Very sleepy as I write this so please forgive any mistakes. I was really worried that Prince wouldn't actually show up at the aftershow after reading on 3121 that he is not guaranteed to play - if this is true I think it is misleading on behalf of the promoters to bill this as a Prince aftershow. Anyway, no such worries on this night. I arrived to queue up at 10:30 and actually entered the Indigo2 at 11:45. A DJ played some Prince, MJ and others' tracks until about 1:20 when the the band finally came on and by now the audience was a bit restless. After Greg Boyer introduced the band members the band launched into a variety of jazz and bebop numbers and showed off their individual skills as soloists. I was most impressed by Renato Neto, Candy Dulfer and the new trumpet player but I have to admit that while Cora keeps a tight rhythm she lacks the fluidity, dexterity and speed of a John Blackwell or Sheila E. This show was definitely about the music and Prince didn't even show up until at least 45 minutes into the set. For the non-musicians in the crowd I sensed a bit of boredom as virtually no hits or instantly recognisable songs were played.

When the man did finally appear he fired off some impressive guitar solos but I found the guitar and vocals generally not prominent in the mix (the drums were a bit too loud). Also, the acoustics of the very small but intimate venue were not very good. Apart from the jazz/funk improvs, the band played a hard rock version of 'Anotherloverholeinyohead', a really long but funky version of '3121', 'Pass the Peas' and a new number written by Cora. Prince sang very little and often disappeared off stage and came back every so often to check up on the band.

Overall, I enjoyed the show a lot but people expecting hits or even an 'unplugged' Prince might be disappointed as this was a chance for the band and Prince to relax (especially Morris Hayes - he looks like a really laid-back guy) and stretch themselves.

One tip Prince - please stop wearing shades as it would be nice to see your full range of facial expressions and you know how you work those eyes!

I can honestly say, this was the worst aftershow I've been to. (and I've been to many)

It seems to be nothing more than a chance for P's musicians to take turns at solos.

Sure the quality of play was top notch, but it was simply boring. I could see vast amounts of the crowd getting bored after the first 35 minutes of horn solos.

It was a cool venue to hang out in, but I won't be buying up any more tickets, thats for sure.

SquirrelMeat said:

On the whole I would have to agree with you.. yes the band are tight, yes the solos were good ( the first time!!!) but then it meandered into some long jazz fest and I am sorry but I love Prince's pop/funk/rock and he can jam all night and I would love it but this band are professional musicians I agree but largely faceless and if u seen one guy blowing a trumpet you seen em all!

I have been watching Prince for over 20 eyars and I am sadenned to say that half way through the aftershow performance I had to stifle a yawn! and I was only 3 back from the stage!! You know I was about 10 back from the stage at the Camden Palace in '88 and I could have listened to the jamming all night!

clarityman said:

I nearly, and a say NEARLY left early! I never thought I would even contemplate that. After P did his two guitar "numbers" I moved back from the main crowd to the fringes. There were people sitting round the edges fast alseep.

I thought the aftershow was amazing, as did my Wife who is young and not into jazz.

Where I was 6ft from the front the crowd were really into it. Loads of shouting, cheering and crowd response.

Prince was truly mind-blowing on the guitar and '3121' tore the roof off.

HOWEVER, if you're going to the aftershow for 'hits' or you do not appreciate good playing and instrumentals. If Maceo Parker and Candy Dulfer etc, are not your favourite band members and Prince playing guitar without singing is not your idea of fun you might want to either lower your expectations or go home instead.

I am in no way denigrating Squirrelmeat, just conveying my experience of the show.

OperatingThetan said:

No worries, I'm glad some people were into it. I'm certainly not looking for the hits, but more hoping for the missing tracks on the new album, plus some funky jamming.

I think P is letting the horns take over and its effecting his output. Even in the main show, He felt the need to give the horn section key chords normally played by keyboards or a rhythm guitarist (which he is sorely missing).

The end result was something that sounded a bit cabaret.

I was on the main dance floor and after the first half hour of horn solos I heard someone to my left say "you would think we were in a tourist bar in New Orleans rather than a Prince show".

I couldn't have agreed more. I though P's guitar playing was in fantastic form and it was good to see Candy back with her little leg lift (bless).

SquirrelMeat said:

Yeah .. I noticed the 'leg lift'! Verty sweet, bless her.

