The crappiest Prince concert I have EVER seen. The fact that it started an hour late was to be expected. The extended jams on obscure associated artist songs(Hey, Morris Day and Sheila E are available to do their own songs, and they work for Rib Fest money) or obscure Curtis Mayfield covers got tiring very quickly. The sound was crappy, the back up singers way to overpowering and Prince himself seemed very disinterested in being the center of attention that we paid to see. One guitar(the mad cat)no effects and he only played it for 3 songs! Constant requests to "turn up the lights" and "now you sing" were distracting and made me feel like he didn't want the spotlight that he used to command like no other. I came to see THE MAN tear it up and I left having bared witness to a weak Vegas review put on by a band leader who introduced his frigging drummer 3 separate times(lest we forget) and forfeited his "Guitar God" moment of a Purple Rain solo and ushered in a... wait for it... SAXAPHONE SOLO? WTF. I've never seen him pick up his axe less than he did tonight. To top it all off, we waited in a darkened arena for 30 minutes for the second encore while crew members swept the stage like they were cleaning a level 3 bio-hazard lab. Oh, the encore which would surely contain one of his many yet to be played hits like "Let's Go Crazy" or "Little Red Corvette", well it never materialized. After those 30 tedious minutes, the lights came up and his guitar was still sitting center stage untouched. Just like it was for most of the night.

computerblue said:

DuoSonic said:

After the house lights were on for a few minutes his band came back and jammed for a bit. Then Prince came out and did 1999 and a nice, long version of Little Red Corvette.

That's what I thought people were saying on the other thread... Too many times I saw people leave early last year and miss out on additional encores...

Very strange show. Seen him 10+ times but never a show quite like this one.

Negatives:

Played virtually no guitar or piano.

Ceded an incredible amount of stage time to the backup singers.

Typical, but still aggravating overuse of medleys/teases

Inexcusable 45 minute delay before turning on houselights, leaving 20k people waiting for a second encore that never came.

Positives:

Intriguing set list for the hardcore fan. Lots I haven't seen him do, or only rarely heard: Jungle Love, The Bird, Old Friends 4 Sale, the 12" version of Kiss, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough cover

The big horn section, despite some sound issues, is a playground for P.

Voice sounded excellent. In recent years he definitely shows wear in the higher register, but he was damn near flawless vocally tonight.

It al went wrong last night due to major sound issues.

http://www.drfunkenberry.com/2012/09/25/prince-kicks-off-welcome-2-chicago-shows-now-about-that-sound/

ohYeeeeeah said:

It al went wrong last night due to major sound issues.

http://www.drfunkenberry.com/2012/09/25/prince-kicks-off-welcome-2-chicago-shows-now-about-that-sound/

Oh look, Dr Funkenberry, someone who claims to make a living through writing, doesn't understand the difference between "personal" and "personnel".

RobVarak said:

Intriguing set list for the hardcore fan. Lots I haven't seen him do, or only rarely heard: Jungle Love, The Bird, Old Friends 4 Sale, the 12" version of Kiss, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough cover

Four of those have been part of hsi shows for YEARS. And since when are major hits from associated artists only interesting for the hardcore fans?

Speechless...........

Graycap23 said:

Speechless...........

And tonight will be bloody fantastic. Ups and downs. Welcome to Prince's world.

Graycap23 said:

Speechless...........

OVA

purplethunder3121 said:

DuoSonic said:

After the house lights were on for a few minutes his band came back and jammed for a bit. Then Prince came out and did 1999 and a nice, long version of Little Red Corvette.

That's what I thought people were saying on the other thread... Too many times I saw people leave early last year and miss out on additional encores...

30+ min of waiting though?

Prince @ the United Center, more fizzle than sizzle

http://www.chicagotribune...792.column

Prince looked sharp in a black and white tuxedo-style outfit and sunglasses, and he orchestrated everything with the precision of chef serving a multi-course meal: the band, the lights, even the audience.

