Glenn Hughes - Live In Sydney, Australia 10/10/2024 Concert Review

 

 

I was disappointed when Deep Purple pulled out of the ill-fated 'Pandemonium Rocks' 2024 festival earlier in the year, which I would have hoped to see them with their new line up featuring Simon McBride on the guitar. Thankfully, not long after Hardline Media decided to bring over Glenn Hughes, later on in the year for a few dates across the country.

The ex-Deep Purple bassist returned to Australia in October 2024 to finish off the "Classic Deep Purple Live" Tour where it all began, 7 years ago in Sydney in September 2017. I went to the premiere show of this tour and it was fantastic. Since then Glenn has been taking it around the world with his talented band, but this year will be it's last run, as he announced a new solo album will be released in early 2025 (his first since 2016's "Resonate"), and hopes to go back to performing his original tracks and new songs on the next tour.

The new Australian tour started in Sydney, but as a special 'In Conversation' event featuring Glenn talking about his life history, before, during and after Purple, and included never before heard stories. VIPs sitting in the front row at one point got to ask him a question. Glenn presented the show very well and took time answering everybody's question fairly. I went to the 'In Conversation' event at the last minute and took the VIP ticket,  every time Glenn comes to Australia i've gotten VIP tickets to see him and they never disappoint. The 'In Conversation' show proved to be a success, much so it happened again in Melbourne just the other day before the show there too.

Glenn Hughes In Conversation, Sydney - prior to the main show a week later. This event was hosted by Paul Murphy from Utopia Records. 

After two successful concert shows in Canberra and Brisbane, it was time for Sydney to get a dose of the next leg of the 'Classic Deep Purple Live' tour. The show's purpose this time was celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Burn (& Stormbringer), as well as performing a few nods from the Tommy Bolin era line up of  'Come Taste The Band'. 

Approx 500 people filled up the sold out Factory Theatre in Marrickville very quickly. Believe it or not out of my 20 odd years of going to concerts this was the first time i've ever been to the Factory and ended up really enjoying the experience. The atmosphere, crowd and security there were really nice. The sound was excellent. Some people actually recognized me from the 'In Conversation' event the week before, and got to hang out with them for a while. It was really great. 

Glenn's show had two support warm up acts, first a local upcoming act called the Fyrebirds, who also supported Glenn at the 'In Conversation' show, they were fine. The Fyrebirds had started getting a reputation for themselves lately after supporting bands such as Alice Cooper, Blondie and Wolfmother. The duo held a brief 20 minute acoustic show, which sounded fine.

 

Fyrebirds supporting Glenn Hughes in Sydney, Australia 10/10/2024

Next up was a doom metal band from Adelaide called The Dirty Pagans who have been around for a couple of years. Boy could this guy sing! I haven't heard screams like this since Ian Gillan's vocals on 'Child In Time'. They really gave it their all during their 50 minute long slot. The drummer was also fantastic and looked like they were having a lot of fun all around. Well done, colour me impressed! 

 

The Dirty Pagans supporting Glenn Hughes in Sydney, Australia 10/10/2024

 

After a short 20 minute intermission Glenn Hughes took the stage with an epic introduction and a absolutely blistering performance of 'Stormbringer'. Glenn & his band sounded in high form and were really enjoying themselves. Glenn's vocals, who is known as the 'Voice Of Rock' - really proved that statement here tonight. He was sounding incredible. Next up was the bluesy Might Just Take Your Life from the album 'Burn' which really got the audience bopping.

 

 

 

 

After 'Might Just Take Your Life', Glenn took the mic and said he couldn't hear himself singing because he was having problems with his in-ear monitors. Despite this, he still managed to sing amazingly well. However, he needed to leave the stage for a brief moment to try and fix the issue. So when he ducked out for a bit, the band began a very rare and importu 5 minute instrumental jam before Glenn returned. This would be a very alternate introduction to what would be Sail Away. After about 5 minutes of instrumental improv Glenn returned and broke out into the next track with ease. However, later on in the show, he said that the in ear monitor problems were still not fixed and he could not hear himself singing, but vowed to continue on with the impressive performance. We also got a slightly longer show than usual, with a special extended drum solo and jam session during 'You Fool No One" which ended up being 33 1/2 minutes long. It was an incredibly epic version, and Glenn stayed and performed greatly through the entire show despite the odd technology issues with his ear piece. 

During 'You Fool No One' they also performed snippets of  'Lazy', 'The Mule' and 'Highball Shooter' (the latter with Glenn also singing). Next up was the epic Deep Purple classic 'Mistreated' and the audience was also treated to a very bluesy vocal importu from Glenn. At 73 it's amazing he has still kept his voice in fine form. He still sounds like he is singing at 25! Not a lot of artists can keep this talent after 70. 

Next up it was time for a few songs from the album 'Come Taste The Band' which featured dedications to Tommy Bolin, the much loved and missed Guitarist from the album who sadly died in December 1976 at the young age of 25. They broke out into a blistering version of 'Gettin' Tighter', with a huge jam session in the middle. Soren Anderson sounded a lot like Tommy Bolin during the next two tracks. The last time I saw Glenn's band with Soren was back in 2013 at a smaller venue called The Basement which I believe doesn't exist anymore. On the first time they brought over the Classic Deep Purple live tour back in 2017 he brought over longtime solo guitarist JJ Marsh. 'You Keep On Movin' was up next and after a brief encore break, the final song of the evening 'Burn' was performed. The band then said their thanks and bowed out from the stage in high spirits while the audience was still buzzing after a great and special concert.

 

Thank you Hardline Media for bringing over Glenn Hughes to Australia once again and we really can't wait for his return when his next solo album comes out!

Glenn's 'Classic Deep Purple Live' tour finishes in Australia in Adelaide on the 13th of October.
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Glenn Hughes - Classic Deep Purple Live celebrating 50 Years of BURN & STORMBRINGER
Where: Factory Theatre Sydney
When: 10 October 2024
Score: 10/10

Setlist:

01. Stormbringer
02. Might Just Take Your Life
03. Importu Jam 
04. Sail Away
05. You Fool No One (Featuring Lazy / Drum Solo / The Mule / Highball Shooter)
06. Mistreated
07. Gettin' Tighter
08. You Keep On Movin'
09. Burn

 

Review & Photo Credit: Cameron Hons