Did you get home okay? I had to get a 4:25am night bus and wait for a 5:30 train. A killer.

You enjoyed the main show though?

I'm just a sucker for horns and jazz/funk jams so I was happy. The three Vodkas and pint of Red Bull also helped !

I thought the show was amazing last night. Hearing that version of Anotherloverholenyohead was possibly one of the highlights of live Prince for me. I loved the Roger Troutman mic effect they were using - it was cracking me up. There were a lot of people absolutely wasted falling around the place which I think made the vibe in there a bit dodgy, but overall I can't wait to go back and do it all again on Saturday!

It certainly is a very different kind of aftershow to the ones in the past. I had no problem with the band warming the crowd up for P for the first 25-30 mins or so, with a bunch of upbeat numbers. But then things got a little mellow and I could feel the energy leaving the crowd, and I was right at the front. Thankfully, P made his entrance soon after - and we got some great stuff like Anotherloverholenyohead, Rock Lobster and 3121. Down By The Riverside was also great fun near the end.

I think this kind of show is fine for a 3121 Jazz Cuisine setup, where there are only a couple hundred of people present and most of them are sitting at tables - but this venue is about the size of Manchester Apollo and people were packed in tightly downstairs. And boy was it hot.

clarityman said:

Nothing to do with getting nearly 20 years older then?

Not sure about the surprise with this - it sounds pretty much what I'd have expected (not having been to one).

Yesterday the worry was that there would be no band, today the worry is that it wasn't a 2 hr accoustic set with Prince and Wendy. (Well not quite, but you get my point.)

Am looking forward to it - I'm not really a jazz fan, but I love stuff like Get on the Boat, or the horn stuff at the end of the live version of Satisfied that was on the 3121 site recently (When the Saints go Marching In?) or the stuff on the Aladdin DVD. If that's anything to go by, it should be good to me, or if it's a bit more 'professional jazz', who knows....
[Edited 8/2/07 6:44am]

OperatingThetan said:

I drove (probably would have enjoyed the aftershow drunk). It was a breeze I was tucked up in bed in Cambridgeshire not long past 4, and that included dropping someone home in Epping.

I thought it was amazing, anothaloverholeinyahead was his royal badness at his best. Words cannot suffice, it was eccentric and meen as hell.
Think Prince is going thru a dark patch.
He got me satisfied.

SquirrelMeat said:

I was so drunk and thought it was amazing, so you could be right
. All jokes aside, the band were so tight!! The guitar playing by Prince was something else and not fully displayed at the main show. It's great to see him so relaxed these days

the aftershow was great! i wasnt expecting him 2 show up either. i was up the front aswell. Shelby gave me her bracelet

roll on friday

drcoldchoke said:

OperatingThetan said:

YES YES YES!! I totally agree

I had a phenomenal night!! Loved the band's jamming but did notice not all the crowd were into it
Oh there were TONS of very drunk people, I guess they were to tired & emotional to enjoy the Musicians. Also I was very suprised that noone was really groving to DJ Rashida early on and chose instead to stair at the stage curtains for 2hrs with a pint in their hands She played really good funky tunes too... I felt for her as the atmosphere was quite sedate.

I was alone so was asking strangers if they were orgers ( I was hunting for Steverm as I owe him a drink!) but they mostly looked at me like I was weird...
so I decided to grove alone!
Prince seemed to favour stage left which is where I was so I didnt mind one bit!! he would walk off stage whenever a flash from a camera happened yet the people with cameras didnt take the hint!! and continued to disturb his performance.



oh the whole I had the best time.

I can totally understand why there are relatively lukewarm responses to the aftershow. But let's remember one thing - this is not 1988!!!

Agreed, if U're a passive follower expecting to hear Purple Rain - forget it and anyway, he started the MAIN concert with that didn't he?

Nah, tonight, Prince made the transition from Entertainer to musician tonight, it was just about the guys letting themselves go a little - even doing a song written by Cora (in a great compound signature I might add!).

The crowd were getting anxious circa 1am that's for sure and there were some groans after Prince left the stage after a brief solo to "Footprints".
I guess ppl had been in the O2 for about near 12 hours and fatigue was setting in.

I actually didn't go 2 the concert as I'm going twice next week but just passed by the Indigo2 2 check it out.

