Essence Festival Report!!!!

I hope this is the right place for this.

well, I am almost speechless!
:shock:
Let me just say...the night was full of surprises.
First...that John was there...and was magnificent as usual.
Secondly....Prince opened his own show...then introduced others.
It was hard to recognize Prince with long black wig, beard, *RED RIMMED DARK SUN GLASSES
and wearing roller skates.
Third....Larry was there.
Fourth...Shelia was in the house,
Fifth....WENDY was in the house!
Sixth...Chaka Khan performed.
Seventh,,,,Doug E. Fresh performed.
Eigth....Morris Day was in the house.
Ninth....cameras were allowed!!!!!
Tenth....my husband, who was not a Prince fan, said this was the BEST concert he has ever been to....
and made some comment about Jimmi Hendrix.
Of course, Prince and the Band were phenominal! That was no surprise.

Forgive me if I repeat things U have heard already.
The Big guy in the band opened with "I Love the Way You Work It" (someone supply his name)
Everyone was dressed 70's??? wigs and all....
Then Prince and the Band did a long Jam....Excellent....John was magnificent!
Big guy did "Knock on Wood" Very good!
Prince says we are gonna party all night...then introduces Larry who is spectaculr on the guitar..
and yes Sweet Tina played the "towel".
Prince is rollerskating around playing the tambourine...then the guitar....
and now wearing a top hat.
Out comes Shelia E! Glamorous Life!!!! She was wearing a leopard hat, black pant suit...cool! She showed out! The crowd loved her.

Prince is still rollerskating....
Morris Day comes out...He and Jerome do a great set!
7779311
(I went to ladies' room)
Gigolos Get Lonely Too...(wore his fur coat for that one....classic white suit, otherwise.
The Bird
Jungle Love.
I thought the balcony would surely come crashing to the floor! :shock:
They were jamming so hard to those songs.
(continued next post)

.*(blinded by the light edit)
[This message was edited Sun Jul 4 5:03:16 2004 by SensualMelody]

So...how's everybody doing?

I'm SO jealous I couldn't make it myself but I'm GLAD you had a great time SM!! Can't believe my boy was on skates for the first hour!! Oh, and the big guy's name is Chance. "I Like the Way You Work It" is called "No Diggidy" (sp?) by Blackstreet.

Intermission: (thanks for info on Chance...he did another number..Knock on Wood.
I called Freechild and Avalanche..so I would not burst with excitement!!!
I was hoping Prince would return dressed up this time...lol.
It's 10:30 now.
Aleshia Keys...the usual video intro...
Prince enters with red jacket, white pants...beautiful
Rhonda,,,white jacket, red dress
Candy...fancy red pantsuit\Ok Here we gooooo!
"Musicology"
"Let's Go Crazy"...and the audience did just that!
Hey! There's WENDY!!!! (white outfit)
"I Would Die For You"
Next was fabulous! When Doves Cry !!!!!
Here Prince puts on his red derby and dances...some real fancy moves.
The audience was thrilled. He was gorgeous. It was obvious, Prince came to work that crowd.

Next..I'm A Star" Renato solo...Lawd!!!
Next, "Shhhh Blackwell solo....remarkable!

Clothes change...Prince wears white shirt with black polka dots.
Maceo, Rhonda, Wendy, Greg Boyer each had cameos,.. all outstanding!
Doug E. Fresh comes out and the crowd shows appreciation. (how many more surprises???)
Chaka Khan!!! "I Feel For You" Lawd!
Next..."Controversy" Now my hubby is dancing!!
Lots of musicanship now,,,Shelia joins them on stage...costume change...Leopard outfit!
Wow..."A Love Bizzarre" Great!!!!!
Now the horn section comes out dressed in caps and gowns...Maceo in a doctorial robe...
obviously they are there to teach...Musicology (graduate level).
Now Prince says..."Can't nobody mess with my band!"
Greg and Wendy play something together.
Now my hubby (who is not a Prince fan) is yelling praises at Prince.
Anybody in this House Know About The Quake" They did!
I now notice John Blackwell's t-shirt has his little daughter's picture on the front.
Lights go out.... continued.

So...how's everybody doing?

