Deep Purple and Judas Priest @ Darien Lake Amphitheater , Corfu, NY 9-5-18

A classic two full of music was dished out at Darien Lake Amphitheater last week as both Deep Purple and Judas Priest gave the fans a good retrospect of rock and metal music over for the last 50 years. Both bands played an hour and 15-minute set and gave the sparse but hearty crowd one of the most consistent rock shows this summer.

First up was Judas Priest. We reviewed one of the first Priest shows earlier this year (Prudential Center review 3-20-18) and will only talk about the differences in their set this time around. Unlike the show at the Prudential Center, guitarist Glenn Tipton didn’t make an appearance for the encore at this show. The band added “Delivering the Goods” and it’s been the first time the band has played it live since 1980’s “British Steel” tour. Personally, it was the highlight of the set for me. It was a nice addition to keep the longtime fans happy. Also new guitarist Andy Sneap seems a lot more comfortable and animated on stage. He is starting to mold into becoming a fixture within the bands live set. It also should be noted that one of the top vocalists (in any genre of music) in Rob Halford, still brings it every night and sounds just as good as he ever has. Amazing at 67 years young, he still sounds better than most at any age!

Closing the set was Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Deep Purple. Even though they released new music last year with their 20^th studio effort in “Infinite,” Deep Purple focused on primary playing their hits and cuts that people are more familiar with. Led by longtime vocalist Ian Gillan, they played a very solid set with each member showing their musical proficiency. Gillan dedicated Uncommon Man” to his former bandmate in Jon Lord. Guitarist Steve Morse is a highly underrated guitarist. He never gets the accolades of a Joe Satriani or Yngvie Malmsteen but can hold his own with just about anyone. His sublime playing on tracks like “Bloodsucker” or “Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming” are really just tips of the iceberg on his playing abilities. Keyboardist Don Airey enjoyed a nice solo playing the band into one of the band biggest hits in “Perfect Strangers.” Of course, the band ended their set with one of the biggest songs ever recorded in rock history in “Smoke on the Water.” Even though the band has played it thousands of times, they seemed the band played it with the same vigor from 50 years ago when they first recorded it.

Many have discussed this to be the last go around for the band. Will it be? Who knows but if it is the last show in the Western New York area, they can be proud they went out on a high note!

Deep Purple setlist:

Highway Star

Pictures of Home

Bloodsucker

Strange Kind of Woman

Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming

Uncommon Man

Lazy

Knocking on Your Back Door

Keyboard solo

Perfect Strangers

Space Truckin’