The band are tight (surprise Surprise) and I think Renato Neto is an absolutely phenomenal player.

Wasn't too sure about Hayes playing percussion on a keyboard tho'... "Real Music by real musicians".... hmm....

Nevertheless, I think people should take it for what it was: an ENERGETIC wind down - Paradox? Maybe, Worth it? Sure.

Don't treat this as an anti-climax!

'dre
[Edited 8/2/07 7:35am]

JOYJOY said:

DreZone said:

Co-sign!!!!!

I'll try and write a review - or something - later; my head is FRAZZLED right now but I thought it was an awesome Aftershow. The guitar playing, in particular, was on fire.

And sorry I didn't see you, Dre - I would've come up and said 'Hi', otherwise.

.
[Edited 8/2/07 7:46am]

hell if i go 2 the aftershow ill be rather drunk i expect so ill just dance like the whitest white person there is which will keep people entertained till prince steps out, altho i do enjoy the jazzy instrumentals so i may stay sober enough,
anyone know what the price of drinks was at the after show,
more importantly how much are jack daniels mix's?

georgeguitar said:

Drinks were pub prices I think - cheaper than the blue room upstairs..

clarityman said:

You're describing the kind of Prince aftershows I love. Instrumental jams, lot of jazz, many horn solos. Perfect !

OperatingThetan said:

I completely agree. This is Prince of today not 20 years ago. Where have ya'll been? Prince has been in full jazz mode for several years now. His aftershows in Vegas AND LA were largely jazz with some funk and r&b jams and mostly covers as has been reported on the org repeatedly. So don't go looking for him to do songs from the 80s and 90s cuz that's not where his head is at. As for the not singing, he has to save his voice for the main show. Also, every aftershow is different, some nights he does 2-3 songs on guitar but depending on his mood he may sing several songs. Just depends.

SCNDLS said:

Whre did anyone say they want songs from the 80s or 90s?

What I REALLY want to know is were people that went to the main show able to get close to the stage at the aftershow or were you in the back? Also, how was the VIP area?

I'm looking forward to the aftershows... I do agree with my mate Dre on this subject, but at the same time I can to some extent understand that people go to the aftershows for Prince, and not for Prince's band.

I'd be more than happy to hear the guy just jam on guitar and doodle about on piano etc... I don't expect a big show or anything, but I'm absolutely not there to hear Prince's here-today-gone-tomorrow band members and session players faff about with indulgent lengthy solos. If you're lucky enough to play for a nice big paying audience you should at least consider what the audience are there for

SCNDLS said:

Ok.

First thing. Unless you want to be in the cram of the first 50 or so people around the mic, don't worry about leaving the main show early.

I left the main show late, joined the back of a massive queue to get into the Indigo, and still ended up standing a comfortable 20 foot from the mic, just to one side.

There are two downstairs bars, use the one near the toilets, its a lot quicker to get served.

Honestly, as long as you aren't obssessed with cramming down the front (which the show style doesn't deserve), take it easy and hang back. There is loads of room.

VIP area isn't required. The view is so good below there isn't much of a gain to be in Kings Row, at least, not for the cost difference.

I would say avoid the balcony tickets. As the performance is not exactly a show, I guess it would be frustrating stuck up there.

ian said:

If last night was anything to go by, its just like Vegas. An NPG showcase, not a prince performance. It worked a lot better in Vegas than in a theatre.

SquirrelMeat said:

Thanks for the info.

iain said:

You know it might well have a bit to do with being 20 years older yeah - but... listening to maceo and the other excellent horn blowers do their thing 5 different ways isnt about me lowering my expectations its more about thinking that people might fancy actually hearing Prince sing a few rare songs as well. It doesnt have to be 1988 at all - but the attitude is just different now and its a bit like saying you got more hits than madonna got kids (good one!) then playing lolita! misjudged slightly

Well it was my first aftershow last night too.

Hubby and I were at the side just up on the step so I got a better view than at the concert. I enjoyed it as a club night but as soon as Prince went off I was outa there. With 2 small kids my normal bedtime is about 11pm so 3am was fairly late to say the least for me.

I was a bit bored I have to say with all the horns. I did have a good dance though and parts of it rocked for me. Prince was amazing and also pulled that sharp suit off to perfection!

Lisa