Deep Purple and Judas Priest came knocking at the back door of the Five Points Amphitheater and brought in enough firepower to take over the capacity crowd in Irvine with minimal resistance. For those that witnessed the non-stop carnage that evening, it was a show for the ages that joined the forces of two legendary bands for one incredible metal assault and took no prisoners in the foothills of Orange County late Thursday night.
Kicking off the evening were Scottish blues rockers, The Temperance Movement. While Phil Campbell’s energy was infectious and the band solid from top to bottom, I found it a bit strange that these guys were chosen as the opener for what many considered a classic metal show. That said, I loved their opening set and know that many who showed up early felt the exact same way I did. Their sound was reminiscent of early Black Crowes and left me wanting more. I am going to add The Temperance Movement to my current playlist of up and coming bands and give them a spin in the days and weeks ahead. Good stuff!
Next up at Five Points was none other than the legendary Judas Priest. Not sure what more can be said about a band that has been setting the world ablaze since 1969, but I’ll indulge you with a few key takeaways from Thursday’s show. One, the current incarnation of Judas Priest with Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap is incredible. Sure, it’s hard to think of this band without the dynamic duo of K.K Downing and Glenn Tipton, but fans can rest assured that their legacy is being carried on by these amazing guitarists.
Two, Rob Halford is still the God of all things metal, and those insisting he is well past his prime are utterly clueless. I’m not sure there’s another vocalist on the planet who can do what he does, and to be able to hit the notes he does after 45 years in the business is simply incredible. Bottom line, Judas Priest annihilated their 15-song set and showed everyone in attendance why these guys still reign supreme over the altar of all things metal.
After a short break, headliner Deep Purple took the stage and immediately spun the near-capacity crowd into hyper-drive with a solid set of classics that spanned their illustrious 50-year career in the business. Ian Gillian’s vocals were spot on as he methodically slayed classics like “Highway Star” and “Perfect Strangers” during an amazing hour and a half trip down memory lane.
Add the keyboard wizardry of Don Airey, the guitar genius of Steve Morse, the pounding basslines of Roger Glover, and master percussionist Ian Pace, and you have all the ingredients necessary for a “bucket-list” type of show—one that many considered to be Deep Purple’s best performance this year. Although encore “Hush” was simply out of this world, my favorite song that evening was 1984’s “Perfect Strangers.” For me, this song captures the true essence of Deep Purple and highlights their unmistakable sound—one that places them firmly on my Mount Rushmore of Rock and Roll.
DEEP PURPLE
JUDAS PRIEST
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
