Deep Purple. Photo by Chyrisse.CPT_6597 — Deep Purple. Photo by Chyrisse.

By Wendy Hunter, Journalist, and Chyrisse Tabone, Photographer – Rock At Night, Tampa

Deep Purple and YES – 1 Last Time Tour – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hard Rock Event Center, Tampa, Florida – August 15, 2024

**Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Recipients – Yes (2017) and Deep Purple (2016)

The concert was held at the Event Center, a 1,500-seat venue on the second level inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino complex. There was ample parking and restaurants galore in addition to the casino, making this a perfect place for events. On this night, the concert goers included many silver haired seniors as well as younger fans. The wardrobe of course was jeans and tee-shirts, and some wore 1960s and 1970s vintage garb. Audience chatter heightened as concert enthusiasts filed inside, and the anticipation was palpable for what the bands would deliver. And they did deliver!

Geoff Downes and Jon Davison of Yes. Photo by Chyrisse.

YES has had a few transformations since the band began in the 1960s, but are mostly known as trailblazers for progressive rock. At 8 pm, YES fired off the song “Machine Messiah.” Soon came the familiar sounds from keyboardist Geoff Downes who manned at least seven keyboards, while the fine high vocals of Jon Davison began. Steve Howe, who has been with the band since the early 1970s, deftly played lead guitar together with the reverberating low tones of Billy Sherwood’s bass. Jay Schellen tied it all together with steady beats and the colorful YES logo was prominent on the face of his bass drum.

Whistling and cheering could be heard from the audience as YES began the familiar song “I’ve Seen All Good People.” Howe’s stringed laúd rang out as the distinctive instrument for the first part of this song, along with the perfectly synchronized vocals. The keyboardist’s notes sounded like a song from a joyous merry-go-round. Then the tune morphed into a faster rhythm with Howe’s Gibson guitar back in play. The audience stood cheering and then whooping ensued. I could almost feel the joy from the band members as they saw the crowds’ reaction.

The instrumental song “Clap” composed and performed solo on Howe’s guitar was written to celebrate the birth of his first son. Howe’s enthusiastic movements, expressions, and playing moved the listeners to yelling, clapping, and pumping fists to his music. The song “Siberian Khatru” with a wide range of lead guitar and extensive use of the keyboard resulted in a hooting audience who cried for more.

Billy Sherwood of Yes. Photo by Chyrisse.

YES’ encore began with the well-known song “Roundabout” with low rumbling of drums and bass and near frantic keyboarding by Downes. Steve Howe called out to us, “Thank you, thank you!” And then the band’s final song began with lyrics “Sister bluebird flying high above, shine your wings forward to the sun…” This ethereal piece, “Starship Trooper,” featured Howe and Davison playing guitar. Sherwood’s bass solo captured our attention, while a light show cheerfully danced over the side walls of the venue. As the band said goodbyes, most of the delighted listeners were standing and cheering. This was a performance to remember.

Ian Gillan and Don Airey of Deep Purple. Photo by Chyrisse.

Deep Purple’s music now spans seven decades with drummer Ian Paice who joined the band in 1968, followed by vocalist Ian Gillan and bass player Roger Glover both starting in 1969. Keyboardist Don Airey and Belfast native and guitarist Simon McBride are more recent additions to the band and round out its powerful sound.

After a brief intermission, a flash of light and mysterious and unearthly noises ushered Deep Purple onto the stage. The first song, the hard-driving “Highway Star” was a great choice to get the listeners up and cheering. A huge backdrop glowed with the words Deep Purple and a light show pulsed the song’s beat. I immediately time traveled to 1972 to their innovative concert in Pittsburgh, PA. Deep Purple was my first rock concert and album. It was Deep Purple who began my lifelong journey of the love of live music which continues to be a big part of my life.

Ian Paice of Deep Purple. Photo by Chyrisse.

The next song was “A Bit on the Side,” with quick guitar work, the deep rumbling keyboard, and Gillan’s steady voice. The audience was still standing when the next song, “Hard Lovin’ Man” began. Concert goers began clapping in time as the strobe lights flashed to the song’s galloping rhythm. Near the song’s ending, Gillan strolled out and sounded a gong, which only slowed the pace for a moment until the song slowed to finish.

Gillan said the next song’s origin stemmed from a fire at his home. During “Into the Fire,” Gillan set the song itself ablaze with scorchingly haunting vocals the ballsy sound of guitar work by McBride. After member introductions, followed by crowd cheers, Gillan responded with a hardy “all right and thanks for the great welcome!” McBride continued with a solo with admirable fingerwork on his PRS guitar followed by “Uncommon Man.” This song, dedicated to co-founder Jon Lord who passed in 2012, was a rich honor to this rocker. Again McBride’s blistering solo was mesmerizing.

The tune “Lazy,” a bluesy song, began with keyboardist Airey showing off his skill, followed by Paice’s sly advance of the drums. McBride followed with his adept guitar work and Glover’s bass held the whole package together. Gillan’s harmonica was a pleasant surprise which called the audience to their feet with cheers.

Deep Purple gifted the audience a total of nineteen pieces, two of which were solos with the lead guitar and one with the keyboards. Songs that followed were “Lazy Sod,” “Show Me,” “Portable Door,” “Anya,” and “Bleeding Obvious” pulled together with the sound of Gillan’s voice and Paice’s spot-on drumming. Glover took center stage and rolled out “Space Trucking” with a stunning opening on his bass guitar. Then bathed with the color purple and strobes highlighting Paice’s drum beats, the iconic “Smoke on the Water” began with that full-power guitar intro and the steady beats that we all know so well. When prompted, the words came easily to the delighted audience who cheered for more. The encore included the amazing song “Hush” where the band once again demonstrated their musical highs. The concertgoers cheered and clapped demonstrating their love of Deep Purple.

If you have the chance to attend this concert, I guarantee it will bring those music memories flooding back to you. If this band is new to you, then be aware that they began modern metal music. The innovative heavy sounds of Deep Purple and the progressive tunes of YES are the beginning of much of modern rock and roll.