Hughes Turner Project (Graz - Orpheum - 12.03.04)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik

While Deep Purple's current line up doesn't care much about material produced by their Mk III. and IV. line up and Ritchie Blackmore on the other hand plays his own version of Robin Hood and doesn't want to hear about ever existence of a band called Rainbow, thankfully both legendary ex-Purple boys got together for revitalisation of some hot and rare stuff. Name Glenn Hughes has always a special place in my heart. He was of course never a kind of special bassist, but anytime he approaches to microphone, takes a breath, scream and shout it brings a special magic. He is one of top singers that rock world had ever seen and produced. Truly "The Voice Of Rock". He can sing just anything. So sincerely soulful. The other half of a project is another rock giant Joe Lynn Turner. In this project an equal part. There are songs that were or are written and which performance convinces only when Joe sing them. Both guys are making phenomenal contrast, equally involved under the HTP flag.

Support group Vollgas are Austrians. Vollgas means in English "full gas", I guess. Singer's performance was tremendous. He was singing and sounding like Ian Gillan. Really. We got a fantastic hard rock pre-lesson. And band fired up the audience with Purple's stuff from recent album "Bananas" (2003) moody Walk On and groovy House Of Pain. Done very professional, great approximation to its original. Sound was very fine and guys well into it. It was obvious that they know very well Orpheum's acoustic, which is by no means superb. Band developed a nice collaboration between all members especially between guitar and Hammond organ. Vollgas played one hour and they really turned the audience on, especially at the end with Highway Star. They missed their clue a bit only with addition of Metallica's Nothing Else Matters. I find unsuitable for such hard rock oriented band to play stuffs like that. Well if they would jazzed a new version out of it, this would be quite a happening. But instead of that, we heard a very weak copy with unsuitable vocal colour and guitar sound. Other songs were sung in Austrian language and as a result many people in the audience got woozy. And this only confirmed a simple fact how important language in lyrical expression is. Hope guys will discover that soon and begin to write lyrics in English. I understand them. They chose their own freedom. Or at least I hope so.

Now let us stick to headliner! Glenn didn't loose even a sparkle of his incredible vocal powers he possesses. There are few artists in hard rock capable of such soul investments during song's performance. Screams were flying on every step. Just like for instance Malmsteen's guitar arpeggios. Whenever Glenn finds even a tiny inch of space, he uses that space for addition of his famous extra screams that were sometimes shouted out almost frenetically. There is no higher than higher power of his own that enables artist's constant growth that turns him into good old wine. Getting' better, getting' tighter, so here we are. Live on stage.

Opening the set with magnificent Hold On was a right pace of art to start with. Funky song with huge groove was a splendid opening. Both guys showed immediately their unique skills of improvisation. From their latest studio effort they chose to play a real finest pieces. Among them was also Alone I Breath. During song's introduction Glenn couldn't hide his enthusiasm over presence of some younger faces mixed among the crowd in front row: "it is so good to see some young people in audience tonight!" Another fantastic lesson from HTP "II." was to be chosen. Losing My Head with splendid work of J.J. Marsh on his cream coloured Stratocaster. Well here J.J. didn't dare to copy Vai's original solo contribution for that song, but put in a guitar solo of his own. J.J. was brilliant. He dominated his instrument with supremacy and mastered all required sounds, depending on a situation, with great care and pedantry. Tastefully recalling the spirit of seventies. He was really hot especially during all HTP songs. And classic Rainbow and Purple stuff was also a piece of cake for him.

First highlight and highlight of entire gig was undoubtedly Mistreated. Said Glenn: "This piece was first Deep Purple thing that Ritchie introduced me! And it sounded so cool, so real..." And this was it. First J.J. Marsh made a long introduction. It was blazing solo laid over delay effects and guitarist really worked his fingers to the bone. J.J.'s introduction collided into well known sound and melody of Blackmore's original solo introduction that switched into main theme where Mr. Hughes finally entered. This was a pure joyful moment for all of us in the hall. People were so shocked that at one moment it seemed that we all died in hypnotic state, cause of dead silence that fulfilled hall. And the reason was Glenn's gospel fill in the middle of song, that told us everything. Glenn entered his safe home ground, his world of dreams and we just followed his footsteps. He acted like a real movie star on stage. This is a lie, if you wanna act like a movie star, you have to fake! And Glenn was so sincere and his performance so real. While I was watching him it really brought tears to my eyes. He was singing with whole body. And when he made a connection with his higher power, this was it. Hard to describe, you gotta experience it. Gutsy all the way, with incredible soul involvement on every step he took.

