von Marcin Rybacki

Before getting to the show I thought to myself that the set list is not going to take me by surprise, indeed it didn't. Nevertheless I experienced one of the better Purple shows in my life, if not the best. Let me start from the very beginning.

Geneva, a picturesque city, with loads of kind people seemed to fit for Purple show perfectly. Marvelous scenery added up to the show amazingly. The Alps and the famous lake Geneva - we all know the history.

They played in the Arena which can hold about 9 500 people. Before the show I talked to the crew, which was very kind and helpful, and they told me they didn't expect the Arena to be full. However, their estimation proved to be wrong just because people were coming and catching their places directly before the show. Consequently, the show was a complete sell-out.

Waiting for Deep Purple I met three crazy fans, all of them head over heels in love with Gillan. After Black Night one of them threw Ian a packet of cigarettes, Ian a perfect gentleman, gave her a kind look and said "Thank you, I'll save it for later". A hilarious moment.

The local group, Mother Kingdom, did not live up to my expectations. In their artistic pursuits they were closest to Nirvana, a band phenomenon which I'll never fully understand. Most of the audience shared my opinion, as after thirty minutes of playing Mother Kingdom got a poor applause and went off the stage. The best was about to happen.

About 21.30 local time lights went out, and Purple kicked off with Pictures Of Home.

Well, as I've just said before, I'd never thought to be surprised by the set list, but I couldn't believe the sound which was mixed absolutely brilliant. All the instruments sounded perfectly balanced and were in perfect harmony so you could hear every note even standing in the first row. I remember the shows with Steve's guitar sounding too loud, or Don's organ being barely audible. Nonetheless this time the sound was spotless and Ian's voice has never sounded so good. I'm aware that some people will never get accustomed to Gillan's new timbre and vibrato, but I can say with full responsibility that he sings better than in 1993. I digress, sorry.

Getting to the heart of the matter, amazing solo from Steve during Pictures of Home which for the 1001 time proved to me that he is a very creative person. The closing solo incorporated a sequence from Child In Time solo. Things I Never Said, this great rocker as usual filled the crowd and me with positive energy. Ian in particular was having fun during the song that contained terrific tag-team organ and guitar solo. A heavy and solid Into The Fire followed and again the band shined and glittered. Ian hit the high notes with the least difficulty, and the Arena got shaken to it's foundations. The vibes from the audience were becoming greater and greater, the band seemed to notice it - they smiled all the time. Ian didn't talk to us yet.

A song about Nancy - Strange Kind of Woman and a hilarious Gillan/Morse dialogue at the end. Blazing guitar and organ solos added to the frenzy.

Rapture of the Deep which is always a pleasure to hear live, this uplifting piece of philosophical rock made the enthusiastic crowd a little quieter, but not for long as Fireball followed which as Rapture was a display of Don's abilities. His solos during the two were just scintillating, it all sounded so loud and fresh. Ian did a fabulous jazzy vocals which amazingly contributed to a nice ending. Wrong Man, groovy riff from Steve always brought the smile to my face, which during the night had never disappeared. As I got to know it later, it was Steve's number one from the whole show. Later on, Ian introduced "Newly-Membered" Steve Morse. Steve's solo resembled very much the one we know from "Total Abandon" which I enjoy very much and find it very melodic; most of the people enjoyed it, but we didn't have a chance to applaud Steve, as blazed into the first notes of Well Dressed Guitar and again we were all uplifted. How many times during the night had I been uplifted? A thousand. Well, maybe. I didn't count.

The lights went blue, as it was time for a bluesy When A Blindman Cries, not only a Blindman cried during this song but I have to admit I had tears in my eyes. It was just fantastic, played with such feeling, more bluesy than rocky and extremely moving. Ian sounded so well. His voice now fits perfectly for this song, in the 1970's it was just a nice ballad, now it became Purple evergreen. Don's solo included some classics, some rock'n'roll and some synthesizer pursuing just to transform into Perfect Strangers. The intro sent a chill down my spine, it was the best version I've ever heard live. The case here is the same as with the Blindman, Ian's voice has never sounded better on that. Lazy with the classic intro from MH showing Don's virtuosity got everyone singing along. By the way, Ian did a very nice harmonica solo and the band joined a full tilt for a great performance. And now, the song most of the hardcore fans were waiting for The Battle Rages On. Firstly, this is the one that proves to me that Ian sings a lot better than he used to in 1993. Secondly, it was heavier, what I found an advantage. Does it fit for the show? There is no doubt about it. The outro was a little bit changed, but all things considered the song sounded divine with Gillan's mysterious vocals and dark effects of organ and guitar. If only they added Anya. Now that's worth wishing for.

