Glenn Hughes plus support from The Damn Truth

We don’t need any encouragement to see Canadian band The Damn Truth, but when you get a chance to see the VOICE OF ROCK too, well you can’t go wrong, can you? We are big fans of The Damn Truth and they are brilliant live, and not too shabby on recorded material either. As support tonight, yes they only have about 40 minutes but they don’t mess around and open with a storming version of arguably their catchiest song, and title track of their latest album ‘This Is Who We Are Now’. An album that signals what is to come from this band, anyone witnessing them can’t not be impressed with their energy and the tightness and those gathered here tonight weren’t slow in showing their appreciation. As well as supporting Hughes on this tour they are playing several dates headlining on their own, but for us we can’t wait until we have more new material from them to blast out.

Now for the man who is acclaimed as the Voice Of Rock, Glenn Hughes, ex Trapeze, Black Country Communion, solo career, and of course Deep Purple, which is what this tour is about. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Deep Purple’s ‘Burn’, now at the age of 72, this is the first time of seeing this legend in the flesh, and to see if he has still got it! I have to admit we are not the biggest of Deep Purple fans, some of their songs go on a little long, we prefer the shorter Purple tracks, but to see Hughes and his voice was the main reason. Opening with ‘Stormbringer’ it was quite obvious that the answer to the big question, does he still have IT, well the answer is yes, indeed he does. Very impressive for a man of his age, his range is excellent, but his high notes were incredible, bordering on the painful, it was that high, wow. He still moves around the stage well, and loves egging the crowd, whom were in raptures all night, and he was born only a few miles away in Cannock, so it was like a home gig for him, although he still lives in LA. He brought plenty of life into the Deep Purple songs with his excellent band, finishing with ‘Highway Star’ and the title track off the ‘Burn’ album. On tonight’s showing, there is plenty left in the tank from Mr. Hughes, rock on Glenn.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe