Deep Purple Majestic In Tour Opener In Bensalem: Review

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —They are considered one of the creators of the Heavy Metal genre.

You know Led Zeppelin. You know Black Sabbath.

But Deep Purple is an underrated band even though the group launched in 1968 and they’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

They don’t have the swagger of Robert Plant or the razzle-dazzle of Jimmy Page. Nor the craziness of Ozzy Osborne.

But Deep Purple has that solid, tight sound that few can match and many have emulated.

The group opened a short American tour at the Parx Casino last week with the same rhythm section locked in a groove for 50 years: bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice, the only member who has played since the beginning.

That foundation, combined with keyboard extraordinaire Don Airey, settled in as vocalist Ian Gillian conjured up the 1970s, trying to scream out notes that made him famous back in the day.

This group really built its reputation circa 1972.

That was one album and one song and both cemented their legacy as one of the most influential bands of their time.

During its heyday, Paice, Glover, and Gillian were joined by keyboardist Jon Lord and guitar maestro Ritchie Blackmore.

Everyone knows the song whether you know Deep Purple or their music.

"Smoke on the Water" is an AOR classic and the opening guitar riff has had everyone playing air guitar for decades. It's a simple four-chord structure that is basically taught to every beginning guitar player.

The song ends the set and to hear it live is one of those bucket list moments if you're a Classic Rock fan. You have to hear it once in your lifetime.

The band delivers a major helping of "Machine Head," its classic album that has "Smoke" on it. If you ever want to know the group's makeup, this album captures them at their peak performance.

Guitarist Simon McBride has picked up the mantle and it's amazing to hear the workout he has to go through to recreate Blackmore's memorable licks.

The combination of keyboard and guitar and the solid bass-drum beat is just so strong on this album. And the band gave the audience its fill, from the opener "Highway Star," which has become somewhat of an anthem, to "Pictures of Home," which is another showstopper.

And then the band plays all of Side Two of "Machine Head."

Besides “Smoke,” "Lazy" gets the crowd rolling with its dazzling keyboard introduction until the band comes in full force. And “Space Truckin” is another driving showstopper that really brings the heat.

The band slips in a B side from this era. “When A Blind Man Cries” is a slow, strong Tour de Force for Gillian, but Blackmore believed it didn’t fit on “Machine Head.” Still, it’s the slowest song in the set and let’s McBride showcase Blackmore’s bluesy notes.

The band throws in some later-day songs like “Anya” and “No Need To Shout” and “Perfect Strangers.” All are nice songs.

And “Hush” starts off the encores, bringing the group back before the days of Glover and Gillian and letting the audience hear the memorable first hit.

Missing sadly from the set list was “My Woman from Tokyo,” which features another great guitar line and some impressive vocals by Gillian.

When the show concludes, Deep Purple send the audience home with “Black Night.”

It’s a song that never appeared on an album and was a hit in England, where the group started. But it’s a fitting ending to a fitting night for a group that lets its legacy speak for itself.