Deep Purple/Yes @ PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ 8/31/24
Bill: Deep Purple/Yes/Hannah Wicklund
Venue: PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Date: 8/31/24
Ticket: $19.97 Stubhub
9:05 PM: Deep Purple
Active: 1968 (London, UK)
Latest Album: =1 (Ear Music/Edel, 2024)
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7:25PM Yes
Active: 1968 (London, UK)
Latest Album: Mirror To The Sky (Inside Out, 2023)
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Missed: Hannah Wicklund
I was happy that NJ Transit was free the week that I had a day open for the Deep Purple/Yes shed tour (PNC Bank Arts Center Sat, Jones Beach Sun) in the outer NYC market. The downside was when I caught the hourly train from Penn Station at 5:08, there was an insane mob to the Long Branch line I needed to Hazlet. Somehow I managed to get on the train, the conductor was yelling as the passengers were still forcing themselves down the narrow stairwell that he had to go. The car each way to the pickup lot half a mile from the venue was 10 bucks (10 something up 9 something back). They close off a lot of highway, so trying to coordinate a pickup after the show is a bit confusing but I had the presence of mind to send the driver the lot number on the way back. He told me he never would have found me otherwise, so keep that in mind if you walk to that back lot #8 after the show which was the lot I got dropped off.
As I got there I heard the closing strains of what sounded like a female singer songwriter. At first I feared it was John Anderson, the vocal replacement for Jon Anderson in Yes. There was no mention of her anywhere, I just found out on setlist.fm that it was Hannah Wicklund after the fact. I got a cheap last minute ticket for $21 on tickpick that paypal took down a buck and change in the second section on the side 4 rows deep. There were plusses and minuses to this seat. If Kenny wanted to take the trip we would have got good $100 seat in the deeper orchestra but the back of the first section was going for around $75 at showtime, so 4 rows worse for $21 didn't seem a bad deal with 75% of ampitheatre behind me and the lawn behind that. However, it must be pointed out the side was an obstructed view once Deep Purple played obliterating their video screen backdrop and Jon Lord replacement Don Airey. It seemed like this was known in general since he seemed to be up on the video screen more than anyone else.
Deep Purple is down to three core members. Drummer Ian Paice was there from the start in 1968 and Roger Glover on bass along with key vocalist Ian Gillan joined in 1969. Irish guitarist Simon McBride has filled the Blackmore role since 2022. Gillan of course has been in and out of Purple ever since he left in 1973 came back in 1984, left again in 1989 and was back for good in 1992 right around Blackmore's final 1993 departure. One of my first shows ever was Gillan fronting Black Sabbath in 1983 on the Born Again tour. This was a life altering, foundational performance. When Gillan rejoined Purple in 1984 for Perfect Strangers, I waited 5 hours in line on an 18 degree winter morning to get tickets and it still sold out before I could get them. Fortunately a second show was added, so I got to see them in 1985 in Worcester. I had not seen them since, so I was looking forward to this tour and it didn't disappoint. You wanna question this? "No. No. No." Why?..."Hush" into "Black Night" was the encore after "Smoke..." wrapped the set.
As for Howe's Yes? The setlist was unimpeachable as it was in 2017 at Coney Island. Even with Jon Davison who I somehow thought was JOHN Anderson.
Going...for..the.......ONE!!!!
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