TheQuest said:

2elijah said:

I've noticed a lot of musicians use different band members for different occasions.I think that's a good idea. He could use one group for his aftershows/small venues/private shows, and others for arena tours/tv appearances, especially with the variety of music he's known for, and what kind of sound he wants to present at the time, with the band members he hires.

His rock, funk/soul/r&b/blues/jazz, blues-rock/rockabilly/funk rock/pop all at once, in one show, and he could do that.

Imagine going to an arena show or even at a small venue, and within the timeframe of the entire show, he switches band members, for different sets, from guitar/bass/drums/keyboards?

It's like getting a slice of various sounds in one show, giving the diverse audience he usually attracts, a diverse band set, with a little bit of everything for everybody. He has pretty much done that before. I remember when Sheila E sat in on the drums for a bit at a Vegas show, and then Cora took over. I think doing that keeps his shows interesting.

[Edited 1/19/13 12:23pm]

Imo, based on what we are seeing now, it appears to be the direction that Prince is going. It wouldn't suprise me if the new album is a double album exploring both sides of the coin that the tour would also explore with multiple bands.

Pretty much appears that way, in reading some of the Dakota reviews. Some fans said he did some funk/new orleans' jazz flavor with a horn section;some r&b/blues and funk-rock/soul/rock, etc. Sounds like a great mixture with a little 'sumptin-sumptin' for everyone, and using 'various' band members all at the same time.

timmie said:

I have a gut feeling that the new drummer may be for Andy Allo as she will probably be the opening act for the next tour - seeing as how her record is released on the NPG label and all.

His sound may suit her music better than the direction Prince seems to be going on towards heavier rock - which is all good with me !

But why would he audition of drummer for Andy Allo, and she not be there?

rdhull said:

augustwinters said:

2nd show Friday night - Legendary! I've seen Prince a lot. The song list doesn't do it justice. Here's how it was different. Mind you I'm not a musican. The sound volume was Perfect. His guitar playing rediculously clean. His voice, also very clean and he throws it around like it should be illegal. From screams to whispers. The band very rock heavy. Hanna, ridiculously fun to watch and drop dead sexy. Prince was in a terrific mood. As relaxed fun and true as I've ever seen him. Kind of like he wasn't Prince but more like the kid from Central High throwing a little show. The crowd and intimate setting added an entirely different element that he leveraged to the max.

Endorphinmachine - Rocked as hard as 95. Maybe harder. The extra metal he's getting from his guitar player, he never had before. It was hard and edgy. like 80's metal. The Endorphinmachine scream was tight. And he started the show with an ohyah. I didn't think he could be as raw and hard as Summer of 95. Whoops I was wrong. This song pounced on you and ate you for lunch.

Screwdriver (new) -New songs are hard to get into. I'm your driver your my screw, multiple times with voice inflextions all over the place up, down, deep and then the crowd trading places with the chorus I'm your driver your my screw. Mindblowing. Guitars were blazing mad. Dirty rock hard in a way too funky place. This song live is AWESOME. It rolls through like a big thunderstorm that scares you with power. Prince singing very free and funky like dirty come hither. He could have played this another 20 minutes and I would have been cool. It was that freakin good and nasty...although he said it's not what you think ...yeah

Beautiful Strange - After blowing MPLS up for 2 songs, this was slow, at first I was like no don't kill the mood even though I like the song alot. And then it got slower and softer and the place was dead silent except for this soft almost heavenly prince whimpering beautiful strange from his piano. I like the song, but this was spine tingling almost reilgious. It had everyone in almost a spiritual state.

Purple Rain - I've heard this too many times was hoping for something else...except, this was something else. It was the bluesy version, the crowd (choir) as Prince referenced us was doing the oh oh oh and most of the singing. He bounced in at the right times when we would let him sing and pounce on something like "I never want to be you're weekend lover" It felt like a garage band at a house party with every body singing to bring the song to life, of course with perfect instruments and Prince's voice. We all mixed this one up and made it our own. Different than the stadium concerts.

