Overall: Last night was my 10th Prince concert (two Lovesexy shows in '88, two JOTY shows in '97, two NPS shows in '98, 1 Hit-n-Run in '00, 1 Hit-n-Run in '01, and ONA in '02). I would have to rank it behind ONA and Lovesexy but ahead of all the rest. Prince definitely proved that he can OWN an audience and get the respect of an entire arena. The roars from the crowd last night were as loud as any I've heard. Yes, the masses realize his genius. The show started at 8:20 and ended at 10:30.

Seating: My seats were in section 10, row 4 (next to .org member jtgilliam, btw). However, I was actually the 2nd row as our section was on the side of the stage. Our seats were on angle next to Rhonda and positioned perfectly with Prince's guitar pedals and mic stand. When he first came out, I was a bit worried that Rhonda would block our view but that was only a temporary problem (not that having to look at Rhonda would be a BAD thing, lol). I honestly don't believe my seats could have been better. Further, as I walked up the steps after the show, I really believe there is not a bad seat in the entire house for the rest of the fans (though, I realize some NPGMC members may have obstructed views due to keyboards, horn stands, drum kit, etc.).

Attire: Prince came out in an all white suit with white platform sneakers/boots. The shoes were reminiscent of something Ani DiFranco might wear. Apparently, his feet/ankles can't bear the stress of heels for an entire show anymore. For the acoustic set and 2nd half, he had on the red suit with a white polka-dot shirt and red heeled boots with the lights in the clear heels (wonder what Chris Rock thinks of THOSE clear heels!). The male NPG members wore suits (Mike Scott had a classic Carolina blue suit) although Blackwell quickly shed the jacket. Even Takumi had to wear a suit! Rhonda and Candy wore slacks with Rhonda's almost being a business suit and Candy having long tank-top.

The Band: The NPG showed their muscle again. I don't think there is anything this band couldn't play. In fact, my wife said she would enjoy a show where they did nothing but covers. Candy Dulfer was onstage nearly the whole show helping provide background vocals but she looked uncomfortable without a sax in her hand. Mike Phillips had the least amount of solos. Maceo Parker didn't have as many solos as I expected but he's working his way back in. Greg Boyer is the clown of the band and you can tell how much he loves playing music. Rhonda Smith only played one bass the entire show (surprised she didn't pull out the fretless for The One) but laid the foundation. Mike Scott only played rhythm guitar (no leads) but his fills definitely helped. Chance Howard provided bass to the vocals and led the crowd chants. Renato Neto can play EVERY style from funk to jazz to techno (perhaps P's most gifted keyboardist--no slam on Dr. Fink or Mr. Hayes). John Blackwell continues to amaze with this theatrics, rhythm, and foundation. He truly looks like playing for Prince is a dream come true.

Prince's instruments: Prince played his new light blue and white Fender strat for most of the show and, yes, he is using the whammy bar more often. The acoustic set featured a purple acoustic guitar. Habibi appeared only for Purple Rain. I do wish that Prince would play some bass, keyboards, and drums somewhere in the show to demonstrate true musicology.

The sound: Not sure if it was the RBC Center but the sound wasn't great but rather muddled at times. Nowhere close to the sound of the ONA tour but those were smaller theatres built for music. Also, unsure of whether the sound was better away from the stage. We literally could feel the thump of the bass and drums in our chest and the heat flowing out of the speakers.

Lyrics: Yes, some of the songs had lyric changes and a few of the changes were a bit awkward. But, P still performed the suggestive parts of Little Red Corvette and Cream and DMSR still stood for the same thing. For those who don't like the preaching (like my wife, I don't mind it, though), there was virtually none.

