendition of the song, “The Clap,” featuring Steve Howe on his very own edition of the Martin MC-38 acoustic guitar. He also played the mandolin on “I’ve Seen All Good People.”
Steve Howe – Yes
Currently, the band’s lineup consists of Howe, singer Jon Davison, keyboardist Geoff Downes, drummer Jay Schellen, and bassist Billy Sherwood. Their setlist mostly consisted of songs from 1971’s The Yes Album. Davison delivered a flawless falsetto, while Downes, Schellen, and Sherwood layered their parts to create a symphony of bright, winding rhythms. They closed with “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper” for the encore.
Jon Davison – Yes
Steve Howe – Yes
Hannah Wicklund performed a stunning opening set, her powerhouse vocals and guitar chops resonating across the amphitheater. She sang with soul while her rhythms stayed true to classic rock and roll sounds. She performed mostly songs off the 2018 album, Hannah Wicklund and the Steppin Stones.
Hannah Wicklund
https://www.freedomhillamphitheater.com/
All Photos © Steve Galli + Story by Chloe Catajan