Guitar - Song deserves to be played live, it rocked I won't lie, similar to past times I've heard it live and similar to the album, but better. Again the girls add extra metal and a rock edge. Everything was tight. Great song for a live audience. audience yelled with Prince "but not like my guitar" on the chorus, because his guitar was king he tore it up. The one thing, as fun as this is live with riffs and hooks and melody...ScrewDriver is better and nastier.

I Like it There -This song rocks live. Some of the crowd didn't know his deeper cuts like this. Somehow and I'm not sure how, he changed up this song and had us all singing "I like it there" but different than the record. The song started heavy and then went into this really cool crowd participation funk blues rock jam something or other. He kept saying he didn't know how to get out of the song and we kept singing and grooving. It turned into the coolist freakin song, partially because people didn't know it off the record and he turned into something way better than the studio version. Can't explain...I wish the song could have gone on another 30 minutes I was purplexed how he made this cool.

She’s Always in My Hair - Classic, he played pretty straight up like you've heard before live. Somethings just shouldn't be messed with. He kept this one straight like a classic should be done live. Was it awesome, of course.

Dreamer - Great song live, similar to what you've heard except it rocked harder that the studio version. This was maybe the one song that was my least favorite if I can say that. But there was a lot of guitar slaying and for those who really love this song...he did it more than justice, he ripped it open and throw it back at us.

Encore #1
Instrumental piano ballad - Thanks Prince for letting us take a breather and just chill for a bit, great instrumental I think new. Very cool It was fun to watch Hanna look over at him on keys and just play.

Bambi -This song I love, a lot of the crowd didn't know it?? He tore it up and nasty like. The beauty of this song is how it starts kind of soft and then turns agressive. His voice was so smooth "Maybe it's because U're so young, or maybe I'm just 2 naive" creamy soft and rediculously clear and clean like he was trying to pick up my girlfriend (well she was just 6 feet away from him) and then bam stomp hot guitar heat and Prince screaming Bambi, it's better with a man!!! ...the band behind him blowing up their guitars. This is still one hot freakin song live!! 88 he laid the heat live...this was raw and freaking hard. Had me throwing my head aroun like an 80's rocker.

The Record/Compassion - Very good, nothing to compare to I haven't heard them live before, except Prince is wearing this funky pink panther hat and is lose and fun and bending his voice around melodies and lyrics and I'm thinking, I'll never see or hear this again. And that there is probably no other musician truely as talented as he. It was carefree, loose and fun. Like it was he and a couple of friends jamming in there basement goofing around.

Encore #2
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man - Think Sign O The Times version...and then forget about because this one was different. It was slow blues like and awesome. You could feel the tension, the crowd wanted to go fast like the normal version and Prince was taking us throw it slow and we had to stay with him. Then it stayed slow with every word crisp. He took us to a place with that song, we've never been. He was coming way off the mike and throwing his voice into it super soft like. Incredible song, I've never heard it like that before.

I was incredible, it was 1am. And it was hometown, heartfelt, off the chain legendary. Welcome home Prince!!

Now thats the kind of review Ive been waiting for. Thanks. Nice descriptions of music, atmosphere, and feeling. Excellent.

also need 2 say COME ON!!! Now! I'm so envious

Still verry thankful 4 this super review

since ...

Yep I was there and this review is spot on. Hey were you the guy in the black hat/glasses taking notes during the show?

Anyway, let me add that everything from Endorphinmachine to I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man sounded different and great. Those girls ROCKED. I can't believe how sexy Hannah is, hell they're all sexy to me (I love to see women rock).

It was soooo weird to be in that small club with the lights that dim, candles lit around the stage, regular sized guitar amps on the stage, I swear I felt like I was at some small club watching an indie rock band play, EXCEPT IT WAS PRINCE!!! This is the kind of show that would make any doubters KNOW that Prince can rock. It completely changed the way all of those songs sounded in my mind and the vibe, the way he walked around on stage, was total indie rock.

There was a moment, although it was hard to see from my vantage point and it being dark in the club, he handed his guitar to a fan in front of the stage, so that the fan could hold the guitar while he swapped the guitar strap and cable to another guitar. When Prince took the guitar back, the fan just put his hands over his face as if he was in shock that just happened. Priceless. VERY indie rock.