Setlist:

RRHOF intro (crowd went berserk for this)
Musicology
Let's Go Crazy (streamers fall to floor)
I Would Die 4 U
When Doves Cry
1999 intro/Baby I'm A Star
Shhh (Blackwell TORE it up as did P)
DMSR/Crazy in Love/I Like the Way You Move (including Chance doing the booty shake!)/Hot Pants/I Like Funky Music (incredible jam--it got so hot in the arena during this jam)
A Love Bizarre/Glamorous Life/I Feel For You
Controversy/Jungle Love/Housequake
God/What a Wonderful World (Renato and Maceo only)
Acoustic set: (apparently changed the set b/c Mike Scott was onstage at first but left for a few songs)
Little Red Corvette
Raspberry Beret (crowd sing-along)
Cream (P had to teach the background vocal repeats to the crowd)
Jailhouse Rock (only one verse followed by "Sorry, I thought I was a king.")
Telemarketer's Blues (crowd really got to see his humor)
7 (NPG returned)
Sign O' The Times (would have been my fave part had I not already heard this version from RRHOF)
The Question of U/The One/Fallin' (Candy vocals on Fallin')
Let's Work
U Got the Look
Life O' The Party (
Soul Man (Chance on vocals)
Kiss
Take Me With U (ended with Blackwell funk solo stopped with a "We don't like New Wave!" yell--only true Prince fans got that joke)
Encore:
The Beautiful Ones
Nothing Compares 2 U
Purple Rain (nearly 10 minute version)

Highlights: The acoustic set alone is worth the price of admission. While I absolutely love the NPG, I would also love a solo Prince show with an hour on acoustic guitar and an hour on piano. Other highlights were the funk of DMSR, the guitar/drum firestorm of Shhh, the new arrangement of Sign o' The Times, and the fierce emotion of The Question of U/The One/Fallin'.

Afterparty: At the Office in downtown Raleigh. Went by and saw the long line. Got confirmation from a bouncer that were was no stage setup with instruments so I booked.

Can't wait for the next Prince show!

i gotta say i had section 6 row 1 seats & they were horrible, right behind the horns
Oh well, maybe atlanta seats will be better

Sorry your seats werent better Taffee....It was nice to meet you before the show in the parking lot....You had thought you met my friends and I on the last tour in Atlanta and we spoke briefly as we were going into the RBC....
I feel for you (no pun intended....well ...maybe a little bit of one) on the view....even thought i was right up on the front row...the view was still obstructed by the horns and Chance's keys. However, when the man made his way to view, he still never disappoints....

Hope to see you in Atlanta....should be a fun time....

Hey jsb23nc! Sounds like you enjoyed the show as much as I did. Very good review of the show, and my ears are still ringing 26 hours later! I agree with pretty much every comment you made... And I have to say, as a fan who never really listens to Purple Rain much anymore because of overexposure to it, his version last night was truly something else! The acoustic set and Shhh were my favorite parts of the show. And I also thought the Question of U/ The One/ Fallin' medley was very well arranged. I hope your wife enjoyed the show, too. My buddy that was with me only knew about half the songs Prince played, but he told me later he thought it was the best concert he had ever been to (even better than his beloved Jimmy Buffett shows)!

It was nice to meet you, and I must say I'm jealous that you got to experience a ONA show! Really, really wanted to see that tour....
[This message was edited Sat Apr 24 22:07:34 2004 by jtgillia]

So this was my fourth Prince show, and it was a dream come true. I had nosebleed seats for my first Prince concert back in '97, but this time I wised up and joined the club -- I was in section 8, row 3. In other words, I was in heaven.

For much of the show, I was 15 feet away from the greatest talent in the history of popular music. When they played the Alicia Keys bit from the RNRHOF ceremony, my heart started to race, just like it did back in 1990 when I saw my very first concert (Paul McCartney, also nosebleed seats.) I've been to so many shows by so many great performers, but that feeling never happens anymore. This night was special. This man is special. If I ever meet him, I will tell him "Thank you for making music, you are one of the reasons I believe in God."

It was such a great feeling to see so many faces, white and black and brown, young and old, all of us singing along and sharing a feeling of awe at this man's gifts. I'm definitely going again later in the year, to DC and perhaps Toronto.

I've seen a lot of comments lately about Prince showing his age, but as far as I could tell, he sounds just as great as he ever did, minus the splits and the profanity. I was perfectly ready to be disappointed, but it didn't happen.

I agree that the acoustic part of the show alone was worth the ticket price. I hope some day to see Prince on stage alone with just a guitar and a piano (or maybe just Prince, Wendy and Lisa? No harm in dreaming...)

man u wrote the best review since the begining of the tour

Thx for the props, banished one and jtgillia. jt, sounds like the earplugs didn't help you much more than my earplug-less ears!

