And how did you experience the show?

One word: Perfection. Prince was completely on form and this, being my first experience of the Earth Tour (more to follow) was that he is completely having a ball and teasing the audience with how much of a back catalogue he has. Everyone has favourites and he can't play them all. As he said last nite: "What shall I play? Diamonds & Pearls? Pop Life? We got a lot of hits and we can't play them all but we sho'nuff gonna try".

and "Oh Prince you're such a teeeeasse!" (his words)!

He had the audience eating out of his hands and this has gotta be one of his best performances ever. Comments from audience-members included how they hadn't seen him live ever or how much of a legend he is etc so it's good to see old listeners coming out to see him live and loving it.

Hardcore fans arrived, headed for the fan block of F3 and sat with sullen and gloomy faces as we fast realised how bad our seats were. People complained, tried to move seats etc and once Nikka Costa played it was more evident than ever that all we'd see is the back of the drummer, the horns placed on the outer ring of the stage and the back of the main performer. It was like watching the show backstage. Major downer.

BUT. Once Prince came on, everything changed. It's not because of the elcetricity he brought to the stage, the songs or anything except he WORKED the stage. Every corner. Fan seats were no longer bad seats and yes, he did face the front much of the time but he seemed to be everywhere all at once. Some fans headed out of their seats to the front section only to find he was now playing to the fans at the back!

He completely used the stage like his playground and made sure every corner got to see something another wouldn't. If you were in the upper tiers you saw the stage lights/effects and the screen (both of which we couldn't see in our fan seats), as well as the show from above, if you were in the 100s you saw the front and a good overall view of the stage, if you werein the fan seats and surrounding the stage you got Prince close up when he came to your corner and noticed his facial expressions, felt the sparks from his guitar and were bathed in dripping sex courtesy of the gorgeous Twinz. He crawled over to a lady on his stomach after using his infamous "1 finger pointing" at her which was classic Prince and amazing to see. His dance moves were awesome and it reminded me of the quote: "Makes Michael Jackson look nailed to the floor" which should now read "makes MJ look nailed shut in his coffin" because P is posessed by funk when he is on stage.

The way he used the stage meant everyone got to see and I say this after being one of those sullen-faced fans in F3. I loved the show and appreciate him coming over every time he did and making sure everyone saw him in all corners. He played guitar to us, serenaded the ladies, let Maceo and Mike do their thang at the front while he came over to us, we got to see him swapping jokes with Mr Hayes and see him crawl over to us on his stomach and more. If he works the stage like last nite, fams have got their money's worth.

The way he uses the stage was reminiscent of the Lovesexy Tour which is really saying something. At every corner there is something going on - horns, Twinz, foxy Shelby J and more. Mike Phillips did an amazing prolonged piece which shows the brother has more breath in him than you can say superfunkicalifragisexi in an hour. Everyone from Renato to Mr Hayes to the gorgeous Twinz were applauded and cheered.

I'm not gonna go through the setlist, you've read it already but one thing I noticed is the signs "Prince requests you do not film or take photographs during tonight's performance. It is for your memories" and I did feel bad that despite this repeated message people still took flash photography. I can understand wanting to own the experience (I want last nite on official DVD, it HAS to happen!) but not at the cost of spoiling the experience for some others, including those on stage.

Highlights included the already mentioned Sometimes It Snows in April (for me) and the "Y'all don't know what love is, who do you love? I love you too" comment and of course him playing every nite like he's doing only one nite which he is doing!

Purple Rain was a real highlight as was Guitar and I must say the Twinz are just unbelievable. I loved this show more than the ONA one at the Apollo but maybe preferred that venue as it was more intimate but then he wouldn't be running all over the stage at such a venue which was another highlight. He is extremely energetic and dancing the mutha out more than ever, expect the unexpected and enjoy it.

We have him for 18 more nights, let's try and savour him while we can cos once he's gone that's it for another few years.. Thanks Prince, you truly are the ultimate live performer and here's to many more shows. Go see him - from block 100s, floor seats and elsewhere - you'll get a different experience each time but don't miss the floor seats because that's up close and great - as long as he works the stage like last nite. You'd be proud to be in fam seats bcos he knew you were there.

Already booking more tickets despite having 4 more dates to go, don't want this to end!

thanks for your comments! I was getting kinda worried with my F3 seats, but I suppose I'll keep these after all... I can't really afford buying a second set of tickets for my other concert as well.

I have one more question for you though... Did the seat numbering start from the middle, or from the corner? I have seat 50 something, and I think it's going to be at the corner.

Wow Smileyhappyperson that sounds amazing
NOBODY ELSE BEEN IN F3???

I have F3 Row A so would like a few more comments before i try and swap my tickets or keep hold of em!

I was in row B51-52 in F3 and that's nearer the corner (last seat number is 54 I think) and you have better seats in block F3 fiftysomething as you won't be covered by the drumkit (which the next block did get).

You have almost the same seats as me and as long as he works the stage as he did on Saturday you're in for a treat. Not right away as he enters facing forward but once he turns around and starts moving everywhere, you'll love it.. I hope!