I was right behind the keyboards and when he walked over to play during one of the songs, he hi-fived and shook hands with some fans right by the stage. He was very playful and friendly.

And the funk. He brought the funk out and mixed it into the rock like no one else can.

She's Always In My Hair wasn't just the single edit. He sang verses from the 12 inch version and the song went on for at least 10 mins or more turning into some crazy funk rock jam. It rocked so much harder and funked way more than the original. The band was tight and the bass was slamming during this song. I've never heard it like this before.

I agree Dreamer wasn't my favorite P song of the night either but how the hell he took it from a rock song to the funkiest song of the night I have no idea. I wish he had recorded it that way in the first place. Seriously he made Dreamer funky. I know what you're thinking but trust me, Dreamer was funky!!

Beautiful Strange was, well, beautiful. Way better than any version you heard before. Interesting arrangement with Prince on piano.

Purple Rain was incredible. I agree that I've heard this too many times and, just like Let's Go Crazy or Kiss, I typically dread hearing it live, it truly was magical hearing him play this live in Minneapolis in a small club. And it wasn't just a snippet. He played it, ya know?

It was also great seeing Liv, Elisa and Shelby sing backup on a song. Liv came out before the trio and sang backup on a song by herself.

Without going through the other songs (I think augustwinters wrote a great review), I will make a few other observations.

There were some OBNOXIOUS drunks in the house. Obviously not there for the music. The bar was overrun and took forever (luckily I wasn't there to get drunk).

Something else that struck me as odd (for a Prince show). The security was minimal. People were right up by the stage. There was no barrier. You honestly could've touched him I suppose.

I did see Bobby Z wandering around, talking to folks after the show. I myself ended up having a nightcap at First Avenue and getting in 3 games of Moon Patrol while there, courtesy of my 2 special First Ave friends.

It was a magical night that I will never forget.

augustwinters said:

2nd show Friday night - Legendary! I've seen Prince a lot. The song list doesn't do it justice. Here's how it was different. Mind you I'm not a musican. The sound volume was Perfect. His guitar playing rediculously clean. His voice, also very clean and he throws it around like it should be illegal. From screams to whispers. The band very rock heavy. Hanna, ridiculously fun to watch and drop dead sexy. Prince was in a terrific mood. As relaxed fun and true as I've ever seen him. Kind of like he wasn't Prince but more like the kid from Central High throwing a little show. The crowd and intimate setting added an entirely different element that he leveraged to the max.

Endorphinmachine - Rocked as hard as 95. Maybe harder. The extra metal he's getting from his guitar player, he never had before. It was hard and edgy. like 80's metal. The Endorphinmachine scream was tight. And he started the show with an ohyah. I didn't think he could be as raw and hard as Summer of 95. Whoops I was wrong. This song pounced on you and ate you for lunch.

Screwdriver (new) -New songs are hard to get into. I'm your driver your my screw, multiple times with voice inflextions all over the place up, down, deep and then the crowd trading places with the chorus I'm your driver your my screw. Mindblowing. Guitars were blazing mad. Dirty rock hard in a way too funky place. This song live is AWESOME. It rolls through like a big thunderstorm that scares you with power. Prince singing very free and funky like dirty come hither. He could have played this another 20 minutes and I would have been cool. It was that freakin good and nasty...although he said it's not what you think ...yeah

Beautiful Strange - After blowing MPLS up for 2 songs, this was slow, at first I was like no don't kill the mood even though I like the song alot. And then it got slower and softer and the place was dead silent except for this soft almost heavenly prince whimpering beautiful strange from his piano. I like the song, but this was spine tingling almost reilgious. It had everyone in almost a spiritual state.

Purple Rain - I've heard this too many times was hoping for something else...except, this was something else. It was the bluesy version, the crowd (choir) as Prince referenced us was doing the oh oh oh and most of the singing. He bounced in at the right times when we would let him sing and pounce on something like "I never want to be you're weekend lover" It felt like a garage band at a house party with every body singing to bring the song to life, of course with perfect instruments and Prince's voice. We all mixed this one up and made it our own. Different than the stadium concerts.