He choreographed solos, drum fills, dance-offs and sing-alongs. The man knows pacing, and the first 50 minutes were like one continuous song, with an insistent Curtis Mayfield tune (“We’re a Winner”) rubbing shoulders with a sultry Aretha Franklin blues (“I Never Loved a Man [the Way I Love You]”). A snippet of James Brown melded with Prince’s rumbling “Housequake” and The Time’s “The Bird.” Only a drippy version of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel,” sung by the backing vocalists, exhausted the momentum.

Later, a sassy “Cream” with a preening Prince (“I wrote this song while I was looking at the mirror”) slid into a cover of Michael Jackson’s dancefloor-filler “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough.” It would prove to be the night’s high point.

For most of the opening set, Prince deferred to and spotlighted his band, particularly protean drummer John Blackwell and vocalist Shelby Johnson. He struggled to integrate the horns into the sound – with 11 pieces, the brass section was a bit unwieldy for a free-flowing show such as this. Prince danced with dazzling grace and sang with potency, but just as often he extended the microphone toward the audience to finish choruses. His back-up singers often assumed lead roles; on “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Prince shared the microphone with Johnson.

At some point, you figured Prince would seize the show. But that moment never really arrived. He and his guitar appeared to be on the outs most of the night. The singer picked it up briefly during “Purple Rain” and teased the audience: “Can I play this thing?” Instead of a solo, he played a handful of notes and set the instrument back down. A saxophonist tried to pick up the slack, to no avail.

The encore was strange, too: Electronic versions of some of his biggest hits, mostly without the band. A full-on finale with Prince going nuts on the guitar seemed in order. But, instead he made everyone wait in the dark. When he finally did re-appear, fans who paid more than $100 to attend were in their cars, probably wondering what the heck happened to an evening that had started off with such promise.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Prince @ the United Center, more fizzle than sizzle

http://www.chicagotribune...792.column

Prince looked sharp in a black and white tuxedo-style outfit and sunglasses, and he orchestrated everything with the precision of chef serving a multi-course meal: the band, the lights, even the audience.

He choreographed solos, drum fills, dance-offs and sing-alongs. The man knows pacing, and the first 50 minutes were like one continuous song, with an insistent Curtis Mayfield tune (“We’re a Winner”) rubbing shoulders with a sultry Aretha Franklin blues (“I Never Loved a Man [the Way I Love You]”). A snippet of James Brown melded with Prince’s rumbling “Housequake” and The Time’s “The Bird.” Only a drippy version of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel,” sung by the backing vocalists, exhausted the momentum.

Later, a sassy “Cream” with a preening Prince (“I wrote this song while I was looking at the mirror”) slid into a cover of Michael Jackson’s dancefloor-filler “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough.” It would prove to be the night’s high point.

For most of the opening set, Prince deferred to and spotlighted his band, particularly protean drummer John Blackwell and vocalist Shelby Johnson. He struggled to integrate the horns into the sound – with 11 pieces, the brass section was a bit unwieldy for a free-flowing show such as this. Prince danced with dazzling grace and sang with potency, but just as often he extended the microphone toward the audience to finish choruses. His back-up singers often assumed lead roles; on “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Prince shared the microphone with Johnson.

At some point, you figured Prince would seize the show. But that moment never really arrived. He and his guitar appeared to be on the outs most of the night. The singer picked it up briefly during “Purple Rain” and teased the audience: “Can I play this thing?” Instead of a solo, he played a handful of notes and set the instrument back down. A saxophonist tried to pick up the slack, to no avail.

The encore was strange, too: Electronic versions of some of his biggest hits, mostly without the band. A full-on finale with Prince going nuts on the guitar seemed in order. But, instead he made everyone wait in the dark. When he finally did re-appear, fans who paid more than $100 to attend were in their cars, probably wondering what the heck happened to an evening that had started off with such promise.

Lots of terrible reviews for the man lately. I do admit I feel kinda sorry for him, it could be a natural fan instinct, but there is something wrong going on with him, that only he knows.

