Page: 1 2 3
harryurz
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 10-2003
Location: Kidderminster, Worcs, UK
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
The Purple Convention
After my marvellous SatNav managed to take us on an unscheduled tour of Bedford, ( I’m not saying anything about Southern England towns, but sheesh….makes me glad I’m based in the Midlands!) we managed to locate our B&B lodgings and set off on foot in the sunshine to find ‘Esquires’. Forty meandering minutes later and quizzing numerous confused inhabitants we found said club quietly tucked away in a corner.
The venue itself was small but excellently equipped; a bar and downstairs room with seating, a few stalls and traders to one side, and a video screen set up, showing various DP and related rarities through the early afternoon. (A larger upstairs room was where the music was to be performed). A bar and (more importantly) decent beer prices too….though we had to trek out into the town for something to eat!
As the afternoon unfolded Jerry Bloom, as Master of Ceremonies, made various announcements and kept the ball rolling in an understated but informative manner, everyone seemingly happy to wander around and watch proceedings while networking with other Purple fans.
Grabbing a sandwich outside I spotted the arrival of the very nice silver Chrysler of Mister Doogie White (hope your back is better soon Doog!!).
Ian Hansford ( Purple Roadie) was ill and thus cancelled, so first highlight of the day was the Q&A with Nick Simper; a good 40 minutes answering lots of Mk 1 related questions, Nick came over as a true gent and appeared sincerely touched by the avid interest and knowledge of those present.
I’d never seen the Good Old Boys play live before, and to be honest was expecting a enjoyable but clichéd run through of the usual blues and rock standards, but I was totally surprised by their up-for-it attitude and a band delivery that was positively fiery at times. It certainly helps when Nick has the likes of the excellent Pete Parks on guitar and Ritchie Hudson (ex Strawbs and Hudson-Ford) on drums. Naturally a take of ‘Hush’ got the biggest cheer- amazing how good it sounds with a vocalist who knows the lyrics!
By the time Glenn turned up there was some 100 to 120 people in attendance. Sporting shades, slim and looking both unnaturally fit and ridiculously young, I don’t know what Glenn’s taking, but I’d like some of it!! (Sack the hairdresser though, Mr Hughes!!) The lines of 'meet and greet'ers filled the next 45 minutes or so, and a huge round of applause greeted the return of Nick to meet and talk to Glenn- for perhaps the first time?
It was thus time to ajourn upstairs for Glenn’s acoustic spot and some Q&A’s. Thus on Glenn strode, armed with acoustic guitar and a keyboard player for a few extra flourishes.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Glenn’s voice in a rock context, but unfortunately the next two hours were often permeated with Glenn firmly locked into ‘Stevie Wonder’ mode, with each song offering ( Mistreated, You Keep On Moving, Nights In White Satin, This Time Around, a few off Play Me Out, and some Trapeze picks) stretched to pure breaking point with overly soul-y falsetto 5 minute endings……hmmmm, I’m firmly with Ritchie regarding ‘shoeshine music’ , but then most people seem to enjoy it, so what do I know?
What I did really enjoy though, was his between-song banter, answering questions fired from the audience with very, very funny retorts, yet modest, humble, incisive and witty...the contents of his replies we told to keep quiet about until after his biography comes out ( to be drafted in September, out at the end of the year apparently;I bet Gary Moore can’t wait!!)
The evening was then made over to Burn, the Purple covers band. Not sure I would enjoy them, as a three piece loses something without a Hammond growl, but all credit to the trio, they kept the classics coming, to everyone’s enjoyment. Doogie joined them on stage for a few songs, whereupon the whole thing really took off into another league….the wee Scot’s charisma and easy technique further evidence of what a gem Ritchie had in Rainbow ten years (plus) ago. Oh, and for a brief time Bernie Torme turned up too-though just to watch.
Overall an worthwhile and interesting and entertaining way to spend a Saturday now the football season is over….now where’s the instruction book for that Sat Nav??
|
|
4/5/2008, 17:07
|
Send Email to harryurz
Send PM to harryurz
|
metaljim1
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 05-2006
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
Thanks for the excellent report! I am happy you had a great time, but jealous that once again I missed a once in a lifetime event. *sigh*
|
|
4/5/2008, 21:34
|
Send Email to metaljim1
Send PM to metaljim1
|
boogaloo
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 09-2003
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
Good account of the day. I enjoyed it.
I know what you mean about being glad of living in the midlands - Bedford is a dive; and no body knew where Esquire's was!
