Just Purple Someplace Else- East Farmingdale

Anyone who danced, made love or got free with Richie Blackmore?s Rainbow, Led Zeppelin?s "Stairway To Heaven, or even The Grateful Dead?s "Box Of Rain in the not-so-distant past can see the need for tribute bands. Just Purple managed to almost outdo Paice, Lord, Glover, Blackmore, and Gillan - the classic Deep Purple lineup - during their recent local appearance.

We all long for the music that defined our first love, our first mistake, or our first night of joy with friends. Do you remember your first night of too much of something too soon? Who took care of you when the music was a symphony? Who you loved or lost during the drum solo? Well, Just Purple will take you back, bring you up, and restore your youth.

At Someplace Else, an audience of mostly married 30- and 40-year-olds felt the heat of the moment in Just Purple?s accurate recreation of Deep Purple. Their version of "My Woman From Tokyo was better than a Cathay Pacific flight to a Hong Kong topless bar. So why would five seasoned musicians known for previous success - including guitarist Tony Garafalo - want to get together to do an incredible recreation of one of the most influential hard rock bands of our generation? Pure joy. That?s Garafalo. This seasoned musician could play anywhere, anytime, and with anyone, but he chose Just Purple.

In the tiny club, Just Purple made those in the darkness hear Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan, and Hughes as they might have remembered them. Upon straining to see some light in the club it was crystal clear. There were moments of chaos when "Smoke On The Water fell into the slower mode of "Demon?s Alley. At this point, the synergy of lead guitarist Garafalo and bass player Russ Pizzuto moved the audience to sheer hysteria. The biggest treat of the night was keyboardist Anthony Cordaro, who was spectacular. His style was a true tribute to John Lord.

Audience reaction was out of control. With each Deep Purple hit played, they seemed to be possessed. Highly appreciated were "Demon?s Eye, "Black Knight, and the biggest fusion rush of all of Richie Blackmore?s creations, "Hush."

When you see Just Purple, they will definitely rock your soul with nostalgia.- Text & photos by Linda Mesch