Guitar - Song deserves to be played live, it rocked I won't lie, similar to past times I've heard it live and similar to the album, but better. Again the girls add extra metal and a rock edge. Everything was tight. Great song for a live audience. audience yelled with Prince "but not like my guitar" on the chorus, because his guitar was king he tore it up. The one thing, as fun as this is live with riffs and hooks and melody...ScrewDriver is better and nastier.

I Like it There -This song rocks live. Some of the crowd didn't know his deeper cuts like this. Somehow and I'm not sure how, he changed up this song and had us all singing "I like it there" but different than the record. The song started heavy and then went into this really cool crowd participation funk blues rock jam something or other. He kept saying he didn't know how to get out of the song and we kept singing and grooving. It turned into the coolist freakin song, partially because people didn't know it off the record and he turned into something way better than the studio version. Can't explain...I wish the song could have gone on another 30 minutes I was purplexed how he made this cool.

She’s Always in My Hair - Classic, he played pretty straight up like you've heard before live. Somethings just shouldn't be messed with. He kept this one straight like a classic should be done live. Was it awesome, of course.

Dreamer - Great song live, similar to what you've heard except it rocked harder that the studio version. This was maybe the one song that was my least favorite if I can say that. But there was a lot of guitar slaying and for those who really love this song...he did it more than justice, he ripped it open and throw it back at us.

Encore #1
Instrumental piano ballad - Thanks Prince for letting us take a breather and just chill for a bit, great instrumental I think new. Very cool It was fun to watch Hanna look over at him on keys and just play.

Bambi -This song I love, a lot of the crowd didn't know it?? He tore it up and nasty like. The beauty of this song is how it starts kind of soft and then turns agressive. His voice was so smooth "Maybe it's because U're so young, or maybe I'm just 2 naive" creamy soft and rediculously clear and clean like he was trying to pick up my girlfriend (well she was just 6 feet away from him) and then bam stomp hot guitar heat and Prince screaming Bambi, it's better with a man!!! ...the band behind him blowing up their guitars. This is still one hot freakin song live!! 88 he laid the heat live...this was raw and freaking hard. Had me throwing my head aroun like an 80's rocker.

The Record/Compassion - Very good, nothing to compare to I haven't heard them live before, except Prince is wearing this funky pink panther hat and is lose and fun and bending his voice around melodies and lyrics and I'm thinking, I'll never see or hear this again. And that there is probably no other musician truely as talented as he. It was carefree, loose and fun. Like it was he and a couple of friends jamming in there basement goofing around.

Encore #2
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man - Think Sign O The Times version...and then forget about because this one was different. It was slow blues like and awesome. You could feel the tension, the crowd wanted to go fast like the normal version and Prince was taking us throw it slow and we had to stay with him. Then it stayed slow with every word crisp. He took us to a place with that song, we've never been. He was coming way off the mike and throwing his voice into it super soft like. Incredible song, I've never heard it like that before.

I was incredible, it was 1am. And it was hometown, heartfelt, off the chain legendary. Welcome home Prince!!

nd i

NuPwrSoul said:

timmie said:

I have a gut feeling that the new drummer may be for Andy Allo as she will probably be the opening act for the next tour - seeing as how her record is released on the NPG label and all.

His sound may suit her music better than the direction Prince seems to be going on towards heavier rock - which is all good with me !

But why would he audition of drummer for Andy Allo, and she not be there?

maybe she was - anyway her live band is the NPG and he is the boss - who knows - just think its odd to be 'auditioning' a drummer 2 days before you debut your new drunmer - the mysterious ways eh?

timmie said:

nd i

NuPwrSoul said:

But why would he audition of drummer for Andy Allo, and she not be there?

maybe she was - anyway her live band is the NPG and he is the boss - who knows - just think its odd to be 'auditioning' a drummer 2 days before you debut your new drunmer - the mysterious ways eh?

My theory, although it's nigh on impossible to second guess Prince, is that P is keeping the NPG together for the big hits tours and 3rd eye girl will be doing rockier gigs inbetween at smaller venues. That's what I'd love anyway!