Renato and maceo did a wonderful rendition of What a Wonderful World"
Now it's time for the acoustic set.
Words won't do justice to this masterful set.
Little Red Corvette
Cream
SweetThing (with audience),,,Chaka comes out.
ADORE!!!!!
Seven


Next set..
Sign of the Times
Dear Mr. Man
The Question of You. John and Mike are both phenominal
Prince plays around a lot with this one...abandons guitar on the floor, the drops down
and crawls back to it..and just kills it right there on the floor!
Then he leaves it moaning there as he goes away and starts
The One...(and Falling fearuring Candy).
Everything is so perfect....his voice was right on it.
More guitar solos!!!
You Got The Look
Life Of The Party
Soul Man (Chance)
Kiss
Take Me With You

Encore....Purple Rain of course.
Crowd was beside itself!!! It was beautiful nite.
O My goodness!
I know there are many more people who now have their music lesson.

Very emotional ending with love shown to John Blackwell

So...how's everybody doing?

The Big Man is Chance who Sings a Mighty ROAR...Prince and the Gang getting Funky...He Makes me Laugh Sooo Much. So was it like a Johnny Depp Pirate's Of The Carribean thing? Roller-skating? I LUV PRINCE the KINKY MAN. They all be the Baddest...My IDOLS ALL...I LOVE this whole gang so much. They are so Young-and Free-spirited with stuff still and it SHOULD be cause why STAGNATE and FORGET ya FUN? LUV that.....Peace.

See,it's like when Prince loses it and does Funny things that I can just say and This is why.....I Luv a Person who can have Fun with stuff,always fresh and new and well WHY ya Thing MS> ZEl Always Dig PRINCE? EVERYTHING...Well, More than that I Luv all That Weird-So Called Drama and Acts and All. People say such and such but I DIg that and ALOT of Fans DO! Prince is our MENTOR and My IDOL and he's CUTE as ANYTHING...OH.Man.....LOL...

It's Got to be DEVESTATING for JOHN ...THAT Child and ANY CHILD as I still say is PRECIOUS. I Pray for the Family.

Thanks for the report. Sounds like P tore the house down and had a funky good time.
I still feel so terrible for John B. I think the next concert is 7/12, so I am glad he will have the next week and half to just be with his family...

Yes, it was indeed a great evening!

What stands out for me is how fun it is to be a fan again.
After all these years "in the dark" (NewPwSoul album, ToraTora, gangster rap attempts etc) I was last night surrounded by people appreciating his genius, skills and music. Last time I felt like that, was probably during the LoveSexy tour (not counting aftershows with only hardcore fans present...)

And once again, we were in an arena! (for first time for me since the Nude tour) Great feeling-although sound was terrible up in the "nosebleed" section were I was!

The gig was also very emotional, considering J.Blackwells tragedy (everyone embracing him in a group hug after Purple Rain had finished) and also with Wendy ( playing an extended intro to Purple Rain-just like the old days...) and Sheila E alongside Prince was very cool to see! (A Love Bizarre last night ranks for me as one of the best performances I've seen by the Man)
Anyway, I belive those of us who were there last night share something special, a milestone in Prince performences that I think he will look back on and remember. Those of you who weren't, well you missed out.....!

So now, bring on the new track, and a new album soon!

Sorry, I forgot to mention the other high; Chaka Khan... I have seen her in good and in not so good shape during the years, but last night she was great! "I feel for you" with her vocals and Prince's synths - WOW Not to mention "Sweet thing" acoustic - brought chills up my spine!

But the other lows I felt from last night (apart from the sound) was
Doug E Fresh... and only a short acoustic set. We could have had Wendy come out and play "Sometimes it snows...", "Reflections", or something from "Around the World in a Day"?

I was at the show last night. It was truly stellar, though the sound sucked at times. I think Prince knew he had to turn it out. He was drenched by the 3rd number. I was exhausted by the end. I can't imagine what he must have been feeling. Many highlights. Chaka and Prince duetting on "Sweet Thing" was my favorite until the 20-25 minute "Purple Rain". Seen Prince play this a number of times on various tours but never like this. Did anyone happen to see John at the end of the show? Truly beautiful moment with Sheila E. cradling him in her arms behind the kit as the strings to the Purple Rain outro played over the P.A. John then walked to the edge of the stage, took in the love from the audience, and then pointed to his daughter's picture on the front of his t-shirt. I lost it at this point. A woman behind me said to a friend, "I think he was just moved by the last song or something." When I explained to her what had happened, she lost it right there on the spot. I hated being the bearer of bad news, but I wanted her to understand what a truly difficult and heroic thing that man had just done.

sounds great! i keep hoping i'll get to see prince and wendy play together...y'all are so lucky!! i think i would have taken a beer or bathroom break, though, when larry and the towel lady came out. its soooo tired (was it ever cool, really?). outside of that, the show sounds incredible!! all of those extras PLUS a full musicology show...fantastic!!

