David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
Registered: 09-2003
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 Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
The band furtively take to the stage to mild applause: the cheers are reserved for The Minstrel in Black (and white boots -- my god, where's the man's fashion sense?) who wanders to the centre of the stage (no spotlight for him), playing a melodic, wailing guitar synth introduction which moves seamlessly into Cartouche as he swaps to a lute and waves the band in to join him. Candice Night (in tasteful green and black taffeta) comes on to her own round of cheers and launches straight into the vocal.
There's no sign (nor mention) of her mystery illness which caused Friday's cancellation. I thought she seemed out of breath for teh first few songs but her voice was otherwise as good as it ever is.
The band were in a playful mood: plenty of banter on stage between all of them (all of it audible from my 5th row seat), including a mock fight between Ritchie and the bass player.
The show was 2.05, including encores. I can't do a song-by-song list (over 20 songs, including one Purple and three Rainbow), so I'll just list a few memorable moments:
Soldier of Fortune came early in the set and featured the most beautiful solo I've ever heard in my WHOLE LIFE. (Apart from Diamonds and Rust, a few minutes later, which was just as good. And Dandelion Wine in the encore,
which was better. Oh, and the intro to Mid Winter's Night right at the end, which had absolutely the best solo of the night.)
Candice's best line of the night, while asking us to join in Under a Violet Moon: "We were told that Birmingham has the best singers in the world." [Pause. Stunned silence.] "Well, it was Ozzy Osbourne who told us that..."
Home Again: this is the structure to the live version of Home Again:
Verse
Chorus
Verse
[random guitar solo as the chorus is supposed to start]
[Indignant look from Candice Night]
Verse
[chorus of Rule Britannia. Yes, *that* Rule Britannia.]
[Ritchie goes quiet]
[chorus of Rule Britannia again]
Home Again (another chorus or two)
[Applause.]
[Rule Britannia again]
Candice: "Shall I ask for requests now, dear?"
Ritchie: "No, I want to play Rule Britannia again."
When Ritchie finally does call for requests, he ignores them all and plays what he wants anyway. (Would you expect anything else?)
Ah... it's hard to convey the atmosphere of the show. It was just fun, wrapped around good songs, wrapped around the best guitar playing I've ever heard.
He played a mix of electric and acoustic, plus a bit on the guitar synth, lute, and mandolin. Oh -- I forgot to mention the main highlight: he's added a hurdy gurdy solo spot: Tielman Susato's "Quatre Branles" (the original version of the Blackmore's Night song, The Clock Ticks On). Not only is
Ritchie Blackmore the best guitar player in the world, he's also the best hurdy gurdy player I've ever seen.
Should have been a longer show. It left me wanting much more.
"I might play rock for another year then do a mediaeval album or something" -- Ritchie Blackmore, 1976
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11/11/2003, 17:57
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taliesynrock
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
but, was it the best concert you've ever seen? 
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11/11/2003, 18:41
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David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
Did I forget to say that? 
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11/11/2003, 18:49
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the wickerman
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
I was on the left hand end of the third row and had an absolutely fantastic night. My wife doesn't normaly like guitar solo's etc, but she was enthralled by Richie.
Soldier Of Fortune was one of my highlights, only to be spoilt during the solo by some tw*t theatre worker who hassled me about having a mobile phone on. I wouldn't have minded but it was someone about 4 seats up from me taking photo's with one!
All the songs / instrumentals that they played were great. Even the ones that I'm not normally so keen on (Mr Peagram for example).
I had to laugh when Candice said that Richie couldn't play too much on the Strat cos the promoters get nervous every time he gets it out!
As for the Hurdy Gurdy - wow! I always wondered what they were - I Want One!!!!
It was good to see such a mixed bag of people there too. Kids not much older than 9 or 10. Several teenagers and people in there 20's and 30's. Plus the "old rockers" who have obviously been with Richie from the start (I'm 33, my wife's 26, by the way!).
It certainly was a fantastic night, I just wish they were doing more shows closer to me. Cheltenham and Exeter are a bit too far from Cambridgeshire really.
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11/11/2003, 19:33
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Shrimp
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
Damn good show!
Shrimp
---
Deep Purple rule, and ill fight ANYONE who says different!
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13/11/2003, 19:36
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Ritchies Strat
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
Thanks for the reviews fellas.
---
"Every time she goes Vavoom,
I wiggle in my chair"- excerpt from the book 'Things a Grown Man Should Never Say'.
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13/11/2003, 20:03
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FatLarryandhiscar
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
It may be slightly ironic considering his past but Ritchie
is in his element with these musician's.
Never being the least bit selfish or overruling
in his stage presance and welcoming lot's of comraderie
something I find to be an evolving breath of fresh air
and a great example of growth pattern considering the fact
that the musical theme is centuries old.
This is the mark of a truely great product and performance.
The master continues to defy boredom in this chapter of
his illustrous career.
Now if they can only get that dvd out so I can atleast have the best seat in the house,since I can't justify
travelling to see them.
(the wife just won't have it i guess)
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13/11/2003, 20:19
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Trollprincess
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
Excuse me Sir... What a good review you've wrote here about BN... Are you sick? 
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13/11/2003, 21:20
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FatLarryandhiscar
Purple fan
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
I love BN
don't confuse my statement's in other thread's about Ritchie,he is in his element here and I'm proud of him for it.
How about reading between the lines once and a while? 
Brian does,even he know's how I really feel about Ritchie
we are not as enimonic as you and some other think we are.
It's all just good fun. 
Last edited by FatLarryandhiscar, 13/11/2003, 21:29
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13/11/2003, 21:24
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Hodge
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Re: Birmingham 9/11/03 (Review)
As usual, a very good review from Mr Meadows. Can someone tell me what a hurdy gurdy is? Perhaps Dave could list a few more Hurdy Gurdy players so that I could see who RB is better than. 
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27/12/2003, 21:11
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