Glenn Hughes is known in the rock world by fans and musicians alike as 'The Voice Of Rock'. Hughes possesses of the most beautiful, soulful and powerful voices ever and has been my favorite vocalist since I first heard him on Deep Purple's BURN album. Finally getting a chance to see him last Saturday night I discovered during his 13 song set that he is more than just a voice.
But, let's start with the voice.... it was amazing. Clear and full of so much raw emotion! Listening to songs like 'Way Back To The Bone' and 'Soul Mover' you heard he hasn't lost anything!
Let's move on to his bass playing... completely underrated. As expressive as his voice, Hughes' has got to be one of the world's best players. After spending time in bands like Deep Purple and Black Country Communion, it amazes me how he is not known as much for his playing.
How about his stage presence? Hughes is as confident a performer as they come, but he is incredibly humble and gracious. Following a drug fueled career that started in the 1970's, almost killed him most of the 80's and finally came to an end in 1990, Hughes is not only a survivor, but incredibly supportive about his fans who as he put it "stood by him when he didn't even stand by himself'. There was a point when he told the audience that where he was at that moment, on stage at The Bull Run in Shirley, MA "was where he wanted to be" and you knew that to be true.
So let's talk abut his band! Drummer Pontus Enborg was not only a beast behind the kit (and in front of it) but was smiling the entire time, like Glenn, enjoying the moment. Guitar player Soren Anderson looked and sounded like a rock star. He had big shoes to fill playing the riffs of Richie Blackmore, Pat Thrall and Tommy Bolin and he did an amazing job. The three of them complemented each other so well and played tight but also felt very free.
Here was the most amazing thing; their over 90 minute set. Other than a few nods to his Purple and Trapeze past a lot of his set wasn't all that familiar to the crowd, including me... and no one even cared. Everyone just loved the vibe that was being created on the stage and went with the flow. They could have performed directions on how to build IKEA furniture and the audience would have hust eated it up!
Would I have loved to hear everything he did off of PHENOMENA, Black Sabbath's SEVENTH STAR or a bunch more off of HUGHES/THRALL? Some Hughes Turner Project? Sure I would. But what we got was a set of songs that meant a lot to him... and because of that fact it meant a lot to us.
To find out more and to check dates go to www.glennhughes.com