Great Post by Aussie Music Legend Paul Kelly on Facebook-

THINGS TO DO IN MINNEAPOLIS AFTER YOUR SHOW
Get a ticket to Prince on a hometown visit playing at The Dakota jazz club with an all women three piece band - Ida, Donna and Hannah on bass, guitar and drums, all playing the fuck out of their instruments. Walk in on him and the crowd singing “I-I-I-Iike it there!’ over and over again. Sweet, dirty, funk heaven. “What can I say that Shakespeare hasn’t said before?’ he sings. Say amen to that! PK.

tbag said:

Yep I was there and this review is spot on. Hey were you the guy in the black hat/glasses taking notes during the show?

Anyway, let me add that everything from Endorphinmachine to I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man sounded different and great. Those girls ROCKED. I can't believe how sexy Hannah is, hell they're all sexy to me (I love to see women rock).

It was soooo weird to be in that small club with the lights that dim, candles lit around the stage, regular sized guitar amps on the stage, I swear I felt like I was at some small club watching an indie rock band play, EXCEPT IT WAS PRINCE!!! This is the kind of show that would make any doubters KNOW that Prince can rock. It completely changed the way all of those songs sounded in my mind and the vibe, the way he walked around on stage, was total indie rock.

There was a moment, although it was hard to see from my vantage point and it being dark in the club, he handed his guitar to a fan in front of the stage, so that the fan could hold the guitar while he swapped the guitar strap and cable to another guitar. When Prince took the guitar back, the fan just put his hands over his face as if he was in shock that just happened. Priceless. VERY indie rock.

I was right behind the keyboards and when he walked over to play during one of the songs, he hi-fived and shook hands with some fans right by the stage. He was very playful and friendly.

And the funk. He brought the funk out and mixed it into the rock like no one else can.

She's Always In My Hair wasn't just the single edit. He sang verses from the 12 inch version and the song went on for at least 10 mins or more turning into some crazy funk rock jam. It rocked so much harder and funked way more than the original. The band was tight and the bass was slamming during this song. I've never heard it like this before.

I agree Dreamer wasn't my favorite P song of the night either but how the hell he took it from a rock song to the funkiest song of the night I have no idea. I wish he had recorded it that way in the first place. Seriously he made Dreamer funky. I know what you're thinking but trust me, Dreamer was funky!!

Beautiful Strange was, well, beautiful. Way better than any version you heard before. Interesting arrangement with Prince on piano.

Purple Rain was incredible. I agree that I've heard this too many times and, just like Let's Go Crazy or Kiss, I typically dread hearing it live, it truly was magical hearing him play this live in Minneapolis in a small club. And it wasn't just a snippet. He played it, ya know?

It was also great seeing Liv, Elisa and Shelby sing backup on a song. Liv came out before the trio and sang backup on a song by herself.

Without going through the other songs (I think augustwinters wrote a great review), I will make a few other observations.

There were some OBNOXIOUS drunks in the house. Obviously not there for the music. The bar was overrun and took forever (luckily I wasn't there to get drunk).

Something else that struck me as odd (for a Prince show). The security was minimal. People were right up by the stage. There was no barrier. You honestly could've touched him I suppose.

I did see Bobby Z wandering around, talking to folks after the show. I myself ended up having a nightcap at First Avenue and getting in 3 games of Moon Patrol while there, courtesy of my 2 special First Ave friends.

It was a magical night that I will never forget.

augustwinters said:

2nd show Friday night - Legendary! I've seen Prince a lot. The song list doesn't do it justice. Here's how it was different. Mind you I'm not a musican. The sound volume was Perfect. His guitar playing rediculously clean. His voice, also very clean and he throws it around like it should be illegal. From screams to whispers. The band very rock heavy. Hanna, ridiculously fun to watch and drop dead sexy. Prince was in a terrific mood. As relaxed fun and true as I've ever seen him. Kind of like he wasn't Prince but more like the kid from Central High throwing a little show. The crowd and intimate setting added an entirely different element that he leveraged to the max.