What could the reasons be for his technical issues. He is not the first performer having gigs at those venues, and not many have sound and light problems. Besides, he has those long interval breaks in between, he did same in Europe and Oz too.

BartVanHemelen said:

RobVarak said:

Intriguing set list for the hardcore fan. Lots I haven't seen him do, or only rarely heard: Jungle Love, The Bird, Old Friends 4 Sale, the 12" version of Kiss, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough cover

Four of those have been part of hsi shows for YEARS. And since when are major hits from associated artists only interesting for the hardcore fans?

Well inasmuch as it's bein 8+ years since he played a Chicago show and he didn't play any of them then (or in any tour here going back to '93 at least) they are rarely heard here.

I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty confident most of the casual fans in attendance would have rather heard a full version of When Doves Cry or actually have heard 1999 or LRC instead of a Curtis Mayfield cover or Glamorous Life. I enjoyed that stuff as much or more than I would have the big hits personally, but I know that some of the large group I was with was pretty miffed.

Damn,sounds like a rough one last night. I agree with folks about the sample set,needs to be dropped. I never did care for it.

ohYeeeeeah said:

Graycap23 said:

Speechless...........

And tonight will be bloody fantastic. Ups and downs. Welcome to Prince's world.

I hope so.

rdhull said:

Going to see Prince should not be a fucking chore.

Always has been for me.

Cheers for the reviews, shame it sounds like he didn't fancy it, he's a little shitbox sometimes. Hope he's on form for the rest eh.

Ummm... I had a great time at the concert. I was in section 116 near the floor and there were no sound issues there. But I know there were some in other sections, which was why he didn't pick up the guitar much. I will say that I was disappointed that he didn't play the guitar solo on Purple Rain. I'm hoping for a killer solo tonight.

PurpleChi said:

he didn't play the guitar solo on Purple Rain.

blasphemy

BartVanHemelen said:

ohYeeeeeah said:

It al went wrong last night due to major sound issues.

http://www.drfunkenberry.com/2012/09/25/prince-kicks-off-welcome-2-chicago-shows-now-about-that-sound/

Oh look, Dr Funkenberry, someone who claims to make a living through writing, doesn't understand the difference between "personal" and "personnel".

Oh look, he's edited his post and corrected it. And removed the name and photo of the sound guy after being called out on Twitter that posting such info is bullying and it does not look nice when a lazy millionaire is blaming his shitty concert on a wage slave.

BartVanHemelen said:

BartVanHemelen said:

Oh look, Dr Funkenberry, someone who claims to make a living through writing, doesn't understand the difference between "personal" and "personnel".

Oh look, he's edited his post and corrected it. And removed the name and photo of the sound guy after being called out on Twitter that posting such info is bullying and it does not look nice when a lazy millionaire is blaming his shitty concert on a wage slave.

It is called rebuild the dream. Remember.....

BartVanHemelen said:

BartVanHemelen said:

Oh look, Dr Funkenberry, someone who claims to make a living through writing, doesn't understand the difference between "personal" and "personnel".

Oh look, he's edited his post and corrected it. And removed the name and photo of the sound guy after being called out on Twitter that posting such info is bullying and it does not look nice when a lazy millionaire is blaming his shitty concert on a wage slave.

Very unethical (the intial post).

I nice to see Prince fans to be Honest for once and not continue to give him credit for past performances. Thank you guys for keeping it real. I'm glad I didn't waste my hard earned money. If the concert would of been on a weekend....I would of been there. I don't know why he would have a big concert like that in a major city....during the week?

Graycap23 said:

Speechless...........

R you going to the rest of the shows. Keep us posted on his performances.

jaimestarr79 said:

Graycap23 said:

Speechless...........

R you going to the rest of the shows. Keep us posted on his performances.

Thank goodness I did not attend. I tend 2 stay away from concerts in sport venues.

I am speechless at the bad sound and reviews. This reflects on Prince when it is not his job 2 get the house sound right.