Sounds like Prince and his band really took it to the next level. You guys and gals are so damn lucky to have been at this show. I''ll be at the new york show on the 12th for my Bday. I can't wait. Thanks everyone for the posts. And God bless John and his family.

OOOOOHHHHH MMMMMYYYYY GOOOOODDDDDNEEEEESSSSS!!!!!

Ramonachris said:

There will probably be pictures in an upcoming Essence Magazine.

Thank you for the report!!

Mannnnn.... that sounds like it was an AWESOME show. I think Prince really relishes the oportunites to show out in front of people who may not really know how great of a showman he can be. You have to figure that at a music festival of any type, people aren't there just to see Prince, so he knows that events like this will allow him to show a crowd of non-fans what the Prince hype is all about. So I know Prince brings his "A" game and tries to take his show to the next level.

The other thing of course is the whole "battle of the bands" mentality of knowing that someone else is going to get on the stage after you're done. Prince it seems strives very hard to make sure there's nothing left to be desired after he finishes. I feel sorry for any bands that perform after Prince because who is going to top him???

Thanks for the great report, SensualMelody! What an awesome evening down on the bayou!

It was truly an awesome concert, with the exception of the acoustics of the Superdome and non-funny host. We were on floor in S section. When it first opened, I thought I recognised the big man on screen, then scanned band with binoculars. I immediately saw Mr. Blackwell with his daughter's picture and knew this would be an awesome show. I don't know how he did it, but I am sure his little girl was looking down at him saying, "That's my Daddy" Nobody in the crowd seemed to know about what happened to him, we told the people behind us and I think they thought we were full of it. Prince, I can't even put it into words. We saw him in Nashville in May and were blown away, we didn't think we would get to see him again, but when we found out he would be at Essence, couldn't miss it. The man can truly get a party going. I do wish they had given some ackowledgement or dedication to the Blackwell family though. Finally, if there is anyway at all a person can see Prince perform in person, BY ALL MEANS DO IT, you'll leave feeling blessed!!

the guy next to me at about 12:40 a.m. wanted to know who was going to play after prince. Dude obviously didn't get it since nobody was going to follow that unless you resurrected Jimi

Thanks for the report!

SassyBritches said:

So...how's everybody doing?

NuPwr319 said:

So...how's everybody doing?

SensualMelody said:

SassyBritches said:

SassyBritches said:

So...how's everybody doing?

Ramonachris said:

Thanks Much Melody Glad you were in the house hubby and all

SensualMelody said:

I hope this is the right place for this.

well, I am almost speechless!
:shock:
Let me just say...the night was full of surprises.
First...that John was there...and was magnificent as usual.
Secondly....Prince opened his own show...then introduced others.
It was hard to recognize Prince with long black wig, beard, *RED RIMMED DARK SUN GLASSES
and wearing roller skates.
Third....Larry was there.
Fourth...Shelia was in the house,
Fifth....WENDY was in the house!
Sixth...Chaka Khan performed.
Seventh,,,,Doug E. Fresh performed.
Eigth....Morris Day was in the house.
Ninth....cameras were allowed!!!!!
Tenth....my husband, who was not a Prince fan, said this was the BEST concert he has ever been to....
and made some comment about Jimmi Hendrix.
Of course, Prince and the Band were phenominal! That was no surprise.

Forgive me if I repeat things U have heard already.
The Big guy in the band opened with "I Love the Way You Work It" (someone supply his name)
Everyone was dressed 70's??? wigs and all....
Then Prince and the Band did a long Jam....Excellent....John was magnificent!
Big guy did "Knock on Wood" Very good!
Prince says we are gonna party all night...then introduces Larry who is spectaculr on the guitar..
and yes Sweet Tina played the "towel".
Prince is rollerskating around playing the tambourine...then the guitar....
and now wearing a top hat.
Out comes Shelia E! Glamorous Life!!!! She was wearing a leopard hat, black pant suit...cool! She showed out! The crowd loved her.

Prince is still rollerskating....
Morris Day comes out...He and Jerome do a great set!
7779311
(I went to ladies' room)
Gigolos Get Lonely Too...(wore his fur coat for that one....classic white suit, otherwise.
The Bird
Jungle Love.
I thought the balcony would surely come crashing to the floor! :shock:
They were jamming so hard to those songs.
(continued next post)

.*(blinded by the light edit)
[This message was edited Sun Jul 4 5:03:16 2004 by SensualMelody]