If you just want the set list, you can skip the long-winded review that follows if you want

Saturday's show in Houston was fantastic, Prince and the NPG were just slammin', but overall I think I enjoyed the San Antonio show in June more. I think the sound was better, and the crowd seemed more energized. In Houston, everyone was having fun and jamming. In San Antone, everyone was going completely over-the-top INSANE!

Maybe because it was the second night in town, it seemed that there were more "casual" fans in attendance (I'm somewhere slightly less than "true hard-core diehard", but much more than "casual") In any case, the energy level of the crowd was lower overall, and it seemd like Prince was having to work a little harder to keep the audience involved, esp. in the segment of the first set following the opening Purple Rain medley (Shhh, D.M.S.R, Controversy).

It's not that the audience wasn't jamming and into it, just that they seemed a little less involved overall, more like the kind of reactive crowd at a typical arena show, cheering when exhorted to cheer, going crazy for the biggest hits (Purple Rain stuff) and maybe a little less sure on unfamiliar ones. BTW, Prince is probably the only musician I'll even go to a big arena show for (I usually go to clubs for live music). He's of the few acts I've ever seen who can keep 15 or 20 thousand people really into it. Anyway, it just seemed a like little less crazy excitement than the San Antone show. Of course, I was on the tenth row floor at that show, and about 10 rows up in the first section off the floor last night.

Still, despite that, the first set last night was great. D.M.S.R was maybe even more energized than the San Antone version. Controversy was great, but it seemed like he didn't solo on guitar as long. The lounge-chair-magazine bit that brought down the damn house in San Antone was curtailed last night, but maybe he's just tired of doing it two months later. Oh, and the woman he brought up to dance was awesome, Prince and Mike Scott and she getting a real party groove on.

Maceo Parker's rendition of What a Wonderful World was gorgeous (I don't remember what he played in that spot in SA), but it seemed like half the audience was running out for beer and hot dogs or something! The acoustic set was a good bit different and the energy seemed lower. He didn't do Cream, which was a highlight in SA, with the audience participation and all. He did do Alphabet St. (God, I love that guitar riff on the turnaround!), audience seemed unfamiliar with it. I Wanna Be Your Lover was great (he didn't do that one In San Antone), and everone came to life and sang along. The Rules (I think?) came next, hilarious, even though I usually find that kind of "battle of the sexes" humor kind of corny, his delivery was great, and it led into On the Couch. I was really suprised at how strongly the audience reacted to Sweet Thing, and happily that energy carried over into the next set.

Third set was pretty much identical to SA and the crowd was really rockin' by then. The big difference was Whole Lotta Love instead of Question of U. I was a little disappointed since that was a real highlight of the San Antone show. Whole Lotta Love was cool though, but I'm not sure how many people outside of me and a few other aging, balding white guys knew it was a led Zeppelin cover! One funny thing, it seemed like his guitar tech/valet guy missed his cue when Prince called for the white cloth to cover his dying guitar. He waited and waited with his hand extended behind him, then looked back and kind of extended his hand again. Then his guy hurried out and gave it to him. I have a feeling he got some choice words about that later. John Blackwell also did the coolest drum solo I've ever heard. As a veteran of many forgettable rock shows in my teen years, I can tell you how boring and long-winded a bad one can be. His was perfectly succinct but still an awesome display of his technique and power. Actually, one of the best things about being seated a liitle back and off the floor was that we had a better view of John Blackwell during the show. He's one of the best drummers I've ever seen perform. Oh, the other change in the second set was that Chance Howard sang Knock on Wood, which I liked better than Soul Man from the SA show. Everything else in this set was also excellent, and like I said, the energy of the crowd had really risen and stayed that way.

After what seemed like an more lengthy delay, they encored, and while The Beautiful Ones is a favorite of mine and another highlight of SA, getting Call My Name instead was not a disappointment at all. He skipped Nothing Compares 2 U, though, and Purple Rain seemed a little perfunctory until the sing-along ending, when the crowd delivered the goods and Prince seemed really energized for the big climax.

All in all, another great show, but the SA show would have been hard to top, IMO. I actually sat down for a few minutes during the acoustic set last night, the dancing was non-stop in SA!

Here's a set list as best as I can remember, though I might have a couple things out of order esp. the acoustic set (and I must admit I didn't recognize everything in the acoustic set. )

Musicology
Let's Go Crazy
I Would Die 4 U
When Doves Cry
Baby I'm A Star!
Shhh
D.M.S.R
I Feel 4 U
Controversy
What a Wonderful World
Instrumental Keyboard solo by Renato Neto (something from Parade?)