One more note related to wardrobe. Prince was not wearing the two-leveled suit from the RRHOF and early Musicology shows but rather a suit-like outfit with fringes on the back and along the legs. I like the two-tiered suit better but his fashion choices are his!

hey bro was prince playing guitar on take me with u(is it the same arangmant as on ona tour?)
and sign o the times?
were there many lead guitar solos?
is it way horn oriented?
did prince played rhythm guitar also?

jsb23nc, I didn't even use those earplugs. I decided during the first song, I was just like screw these things! The sound was muffled enough as it is being so close on the floor, that I didn't feel like making it sound worse by stuffing those things in my ears. I wanted to hear everything as clear as possible!

This was my second Prince show, the first being at Greensboro Coliseum in '97 on the JOTY tour. Although the Greensboro show was a great first concert experience, this show and this band was much, much better than that show (and the seats were a hell of a lot better too).

jtgillia said:

I agree. This band blows the JOTY '97 band away. I was in G'boro and had a great time there too. I was lucky enough to be 2nd row there. I would've loved to have seen him play bass this past Friday like he did in G'boro but i'm not complaining.

>I agree. This band blows the JOTY '97 band away. I was in G'boro and had a great time there too. I was lucky enough to be 2nd row there. I would've loved to have seen him play bass this past Friday like he did in G'boro but i'm not complaining.<

Yep. Face Down live was indeed hella cool back then!

jsb23nc said:

I can't wait for this friggin show man!!! SWEET!

I have to say the show sounded absolutely awful to me WITHOUT the earplugs..

I was right behind the hornz as well in front of huge bass bins and without the earplugs the sound was horrible, with them in it was pretty damn good ....

Prince's instruments: Prince played his new light blue and white Fender strat for most of the show and, yes, he is using the whammy bar more often.


Light blue? baby that was CAROLINA BLUE BABY BABY!!!
"Scuse me as I sing my Tar Heel fight song.

Here cooooomes carolina! here coooomes carolina!!!!

Did y'all see Mike Phillips talking to the honey in the denim skirt?

Yeah, Mike was on it! She had some bad legs....go girl!

Mike Phillips is a cutie too. reeee ooowwww!!!

FunkyStrange said:

earplugs??

all you folks complaining about the horn section shoulda viewed the show from behind blackwell's drums! i think i maybe the only person on here that thought this show was just aiiight (*randy jackson impression*). perhaps it was the acoustics in the arena or the blocked view for 80% of the show, but i didnt walk away in awe as ive done in past shows of his that ive seen. heres to hoping he turns us out in ATL.

KatSkrizzle...as an alumnus and HUGE Tar Heel fan, I would give props to Carolina blue whenever I get the chance...Re-read my review and you'll notice that I referred to Mike Scott's suit as "Carolina blue" while referring to P's guitar as light blue.

jsb23nc said:

It's all good! I wasn't really serious, I was having fun

The Raleigh Show was incredible. I have been to see Prince many times before. It was especially great for me to introduce Prince Live to a buddy of mine. Needless 2 say, my buddy left the show a changed man. His entire conjecture of Prince changed with this show. I must say that I was completely moved, as always, by Prince's skill and artistry. The highlights for me, musically, were the acoustic set, especially having the opportunity to sing "7" aloud. I hoped he would sing that. And, he did. But, I love the old, classic Prince, but I also love the new stuff very very much. So, hearing "The One" was a dream. Prince got down during that song. Oh my goodness, it was off the chain. I was screaming like a little bi%#h. LOL. I couldn't help it. The man is truly The One. But, the show was all of that. Sign O' The Times was funky as hell. DMSR was fabulous. He showed his skill with U Got the Look. Man, theres just no ending. I can't wait to see him at Madison Square Garden. I also met a couple of cool fams as well. They were from South Carolina. They had seen Prince in South Carolina a couple days before. They were cool dudes. My buddy said he had never sweated at a concert before. I told the brotha that he ain't never been to a real concert before. Nough said.

RAVE UN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC!!!!!

jsb23nc said:

Carolina alumnus here too. I'm with ya!!!

