Hughes Turner Project - JB’s Dudley 7th April 2004
Setlist: Hold On / Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll / Losing My Head / Alone I Breathe / Mistreated / I Surrender / Street of Dreams / Getting Tighter / You Keep On Moving / Death Alley Driver / Stormbringer // Devil’s Road / Spotlight Kid / Burn
Eighteen months ago I came to JB’s to see HTP for the first time. On that night they rocked the house to its foundations with a set comprising not only new HTP recordings but also a generous selection of Rainbow and Deep Purple classics. Indeed, it was a setlist that couldn’t fail to impress and send the audience home with a warm, fuzzy feeling. So, as I arrived for Wednesday’s gig, I did wonder whether this would be a repeat performance, just a repeat, or maybe not quite as good the last show. I mean, when you’ve seen one show that packed in King of Dreams, Mistreated, Highway Star, Stormbringer and Burn, as well as Death Alley Driver, Spotlight Kid and I Surrender, what can you expect them to do the next time around? More of the same, just in a different order; that’s what usually happens, isn’t it?
Eighteen months ago I came to JB’s to see HTP for the first time. On that night they rocked the house to its foundations with a set comprising not only new HTP recordings but also a generous selection of Rainbow and Deep Purple classics. Indeed, it was a setlist that couldn’t fail to impress and send the audience home with a warm, fuzzy feeling. So, as I arrived for Wednesday’s gig, I did wonder whether this would be a repeat performance, just a repeat, or maybe not quite as good the last show. I mean, when you’ve seen one show that packed in King of Dreams, Mistreated, Highway Star, Stormbringer and Burn, as well as Death Alley Driver, Spotlight Kid and I Surrender, what can you expect them to do the next time around? More of the same, just in a different order; that’s what usually happens, isn’t it?
Well, I was really way off the mark on that one! I should have had more faith and not been so fat, hairy and cynical. The setlist was different, varied and contained the old, the new and one or two surprises.
First off, let me say that this is one hell of a backing band that GH and JLT have pounding away behind them. Whilst JJ Marsh has to be one of the most laid back guitarists I’ve ever seen, he can certainly do a fine Blackmore impersonation too. Well let’s face it, Richie isn’t doing it anymore! I even noticed a smidgeon of Stevie Ray Vaughan creeping in there at times.
Generally, ‘the band’ was so tight you couldn’t have slid Victoria Beckham between them and the playing was as good as you’ll see on any stage in the world. Glenn Hughes may well be ‘The Voice of Rock’, but he is also one of the best damn bass players on the planet. As for Mrs Turner’s little boy, he is a fine singer in his own right and on the HTP material his vocal and Glenn’s integrate seamlessly with harmonies to die for. The ‘new’ songs seemed much stronger this time around and it is almost impossible to see the join between these and the older classics.
First off, let me say that this is one hell of a backing band that GH and JLT have pounding away behind them. Whilst JJ Marsh has to be one of the most laid back guitarists I’ve ever seen, he can certainly do a fine Blackmore impersonation too. Well let’s face it, Richie isn’t doing it anymore! I even noticed a smidgeon of Stevie Ray Vaughan creeping in there at times.
Generally, ‘the band’ was so tight you couldn’t have slid Victoria Beckham between them and the playing was as good as you’ll see on any stage in the world. Glenn Hughes may well be ‘The Voice of Rock’, but he is also one of the best damn bass players on the planet. As for Mrs Turner’s little boy, he is a fine singer in his own right and on the HTP material his vocal and Glenn’s integrate seamlessly with harmonies to die for. The ‘new’ songs seemed much stronger this time around and it is almost impossible to see the join between these and the older classics.
It could have been my imagination but this gig seemed much heavier than the last one and better for it, in my opinion. It has become difficult to think of Stormbringer and Burn without seeing them as Glenn Hughes songs, they sound so right performed by him. As for Mistreated, Davo Coverversion probably still lays awake at night desperately hoping that he’ll wake up the next morning being able to sing it the way Glenn Hughes does.
The big surprise of the night for me was the inclusion of Getting Tighter and You Keep On Moving. Come Taste the Band has always been one of my favourite Deep Purple recordings and I’m a big Tommy Bolin fan so this was a big plus. Of course, This Time Around would have been a welcome addition to the set, but I’m not greedy, I was more than happy with what was delivered.
As for my daughter, who accompanied me to the gig, it isn’t often I see her speechless, but as JLT dragged her towards the stage and sang a verse of Spotlight Kid to her, it happened; she blushed and was lost for words. She was truly gobsmacked. Her mother and I have always said that that song was about her - not that she’d listen to us - but now she has now taken it as a sign from the Gods of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Well, she is a Capricorn.
The big surprise of the night for me was the inclusion of Getting Tighter and You Keep On Moving. Come Taste the Band has always been one of my favourite Deep Purple recordings and I’m a big Tommy Bolin fan so this was a big plus. Of course, This Time Around would have been a welcome addition to the set, but I’m not greedy, I was more than happy with what was delivered.
As for my daughter, who accompanied me to the gig, it isn’t often I see her speechless, but as JLT dragged her towards the stage and sang a verse of Spotlight Kid to her, it happened; she blushed and was lost for words. She was truly gobsmacked. Her mother and I have always said that that song was about her - not that she’d listen to us - but now she has now taken it as a sign from the Gods of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Well, she is a Capricorn.
The songs are way beyond criticism, as is the playing. The only thing you can moan about is the idea of having two lead vocalists of this calibre sharing the limelight and, essentially, when you go to see HTP what you get is two Legends of Rock on one stage. Really, if you thought about it, having two lead vocalists of this quality is as impractical as Iron Maiden’s three lead guitarists, the Grateful Dead’s two drummers, or King Crimson’s two-of-everything, double trio line-up. Nevertheless, in all of these situations, it all meshes perfectly. JLT and GH don’t clash, they are complimentary and, although, it appears that Glenn Hughes gets the lion’s share of the stage time, Joe Lynn Turner delivers, as only a New York Italian can. Both singers have still got the pipes and it is a joy to see such experienced performers still treading the boards. Nevertheless, there is a part of me that asks why they are playing JB’s (fine venue that it is) when they should be playing Apollos, Odeons and City Halls, at the very least. Then again, I wouldn’t be able to get so close and get such a good view in the larger venues and my photos would be of very little people. It is the way the live music scene in this country is these days and I, for one, can live with it. But, I’ve got to complain about something and I cannot find anything else to whinge about.
You can’t stop rock ‘n’ roll.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
10th April 2004
You can’t stop rock ‘n’ roll.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
10th April 2004
About the photos...
Somebody once told me that I should display fewer photos and only show the very best, leaving out the ones that weren't as good; only show your very best work, they advised. And I can see their point. If this were just an exhibition of my photographs, that's precisely what I would do, but it isn't, it's a record of a night of entertainment. So, you get the lot, except for the ones that are really crap, anyway.
Hell, why would I keep the rest for myself? Surely, if I wanted to keep some back, I'd put the crappy ones on my site and keep the best for my own pleasure.
Besides, you might like different ones to me.
Hell, why would I keep the rest for myself? Surely, if I wanted to keep some back, I'd put the crappy ones on my site and keep the best for my own pleasure.
Besides, you might like different ones to me.