(Acoustic set probably not in this order, sorry, can't remember!)
Little Red Corvette
Alphabet St.
I Wanna Be your Lover
Prince and the Band(?)
Peach (?)
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
The Rules (?)
On the Couch
Sweet Thing
Adore (maybe? I might be confusing the SA show here)
7

Sign O' The Times
Whole Lotta Love
Let's Work
U Got The Look
Life O' The Party
Knock On Wood
Kiss
Take Me With U

Call my Name
Purple Rain

I thought the show was cool! Much better than the previous night where I was stuck front row behind the drum set listening to what sounded like a blown sub woofer.

Personally, I thought the first night was better. The second was about 15 minutes shorter, and omitted a couple of great tracks like "Pop Life", "The Beautiful Ones" and "Nothing Compares 2U". Still, the second night DID have "Whole Lotta Love", so it wasn't like I was suffering!

ufoclub said:

that's were I was the second night, only on the second row. You going to the party Saturday??

I was in the front row in San Antonio and I really thought that both the Houston shows were better than that one. Actually I thought of all the shows in Texas the San Antonio show was the one where he had to work hard to get the crowd involved. Houson ROCKED!!! As did Dallas. Saturday night was better of the two. More energy.

In San Antonio I don't remember Maceo doing anything, I know 2 nights later in Dallas he did Georiga and I may be mistaken but Ray Charles died that thursday or friday so there was no reason for a TRIBUTE at the San Antonio Show.

Oh and did no one notice P did the guitar riff to Super Freak while he was saying Rick james Rest in Peace and also he got a little preachy talking to us about eating pork I think because rick james had high blood pressure and diabetes.

that thing the rules is an email that has been circulating for about 2 years, I'll post it later for those who want the words.

I was there in the front and the show was off the chain. I have seen Prince everytime he comes to Houston and that was the best. I loved it when he said "I am not lip syncin' and this is not MTV we are real musicians!" That was on point. He had the Toyota Center rockin' like a night club. People were all up in aisles dancin' and having a goodtime. There was no loss of energy. These younger cats need to take a lesson from artists like Prince and learn to play and truly perform. That is why Prince will continue to fill stadiums like that until he chooses to stop. People know they are going to get a good show and not garbage.

butterfli25 said:

[This message was edited Mon Aug 9 8:50:56 2004 by JediMaster]

butterfli25 said:

I totally agree. I went to both Dallas shows and the San Antonio show, but the 2nd night in Houston was the best out of the three.

My wife and I were in the 5th row directly behind Blackwell and we thought the show ruled (this was only my second time seeing Prince - the first was at the Summit on the Purple Rain tour). This was just me and the wife reliving our old high school days - I was a senior in high school when Purple Rain was released.

I thought "Whole Lotta Love" was incredible and he performed the two songs I most wanted to hear - "Sign O' The Times" and "I Could Never..."

I would've loved to have had a camera for when he walked to our side of the stage - I could've had some GREAT pix.

One thing that was great about the show (aside from the music) was the diversity of people. We were having the time of our lives just people watching. We had to laugh at a few of the women walking up to security prior to the show and begging them for the chance to dance onstage. Not a one of 'em made it when it came time...

One other side note before I leave: Candy Dulfer - HUBBA HUBBA!!

butterfli25 said:

Ray Charles died the day after the SA show (thursday), and MP first played Georgia at the Dallas show on Friday, but he definitely played a solo sax piece (w/RN accampanying) in the same spot (between the first set and the acoustic set). I don't remember whether it was something I recognized, but if so I can't remember what it was now.

Anyway, I agree that the show Saturday was fantastic, but I still enjoyed the SA show a little more. Maybe it was just the scary drive to San Antonio through apocalyptic thunderstorms and flooding that make my memories of it seem more precious!

ufoclub said:

I was behind the drums too in the front row. Great show! Will post more later. Enjoyed being behind the drums. Lots of behind the scenes action!

His set list is great, but did he play Raspberry Berret? It seems like he was playing that at every concert. I really, really hope he does in Seattle. That and The Beautiful Ones.
[This message was edited Tue Aug 10 2:02:27 2004 by Loop]

Loop said:

Both of those were played the first night. He skipped them the second night.

JediMaster said:

hey, missed you at the show man! thought for sure id see you!