Endorphinmachine - Rocked as hard as 95. Maybe harder. The extra metal he's getting from his guitar player, he never had before. It was hard and edgy. like 80's metal. The Endorphinmachine scream was tight. And he started the show with an ohyah. I didn't think he could be as raw and hard as Summer of 95. Whoops I was wrong. This song pounced on you and ate you for lunch.

Screwdriver (new) -New songs are hard to get into. I'm your driver your my screw, multiple times with voice inflextions all over the place up, down, deep and then the crowd trading places with the chorus I'm your driver your my screw. Mindblowing. Guitars were blazing mad. Dirty rock hard in a way too funky place. This song live is AWESOME. It rolls through like a big thunderstorm that scares you with power. Prince singing very free and funky like dirty come hither. He could have played this another 20 minutes and I would have been cool. It was that freakin good and nasty...although he said it's not what you think ...yeah

Beautiful Strange - After blowing MPLS up for 2 songs, this was slow, at first I was like no don't kill the mood even though I like the song alot. And then it got slower and softer and the place was dead silent except for this soft almost heavenly prince whimpering beautiful strange from his piano. I like the song, but this was spine tingling almost reilgious. It had everyone in almost a spiritual state.

Purple Rain - I've heard this too many times was hoping for something else...except, this was something else. It was the bluesy version, the crowd (choir) as Prince referenced us was doing the oh oh oh and most of the singing. He bounced in at the right times when we would let him sing and pounce on something like "I never want to be you're weekend lover" It felt like a garage band at a house party with every body singing to bring the song to life, of course with perfect instruments and Prince's voice. We all mixed this one up and made it our own. Different than the stadium concerts.

Guitar - Song deserves to be played live, it rocked I won't lie, similar to past times I've heard it live and similar to the album, but better. Again the girls add extra metal and a rock edge. Everything was tight. Great song for a live audience. audience yelled with Prince "but not like my guitar" on the chorus, because his guitar was king he tore it up. The one thing, as fun as this is live with riffs and hooks and melody...ScrewDriver is better and nastier.

I Like it There -This song rocks live. Some of the crowd didn't know his deeper cuts like this. Somehow and I'm not sure how, he changed up this song and had us all singing "I like it there" but different than the record. The song started heavy and then went into this really cool crowd participation funk blues rock jam something or other. He kept saying he didn't know how to get out of the song and we kept singing and grooving. It turned into the coolist freakin song, partially because people didn't know it off the record and he turned into something way better than the studio version. Can't explain...I wish the song could have gone on another 30 minutes I was purplexed how he made this cool.

She’s Always in My Hair - Classic, he played pretty straight up like you've heard before live. Somethings just shouldn't be messed with. He kept this one straight like a classic should be done live. Was it awesome, of course.

Dreamer - Great song live, similar to what you've heard except it rocked harder that the studio version. This was maybe the one song that was my least favorite if I can say that. But there was a lot of guitar slaying and for those who really love this song...he did it more than justice, he ripped it open and throw it back at us.

Encore #1
Instrumental piano ballad - Thanks Prince for letting us take a breather and just chill for a bit, great instrumental I think new. Very cool It was fun to watch Hanna look over at him on keys and just play.

Bambi -This song I love, a lot of the crowd didn't know it?? He tore it up and nasty like. The beauty of this song is how it starts kind of soft and then turns agressive. His voice was so smooth "Maybe it's because U're so young, or maybe I'm just 2 naive" creamy soft and rediculously clear and clean like he was trying to pick up my girlfriend (well she was just 6 feet away from him) and then bam stomp hot guitar heat and Prince screaming Bambi, it's better with a man!!! ...the band behind him blowing up their guitars. This is still one hot freakin song live!! 88 he laid the heat live...this was raw and freaking hard. Had me throwing my head aroun like an 80's rocker.

The Record/Compassion - Very good, nothing to compare to I haven't heard them live before, except Prince is wearing this funky pink panther hat and is lose and fun and bending his voice around melodies and lyrics and I'm thinking, I'll never see or hear this again. And that there is probably no other musician truely as talented as he. It was carefree, loose and fun. Like it was he and a couple of friends jamming in there basement goofing around.

