Deep Purple: A Colourful Performance In Leeds

Witnessing a band in a small venue, where a beer-stained floor blends with a swath of sweaty bodies as the group and fans embrace the music in unison, is one of the best experiences of live music. West Country Rock Band Reef is one band that perfectly fits this thrilling encounter.

Unfortunately, tonight, Reef had the unenviable task of warming up an empty and cold Leeds Arena to an audience that, for the most part, had been around long before the members of Reef were born.

That the band pulled the feat off with style and substance was an accolade to the blues-infused band. Lead singer Gary Stringer performed along with the other members of the band as though they were the headline act. Dropping their biggest hit to date, Place Your Hands, midset could have been considered premature, but with other riveting songs to follow, perhaps it wasn't. Concluding with a surprise cover of the Fleetwood Mac number The Chain, Reef had made the enormous arena feel more intimate with a memorable and authoritative performance.

One of the most influential British rock acts, Deep Purple, is not far off celebrating their sixtieth year in the music business. As Gustav Holst’s Mars, the Bringer of War echoed around the Leeds venue, the band arrived on stage, setting the tone for what was to be a thrilling encounter.

The line-up of the band has been fluid in the past; however, the current cohesion appeared to be just that: a band sticking together tightly. Now aged 79, lead vocalist Ian Gillan still had the strong and commanding vocals that were the hallmarks of many a Deep Purple classic. Add to that the superb musicianship of fellow members Roger Glover on bass, Ian Paice on drums, Don Airey on keyboards, and new boy Simon McBride on guitar, and the result was a captivating one.

Highway Star, a track from the 1972 album Machine Head, felt like a statement of intent as the band proved that they were still a dominant force. Following in the footsteps of legendary guitarist Richie Blackmore is no easy task; however, McBride soon made his presence known with an accomplished guitar solo. With the energy and dexterity of a drummer thirty years younger, 76-year-old Ian Paice provided a solid backbeat to one of the richest catalogues in rock music history.

With at least a third of the songs from the band's new album =1 being aired, the feeling was that this was a band who were not living just in the past. Lazy Sod, a track Gillian informed the fans, is apparently about his house being caught on fire, though tonight the musical flames still burnt brightly.

Don Airey, a skilled musician who has played or arranged tracks from Eurovision Song Contest winners to being a member of some of the most influential rock bands of all time, brought a local flavor to the evening with a whimsical rendition of On Ilkley Moor bar t'tat on his keyboard solo. However, it was his soaring organ playing that underpinned the Deep Purple tapestry of rock classics tonight.

Simon McBride teased the crowd with a distinctive guitar riff, signaling the arrival of Smoke on the Water, a track that epitomises rock music history. The band's harmonious performance showcased their years of musical excellence.

Ending the concert with a blistering version of Black Night, Deep Purple delivered a night to remember, maintaining their reputation as one of the best rock groups.