What can I say about the three that closed the show? Highway Star, Space Truckin' and Smoke. The first was performed with great energy, I witnessed another great jam of Steve and Roger. Space Truckin' was also great, with wonderful intro from Roger. And Smoke on The Water. Suddenly the lights went out, as if the electricity had stopped working. Unexpectedly Steve gently started picking up some country. That was absolutely amazing and I caught myself thinking "It would never work out with Ritchie, would it?" From this gentle country playing he proceeded to the riff we all know. Looking at the faces of the people around me, I understood that Deep Purple can't stop playing Smoke, as people just own the song now. Smoke on the Water is a public property now. Kind words from Ian followed and we waited patiently for the encores. Hush was the first one. I think they could change a bit in the field of encores, but it's clearly visible that playing Hush is such fun for them that I don't know if the fun would last with any other song. But I wish I'd hear Speed King instead.

Paicey's solo was just wonderful. He was so fast and solid, and, at the same time, his one-hand roll still makes me wondering: How can he do this at this age?

During bass solo, Roger picked up the sequence that sounded somewhat familiar. Then Steve and Paicey joined in and we had How Many More Times of LZ. Wow! Fantastic.

Black Night very tight and long left the huge crowd in really high spirits.

All in all, it was a powerful show and I had one more opportunity to witness piercing vocals from Ian, dynamic drumming from Paicey, brilliant keyboards from Don, shattering guitar riffs from Steve and thundering bass from Roger. Thank you guys for one more wonderful night! I feel I had my batteries recharged.

The show has ended and I was directed backstage by very kind people of the Arena. There was no "man of the evening" this time, well, maybe the soundman was. They were all in top shape and they were all enjoying the show.

Ian Gillan - he didn't talk much to us, and I think it was fine. He was in very good shape, as I previously said, his voice is really great now, and, all the reviews circulating around seem to confirm that. I always enjoyed his singing, but now he just astonishes me. He was fooling around throughout the whole show; he was joking and trying to make everyone laugh. That is why he will always remain the best singer of all times to me. As an artist he is a class of his own.

Steve Morse - this banjo player is very creative and I think he is the driving force behind the freshness of Deep Purple shows, though the set list has been almost the same for a year now. He can just come up with a sequence of sounds, make it his own and immediately recognizable. He was just amazing that night especially during his solo. And according to Ian "Now Steve has played more concerts with Deep Purple than Ritchie- it`s very exiting"

Don Airey - Hammond sounded very well that night and Don must be given credit for that. I particularly liked his work during The Battle, where he changed a little bit. Now the song belongs to him. He was just astounding that night.

Roger Glover - very interesting solo before Black Night, and great intro to Space Truckin'. Roger was a solid foundation during the night as was Ian Paice whose drumming that night was particularly heavy but it didn't lack imaginativeness.

All things considered this band may be looking forward to the future as can we - the fans.

After meeting the band backstage, we went to the hotel bar where Purple stayed and have a drink. Down at the bar we met Paicey, Rog and Don who came to sit with us for a while. Next day I met Don on a bus station, which was amazing because it was he who noticed me. The show was very good, and the band was very kind. They demonstrated wonderful musicianship and had plenty of energy/emotion to drive the performance. Some of the commonly performed solos and intro sections were omitted. In my opinion this line-up is exceptional and we will hear some more great music before they get off the stage for good.. There is a new idea occupying my mind, namely Paris, Olympia in November. Rain or shine I have to see them in 2007 once more, at least. Crazy people have weird ideas.

Set list:

Pictures of Home
Things I Never Said
Into the Fire
Strange Kind of Woman
Rapture of the Deep
Fireball
Wrong Man
Steve Morse solo
Well Dressed Guitar
When a Blind Man Cries
Don Airey solo
Lazy
The Battle Rages on
Don Airey's solo
Perfect strangers
Space Truckin'
Highway Star
Smoke on the Water

Encore:
Hush with Ian Paice solo
Roger Glover solo
Black Night