Encore #2
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man - Think Sign O The Times version...and then forget about because this one was different. It was slow blues like and awesome. You could feel the tension, the crowd wanted to go fast like the normal version and Prince was taking us throw it slow and we had to stay with him. Then it stayed slow with every word crisp. He took us to a place with that song, we've never been. He was coming way off the mike and throwing his voice into it super soft like. Incredible song, I've never heard it like that before.

I was incredible, it was 1am. And it was hometown, heartfelt, off the chain legendary. Welcome home Prince!!

THANKS for your reports!!!!!

Thanks for the two long wonderful reviews. It makes me grin to read how awesome Prince was and how much you guys enjoyed it. It makes me envy you big time because I wish I could have experienced this, too ... a hard-rocking Prince is my absolute favorite! And funk-rock on top of it - must have been mind-blowing!!!!

Now what I wish for is to see this entire performance on video! Oh wait - LIVE in my hometown would be even better!!! If Prince plays indie rock, he could do it right here at our "Rockhouse"!

I'm so glad he gave his hometown fans such an uncomparable experience this week! Here's hoping that many more similar events will follow this year!!! (and that I'll be able to make it to one of them)

chewymusic said:

tbag said:

...

THANKS for your reports!!!!!

thanks for the reports

Great to read them !!

Thanks 2 augustwinters

AWESOME review!

thanks Serpan as well for those upates/new reports

Thanks for the reviews and reports!

rdhull said:

thanks Serpan as well for those upates/new reports

Ur welcome bro!

serpan99 said:

rdhull said:

thanks Serpan as well for those upates/new reports

Ur welcome bro!

Serpan for President!

Thanks for being the unofficial official word of whats really going down in the world of P!

http://dakotacooks.com/ev...2-chicago/

Welcome 2 Chicago

7 PM and 10:30 PM TONIGHT

tickets • on line only beginning at 4 PM • $14

Wrapping up the Prince “residency” with a concert film

Welcome 2 Chicago
exclusive footage • live concert showing

buy tickets

This will be a limited seating screening on a large screen in the club celebrating an amazing week.
If you’re familiar with the Dakota’s floor plan, we’re closing the curtain and and have set up a large screen on the stage, so sight lines will be great.

The kitchen will not be open, but we’ll serve up some popcorn and the bar will be open.

[Edited 1/20/13 14:46pm]

I actually got into the first show on Friday! We just walked up to the door and had tickets aviliable. It was the best show I've ever seen! Totally dug the new band and hard rock feel.

serpan99 said:

+ "ICNTTPOYM"

By Baron3121

AHHH!!! This setlist is too good to be true! He must have been on fire performing these songs! ALL of these guitar killer tracks! I would die to get a boot of them all!! YES YES! Haha

augustwinters said:

2nd show Friday night - Legendary! I've seen Prince a lot. The song list doesn't do it justice. Here's how it was different. Mind you I'm not a musican. The sound volume was Perfect. His guitar playing rediculously clean. His voice, also very clean and he throws it around like it should be illegal. From screams to whispers. The band very rock heavy. Hanna, ridiculously fun to watch and drop dead sexy. Prince was in a terrific mood. As relaxed fun and true as I've ever seen him. Kind of like he wasn't Prince but more like the kid from Central High throwing a little show. The crowd and intimate setting added an entirely different element that he leveraged to the max.

Endorphinmachine - Rocked as hard as 95. Maybe harder. The extra metal he's getting from his guitar player, he never had before. It was hard and edgy. like 80's metal. The Endorphinmachine scream was tight. And he started the show with an ohyah. I didn't think he could be as raw and hard as Summer of 95. Whoops I was wrong. This song pounced on you and ate you for lunch.

Screwdriver (new) -New songs are hard to get into. I'm your driver your my screw, multiple times with voice inflextions all over the place up, down, deep and then the crowd trading places with the chorus I'm your driver your my screw. Mindblowing. Guitars were blazing mad. Dirty rock hard in a way too funky place. This song live is AWESOME. It rolls through like a big thunderstorm that scares you with power. Prince singing very free and funky like dirty come hither. He could have played this another 20 minutes and I would have been cool. It was that freakin good and nasty...although he said it's not what you think ...yeah

Beautiful Strange - After blowing MPLS up for 2 songs, this was slow, at first I was like no don't kill the mood even though I like the song alot. And then it got slower and softer and the place was dead silent except for this soft almost heavenly prince whimpering beautiful strange from his piano. I like the song, but this was spine tingling almost reilgious. It had everyone in almost a spiritual state.

