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… After reading the Reading reviews, it was good to see Ritchie back on form last night in Birmingham, I’m sorry many of the fans who went to the Reading show felt justified in being short-changed but the band made up for it at this performance, they came on at 8.35 and at 10.50 they were still playing, by now on a second encore of
Ghost Of A Rose, and I had to leave before the end to catch the last train home, I still don’t know what followed, if anything, but I’ll be pretty miffed if the Strat came out again!
Even though I hope it did because Ritchie and the band really gave a strong performance,
it's been stated recently that the band have peaked in recent years but this was a great show…. If I’m honest I do attend to see the Man in
Black, I love Deep purple and ultimately I want to see him play the Strat, but that said his guitar playing was excellent all night, guitar and bass was loud in the mix, stage right, the drummer works very, very hard, I didn’t realise until last night how good this guy actually is and Candice`s voice and range improved as the show wore
on.
They began with Past Times as at the other shows, cut it short to go straight into Rainbow Blues, this is excellent live but would be better suited until later in the performance, to me it’s a song to end a show or encore with , Purple songs on the night were Child in Time and Soldier
Of Fortune , Arial was played from the Rainbow catalogue and to me was the best part of the night, the Strat was out and Ritchie gave a 5 minute solo midway that really, really left you demanding more, I could just listen to that all
night. If there are any doubters after Reading, justified I agree, then this would have a gone a long way to begging forgiveness (not that Ritchie is likely to ask for that anyway)… and then in true frustration Ritchie style, he begins a riff to follow Ariel, has the audience clapping in time, loud very loud, your just waiting for something to blow you away… and the guy stops !
Puts the Strat down... and we’re off again down Blackmore`s Way, I think it was Wind in the Willows
that followed, again excellent by the way, superb vocal by Candice, but, but .. what many would give for a few more songs with Ritchie rocking like he can do so much better than any other guitar player.
Other highlights were Fires at Midnight, Diamonds and
Rust, Minstrel Hall and Mr Peagram's Morris and Sword, the set list more or less followed the Glenrothes show I reckon, although I may be incorrect in the order, as I say if anything followed
Ghost Of A Rose in the second encore I cannot say as yet as I had to leave (groan) though I can hardly complain that the band played too long !!
I’ve seen the band ten times now in all, I can honestly say they were as good as ever, the new bass player was good and was strong in his vocal
too. Ritchie to me is still the best out there.. long may it continue …
(Neil Jones)
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Birmingham
17th June 2007
Set List
Past Time With Good Company
Rainbow Blues
Play Minstrel Play
Under A Violet Moon
Soldier Of Fortune
Durch den wald zum Bachhaus
Keyboard/bass solo
World Of Stone
Minstrel Hall
Mond Tanz/Child In Time
Diamonds And Rust
Keyboard solo
Ariel
Wind In The Willows
Mr Peagram's Morris And Sword
Home Again
Fires At Midnight
Avalon
Clock Ticks On
Cartouche
The Old Village Lanterne
Mid Winters Night
Dandelion Wine
Ghost Of A Rose
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Like Neil Jones, I really wasn't too sure what to expect tonight after reading the Reading reviews. I'd seen the band in York last Tuesday which had been a good steady, professional, but not outstanding show, which had quite a few highlights - stunning extended solo in 'Ariel', 'Black Night' encore and 'Dificult to Cure' etc. Last night in Birmingham, though, the band were inspired and Ritchie was obviously in the mood to play.
I knew from seeing the number of guitars on the stage that we were to get some surprises and I wasn't wrong. It was a long time since I'd heard the likes of 'Minstrel Hall' and 'Ghost of a Rose'. Admittedly, Ritchie gave himself few opportunities to let go and improvise solos - but this was balanced-out by the ensemble playing of the band and the strong emotion in Ritchie's playing. A good example of this was 'Mond Tanz/Child in Time'. The start of 'Mond Tanz' saw the two women from Gothien join the band on the stage and this set-up 'Child in Time' beautifully. After the initial verses, the song was brought to a crescendo by an unrelenting Bolero beat and the mesmerising voices of the Sisters of the Moon before the 'Mond Tanz' refrain. Not for the first time during the gig I had shivers up my spine!! 'Diamonds and Rust' was possibly the highlight for me as it was such an intense and moving version - it took my breath away. 'Home Again' had the crowd going crazy with the front rows dancing during the choruses - to the band's obvious delight. 'Fires at Midnight', again, had Ritchie soloing on acoustic and his flourishes and dexterity were a joy to behold. The night finished with 'a great set of encores - 'Ghost of a Rose' being the final song.
Support act, Gothien, deserve a mention as they won over the crowd with their enthusiasm, passion and range of material. They received a great reaction from the crowd in York last week and last night they obviously made an impression as the crowd cheered and clapped them to a well-deserved encore. I hope they continue to get reactions like this on the next few gigs.
(Dennis McDonnell)
Much better show, lots of different songs in the set list. Ariel again is
stunning. Fires was pretty good once it got going. Really great version of
Cartouche.
Overall, three consistent shows. And one dud. Ritchie did seem to be very
laid back in his playing at times, reluctant to solo and sticking to
strumming away. However when he did go for it, it really was stunning. Ariel
was magnificent each night. Each solo was different, and inventive. The
classical piece he does during the solo in Fires is familiar, not sure why,
I have heard it or something like it before.
Candice seems to have lost some power, and the rough edge to her voice. The
edge that made Diamonds so good on the previous tours, has gone. As a result
the song lost some of it’s impact. That said, the version of Soldier
Of Fortune in Glenrothes was wonderful.
The new bass player fits in well, Bard David performed well, especially at
Reading. It was nice to meet up with everyone at the various places.
(Kev Dixon)
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