We were all just staring with mouth and eyes wide opened. It was a night to remember for sure. Glenn thanked to his higher power with gesticulations during his soulful vocal performance. After song turned into pure delirium of emotional outburst, it ended through crazy jam, with Glenn being complete into it. People were shocked and thrilled. We were applauding like crazy. J.J. and Glenn repeated another fade out. But there were still no satisfaction and cheer responds from audience didn't want to stop, and they both were forced to repeat yet another fade out. Even in this very moment, my skin got goose bumps and all I did was to recall in my head those moments out of my memories. Mr. Glenn Hughes! Thank you for unforgettable experience.

The rest of the band with aforementioned peroxide haired guitar freak J.J. Marsh in charging position were all in good shape and mood throughout the gig. I was only a bit disappointed over Hammond and moog sounds of Kjell Haraldsson that were very weak during concert. And this hit very badly especially Stormbringer and Burn. A mid-eight in Burn, where originally Ritchie and Jon are duelling their long solos, somehow didn't convince. Also I didn't understand band's decision to add a drum solo at the closing section of Getting' Tighter. This drumming was very uninspired and was a bit boring. Also drummer Tomas Broman was a few times very late throughout the gig while catching basic rhythm lines.

All Rainbow songs were done completely by Joe Lynn. No breaks left for Glenn, he was helping Joe with addition of backing vocals, while in crazy boneshaking experience Stormbringer, with whole audience singing very loud through entire song, both guys exchanged vocal lines in pre-chorus. Joe has his tremendous feel and all Rainbow classics were done phenomenal. His killer numbers were surely Death Alley Driver and Spotlight Kid later added in melting encore with nice change of pace during Street Of Dreams. If Glenn was jamming all the time with his bass guitar, Joe grabbed now and then electric guitar to make himself busy while helping friends with his rhythm drives. We were quite lucky in Graz, cause I was told from a certain die-hard (coming from Slovenia, too), that Joe had a few days ago problems with his singing, having sore throat. But in Graz, he was just good old Joe.

Is there anything left to say? Oh yes, classics from Purple's "Come Taste The Band" album. Hughes and Turner dropped out numbers from the set list like Seventh Star and King Of Dreams, which were both included on previous HTP tour. In addition of those two songs "Come Taste The Band" stuff was brought in. Glenn Hughes introduced on a very emotive way with tears in his eyes song Getting' Tighter as a memory to his "soul brother" and his ex- Deep Purple pal Tommy Bolin. And Getting' Tighter was done magnificently. What a jam! This is what groove kind of rock called funk's all about! A shame because at it's end it split into aforementioned unimaginative drum solo. Opening of You Keep On Movin' was extraterrestrial, though. Always one of my favourite tunes from "Come Taste The Band" launched me in seventh heaven. And crowd made a huge response to song's performance. Entire crowd was singing and it was another up lifting experience.

This was an opportunity not to be missed. As usual Graz is the closest town for Slovenian "rocka rollers" to anticipate the gigs over the border. I mean the closest "rock" town. HTP? Well legends like Joe and Glenn just have something. There is something in their veins. Free creative spirits of rock'n roll that never die.

Hughes Turner Project setlist (Graz, Orpheum, 12.03.2004):

01. Hold On
02. Can't Stop Rock'n'Roll
03. Losing My Head
04. Alone I Breathe
05. Mistreated
06. I Surrender
07. Street Of Dreams
08. Gettin' Tighter
09. You Keep On Moving
10. Death Alley Driver
11. Stormbringer
------------------------------ Encore
12.) Devil's Road
13.) Spotlight Kid
14.) Burn
===================End