Purple Rain - I've heard this too many times was hoping for something else...except, this was something else. It was the bluesy version, the crowd (choir) as Prince referenced us was doing the oh oh oh and most of the singing. He bounced in at the right times when we would let him sing and pounce on something like "I never want to be you're weekend lover" It felt like a garage band at a house party with every body singing to bring the song to life, of course with perfect instruments and Prince's voice. We all mixed this one up and made it our own. Different than the stadium concerts.

Guitar - Song deserves to be played live, it rocked I won't lie, similar to past times I've heard it live and similar to the album, but better. Again the girls add extra metal and a rock edge. Everything was tight. Great song for a live audience. audience yelled with Prince "but not like my guitar" on the chorus, because his guitar was king he tore it up. The one thing, as fun as this is live with riffs and hooks and melody...ScrewDriver is better and nastier.

I Like it There -This song rocks live. Some of the crowd didn't know his deeper cuts like this. Somehow and I'm not sure how, he changed up this song and had us all singing "I like it there" but different than the record. The song started heavy and then went into this really cool crowd participation funk blues rock jam something or other. He kept saying he didn't know how to get out of the song and we kept singing and grooving. It turned into the coolist freakin song, partially because people didn't know it off the record and he turned into something way better than the studio version. Can't explain...I wish the song could have gone on another 30 minutes I was purplexed how he made this cool.

She’s Always in My Hair - Classic, he played pretty straight up like you've heard before live. Somethings just shouldn't be messed with. He kept this one straight like a classic should be done live. Was it awesome, of course.

Dreamer - Great song live, similar to what you've heard except it rocked harder that the studio version. This was maybe the one song that was my least favorite if I can say that. But there was a lot of guitar slaying and for those who really love this song...he did it more than justice, he ripped it open and throw it back at us.

Encore #1
Instrumental piano ballad - Thanks Prince for letting us take a breather and just chill for a bit, great instrumental I think new. Very cool It was fun to watch Hanna look over at him on keys and just play.

Bambi -This song I love, a lot of the crowd didn't know it?? He tore it up and nasty like. The beauty of this song is how it starts kind of soft and then turns agressive. His voice was so smooth "Maybe it's because U're so young, or maybe I'm just 2 naive" creamy soft and rediculously clear and clean like he was trying to pick up my girlfriend (well she was just 6 feet away from him) and then bam stomp hot guitar heat and Prince screaming Bambi, it's better with a man!!! ...the band behind him blowing up their guitars. This is still one hot freakin song live!! 88 he laid the heat live...this was raw and freaking hard. Had me throwing my head aroun like an 80's rocker.

The Record/Compassion - Very good, nothing to compare to I haven't heard them live before, except Prince is wearing this funky pink panther hat and is lose and fun and bending his voice around melodies and lyrics and I'm thinking, I'll never see or hear this again. And that there is probably no other musician truely as talented as he. It was carefree, loose and fun. Like it was he and a couple of friends jamming in there basement goofing around.

Encore #2
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man - Think Sign O The Times version...and then forget about because this one was different. It was slow blues like and awesome. You could feel the tension, the crowd wanted to go fast like the normal version and Prince was taking us throw it slow and we had to stay with him. Then it stayed slow with every word crisp. He took us to a place with that song, we've never been. He was coming way off the mike and throwing his voice into it super soft like. Incredible song, I've never heard it like that before.

I was incredible, it was 1am. And it was hometown, heartfelt, off the chain legendary. Welcome home Prince!!

Perfect commentary! It just made me feel like, I was actually there! I really wished I was there! it seems LEGENDARY! What a show and what an artist Prince is! WOW! He just knows how to wow you! ALL of these songs in his career! I love it when he goes places you don't expect him too! Just awesome!!!!!