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Deep Purple and Yes came to the PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati on August 21 for the =1 More Time Tour. I last saw Deep Purple six years ago, and I was eager to see how relatively new guitarist Simon McBride fit in with an otherwise finely tuned machine. He does, in spades. But first, Steve Howe carries on Yes with a band worthy of the name. I like shredders as much as the next guy, but I also enjoy hearing a guitar hero who plays with nuance, and Howe certainly delivers. For obvious reasons, the set list consisted of Howe era Yes classic tunes.

He had the stage to himself for “Clap,” performing solo acoustic guitar, which was preceded by “I’ve Seen All Good People” and "Yours Is No Disgrace.” I’ve always thought Yes was defined by the vocals and keyboards, and Jon Davison, who has been the vocalist in Yes since 2012, and keyboardist Geoff Downes, who has been in Yes since 2011, are largely responsible for delivering the classic Yes sound, which is essential to their live performances, given the set list of early classic Yes. "Machine Messiah” from 1980 was the most recent Yes song to make the set list. 

Yes setlist:
Machine Messiah
I’ve Seen All Good People
Your Is No Disgrace
Clap
Going For The One
Siberian Khatru
Roundabout
Starship Trooper

While Yes’ set was perhaps more orchestrated and focused more on earlier material, Deep Purple, on the other hand, gave us a more jam band feel, and played some deeper cuts. Kudos for not playing the same show over and over. I wish more bands varied their set lists. Purple does not have many special effects – just a screen. The stage is pretty bare except for the band. “Highway Star” led off the set. I can’t think of a better song to get the energy pumping. They then went straight into new material with “A Bit on the Side” from the new =1, and then deeper cuts from In Rock, “Hard Lovin’ Man” and “Into The Fire.”

Although Simon McBride has played guitar with Purple for two years, I assumed stepping out of the shadows given the veterans in the band would be a bit of a challenge. No problem. He did not have any problems stepping out and commanding the front of the stage.  He is definitely not shy on stage. His lengthy solo, with traces of Dick Dale, which you may recall from Pulp Fiction relied as much on meat and tone as it did on shredding. 

The band has not forgotten Jon Lord. They dedicated “Uncommon Man” from Now, What?, their first album following his death, to him. Back to =1 with “Lazy Sod,” apparently autobiographical, according to Ian Gillan. Gone are the high screams, but Gillan sounds so good that I hardly miss them. 

Don Airey gets two keyboard solos, the second of which is more classically tinged, which I admit, not being familiar with classical music, I could not identify,except for portions of “Beautiful Dreamer,” and, yes, “Mr. Crowley.” Between the extended guitar solo the two keyboard solos, Gillan gets some rest, leaving the stage to let the band jam. Towards the end of the second keyboard solo I seem to hear the intro to “Perfect Strangers,” but it would not make an appearance here, instead leading into “Lazy.”

“Space Truckin'” brought the entire crowd to their feet, where they stayed for the duration of the show, which is the point when the band hit their early history. “Smoke on the Water” came next, which I was expecting for the encore. The first encore turned out to be Booker T. and the Mg’s “Green Onions.” Who saw that coming? They finished up with “Hush” and “Black Night.”

I applaud Purple for bringing us deeper cuts and newer material, and not playing the same songs over and over. I don’t know whether this is really the end of Deep Purple touring, but my advice is to catch them while you can. Two bands together with such a rich history should be a no-brainer. 

Deep Purple setlist:
Highway Star
A Bit On The Side
Hard Lovin’ Man
Into The Fire
Uncommon Man
Lazy Sod
Lazy
Show Me
Portable Door
Anya
Bleeding Obvious
Space Truckin'
Smoke On The Water
Green Onions
Hush
Black Night