For me, Doogie was the highlight, although I did enjoy Glenn's insightful comments. It's a shame Rob Fodder wasn't given more chance to speak, he was most interesting to listen to. Good work Jerry, I'm just sad I was driving and couldn't get rat ar*ed 
---
thinking out of line just to make the sun shine
|
|
4/5/2008, 22:30
|
Send Email to boogaloo
Send PM to boogaloo
MSN
|
Rezi
Moderator
Global user
Registered: 04-2004
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
Thanks for your account, Roy!
|
|
5/5/2008, 6:04
|
Send Email to Rezi
Send PM to Rezi
|
Al Erikson
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 09-2006
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
Thanks! Just like I was there too...
---
"I'll be back" (A. Schwarzenegger)
"I'll be black" (H. Clinton)
|
|
5/5/2008, 7:05
|
Send Email to Al Erikson
Send PM to Al Erikson
|
tamadam2
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 09-2003
Location: luton
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
I have to agree with Roy, nobody i asked
seemed to know where the place was,
and i walked within 20 yards twice before choosing
to ask a ten year old kid, who knew exactly
where it was. The venue was ideal for the occasion.
Simon Bishop and Peter Parks were happy to admit
that they had purposely altered their set to a
"rockier" one due to the occasion. o.k no real
surprise in that statement, but they had real smiles
on their faces, perhaps a direction they could follow more.
Not sure how many people will have seen them before,
but when i saw them last their set was a little
more mellow, and they proved Hush could be played
quite well without a keyboard, go figure.
Glenn Hughes has always been my least favourite
ex-member, and i had no great expectations of
enjoying his show. I enjoyed his contributions
to Purple in the studio but had always felt
some resentment about the live performances,
blaming him for ruining songs with his irritating
warblings and elongated vocal workouts.
So this would be my first encounter with Glenn
live, and i have to say i was more than pleasantly
surprised. Contrary to Roy i didn't find it
stretched
nearly as much as i had feared.
In fact i enjoyed it about 100 times more
than i had expected to, i'm not sure i would
travel to see him play, in fact i am certain
that if i did i would not enjoy it nearly as much.
For me it was as good as it would probably
ever get, a treasure in the mind, and made more
special due to the intimacy of the occasion.
As Roy mentioned the answers to the Q&A section
will be in the book, which is something i would
have bought anyway, but it has suddenly gone
right to the top of my wants list.
All in all this was a fabulous day, and Jerry
deserves full marks for putting this on.
I fear the fairly small turnout will have meant
someone being out of pocket, if that is the case
then it is a great shame, there was a lot of work and
effort put into this from both organiser(s)
and participants and i thank them all.
Just a shame that i didn't know who anybody
else was, but we must have walked past each other
a load of times during the day,
but i did get to say hello to englishrob 
|
|
5/5/2008, 8:01
|
Send Email to tamadam2
Send PM to tamadam2
|
harryurz
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 10-2003
Location: Kidderminster, Worcs, UK
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
quote:
Just a shame that i didn't know who anybody else was,
yeah, thats a good point; hoefully for the next one ( and I do really hope there is a next one!!) all attendees get have a name tag/sticker to help out 
|
|
5/5/2008, 10:12
|
Send Email to harryurz
Send PM to harryurz
|
Al Erikson
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 09-2006
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
quote:
harryurz wrote:
quote:
all attendees get have a name tag/sticker to help out
Except Reborn who will wear a black hat.
---
"I'll be back" (A. Schwarzenegger)
"I'll be black" (H. Clinton)
|
|
5/5/2008, 11:58
|
Send Email to Al Erikson
Send PM to Al Erikson
|
boogaloo
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 09-2003
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
does any one know who that lucky chap was who won two raffle prizes - back stage pass for a Purple show and a signed Hughes thing - ? Ba*tard hehe
---
thinking out of line just to make the sun shine
|
|
5/5/2008, 13:01
|
Send Email to boogaloo
Send PM to boogaloo
MSN
|
englishrob
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 10-2003
Location: London, UK
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: The Purple Convention
Hope everyone who went had a good time. It was good meeting up with a few from the forum.
Don't know who the guy was but the "Hughes thing" was a army hat from Belarus. It was a gift for Glenn from his trip there recently and I got him to sign it and give it to the raffle after his set. He signed it "Glenn Hughes, it's in the book"
Roy, I also had problems with my Satnav! Either modern technology is not up to scratch or Bedford is on a magnetic ley line or something.
Rob
---
www.myspace.com/englishrob
|
|
5/5/2008, 14:02
|
Send Email to englishrob
Send PM to englishrob
AIM
Yahoo
|
Add a reply
Page: 1 2 3
Powered by AkBBS 0.9.5b - Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
Click here to get your own free message board
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 14/5/2008, 4:06
|
|
|
