Blackmore’s Night

Friday, May 14, 2004

Doors: 7 PM

Rex Theatre

412-381-6811

What… Blackmore’s Night

Friday, May 14, 2004

Doors: 7 PM

Rex Theatre

412-381-6811

What do you get when you combine the powerful work of Deep Purple with medieval Europe? You get Ritchie Blackmore’s Night. The star guitarist of classic rock heroes Deep Purple and Rainbow decided in 1997 to start a medieval “rock” band with his fiancee, Candice Night. The question is: Can their duo’s music be described as rock?

This Friday night, the Rex will be rejuvenated with the wonderful masterpieces the duo has put together, along with their traveling ensemble of bandmates. Their music is described as “fit for a Prince.” Perhaps there will be a lot of gallantry involved in the show itself. The members tend to dress up like their counterparts from the Renaissance– a period that dates, as Blackmore himself says, from the 1550s to approximately 1650s.

Blackmore is quite an accomplished guitarist, and the work he does in Blackmore’s Night is phenomenal. His classical guitars, combined with a few electrics, are played in a delicate, yet deliberate, fashion. His fingers move all across the fretboard at ridiculous speeds, which emulates a lot of the more classical instruments because of his unique foundations in finger picking. And if that’s not enough soothing and fascinating work, Candice Night’s original lyrics let her voice soar, as she has a fantastic sound to back up this fabulous musicianship.

Expected instruments at shows include the hurdy-gurdy, shawm, comamuse, rauschpfiefe, pennywhistles, mandolin, mandola, tambourine and Renaissance drums.

If you’re planning an excursion to see them play, it might be a good idea to be dressed appropriately for the show. This isn’t your typical rock show. Blackmore himself has been quoted as saying he would rather play music he loves for a crowd of 10 to 100 people, rather than selling out arenas to play music he doesn’t particularly like. The show will make for a more intimate setting.

Hopefully, Blackmore’s Night can change some minds and see some mainstream success. However, at this point, enjoy the more personal, but deluxe show.