Ok...I've been to see Prince 5 times now starting w/the Purple Rain tour and I gotta say that the Raleigh show was the best one I've attended. It was OFF THE HOOK!!! Emotional...uplifting.....funky....grooving....all that! I drove down from Delaware and it was well worth the trip!!! Raleigh definitely showed him love that night. The energy in the RBC was just too much.....and the acoustic set....WOW. After he did Little Red Corvette he almost couldn't go on because the crowd was just showing him so much love. It was fantastic...and that's no exageration.

jsb23nc said:

jsb23nc:

THANK YOU for such a great review! This was my first ever Prince show. I've wanted to see him for forever, but it's just never happened. This time, I heard about the presale just a day or so before it happened, and I got in fairly quick.

I'm (gasp) not a npgmc person, so I had regular Ticketmaster tickets, but they were still really good seats, and I feel I got every penny worth out of the show. My wife and I went and really had an amazing time.

So thanks for the review and the setlist - GREAT job on those!!

James

LarrytheGOD said:

yes ... earplugs

the sound was horrible in the NPGMC section, During the acoustic set since I couldn't see anything (being behind chance and the hornz section ) or hear anything without earplugs (only having huge bass bins in front of me and thats it ) I went way back to the 1st level, where the ticketmaster seats were - much better sound back there and you can see the great video screens ...

I stayed there for about an hour ...



.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 28 15:01:00 2004 by FunkyStrange]

Better late than never…just a few comments on the Raleigh show.

Overall a great night. My wife and I ran into traffic on Wade Avenue just after going under Blue Ridge Road. I knew a split second too late that I should have taken the Blue Ridge exit and entered on Trinity. I still felt like we would be in our seats by 8:30 and with the typical late start we may miss one or two songs. AN HOUR and 20 MIN later we reach our seats. Anyway, I should have known better.

We enter the RBC to the firestorm that was the end of Shhh. We accessed the floor on the opposite side of the stage from our seats and finally got to our 2ND ROW SEATS to see Chance shak’n it to I love the way you. I was behind Blackwell, but I could see P on two catwalks really well. I also had a great view of the center of the stage. No complaint about the sound on my side of the stage (other than loud as hell)

The jam that took us from D.M.S.R. to the horn solo was awesome. Controversy was a definite highlight for me. The jam had me forgetting all about the delay getting to the show.

The acoustic set was cool. It was a lot better than seeing him do the same old piano medley again. I would rather he just played the tunes instead of playing with the audience so much but at the same time I am sure it was enduring to the casual fan. (My wife was disappointed to hear exact portions done for the NYC set. She thought we were special.). Telemarketer Blues was the highlight for me, but probably just because I had never heard it.

The Question of U is an all time favorite and it was awesome as was Let’s Work and U got the Look. I enjoyed Life O’ the Party more than I thought I would, especially when I realized it meant he probably would not be playing Dear Mr. Man. At the end of Take me with you he jutted up over the drum set and seemingly looking right at us with wide eyes added “We don’t like New Wave!!”. I was like “Oh hell Yeah”. Nice reference.

We left after Nothing Compares 2U, missing what appears to have been the best version of PR that he has played in years. Sorry I missed it but I was hot on the trail of an aftershow. I saw two passes that said aftershow being handed to a couple honeys in front of me. I made the quick exit to run by the house and head down town. Of course it was not to be.

This was a great show but comparing to other P concerts I have been to, I enjoyed the Raleigh JOTY and last Greensboro concert more. The Greensboro show was almost like an aftershow with the house lights on a lot and P playing bass on 777-9311. Great memories form that night.

Can’t wait to see it again in MN on June 18!!!! Hoping for a Paisley after show!!!!!

taffee said:

I feel for you...I had really crappy obscured-by-the-keyboards views for two consecutive shows. Very frustrating thinking that you're one of the biggest fans of this man and his music in the whole joint, and you bought tickets through the pre-=sale, and you literally have one of the 20 or 30 worst seats in the house, BY FAR.

Knowing that TicketMaster would never sell these seats, unless they were advertised as Obstructed View.

Knowing that you got screwed by the NPGMC again.

Sorry to jack your thread, but I don't think anyone who hasn't been placed in one of the obstructed view seats has any idea how awful it is, and it's hard to think about the concerts and not remember that.

FunkyStrange said:

Isn't it assy how a small but significant chunk of the NPGMC section has the worst seats in the place? Many members had GREAT seats...but trust me, for the ones that are literally stuck behind this looming keyboard and Renato's teeth...they're really shitty seats.