Hey !!! I'm back for more !!! Here's what I have been thinking. Tomorrow is the Indy show and then there's a break of 14 days. The concerts start back up and go thru Baltimore, Pittsburgh, DC, Richmond VA, Sunrise FL, and Jacksonville FL.

There's more after that, but I'm here to say. Believe the hype, Ladies and Gentlemen !!! This is an incredible show!!! Once you walk into the soundcheck or the show begins, you can forget about everything because it's all about the music. What a chance to see Prince perform up close and personal !!!

So I get to Cleveland on Saturday afternoon and stay at Mary's house. Check out her profile on the next post. We hung out, did a little shopping, and talked about our plans for the show on Sunday. There were 9 of us and we had something to eat before the soundcheck and waited for the venue to open. Lucky for us they let us wait inside the venue so we didn't freeze, since it was about 25-30 degrees out there.

Billy Sparks told us it would only be a few minutes and they let us in at 5:40. We had already heard the band playing The Rainbow Children while we were waiting to get in. Don't forget your ID because they were checking that and tickets. We got our pass and Mary and I headed down the aisle into the soundcheck. We got in the 1st row on the right side right by Prince, who was on keyboards. I asked how he was doing, he said all right and I told him that we sure wished we were closer for the show. Prince said that before the next round of shows begin, there will be changes and all club members will get the best seats. YAY !!!

I was leaning against the stage and having a brain fart, since I was talking to Prince and he was just messing with the keys on his piano and watching people come in and sit down. All of a sudden the row of lights directly above and behind the band rolled over and shined bright white on us. I said "Wow, that looks just like the spaceship in Close Encounters". Prince says "Yeah, and speaking of Close Encounters, why don't you have a seat and relax". Then starts laughing. Then he makes some crack about me bugging him !!!

I asked him what he thought of Rico at the Detroit show: http://www.prince.org/msg...tid=9970# ,and he wanted to know if I was collecting information for the Internet. So I was in trouble with him immediately, and he was watching me from time to time !!! It was hilarious !!!

So I'm sitting and everyone is filing into their seats. Prince starts talking to Greg Boyer and Najee. He then announces to everyone that Maceo was not going to be here for the last two shows and Najee was called in quickly to replace him. So he asked us if it was okay if the band ran thru some parts for Najee to practice on, since he was coming in cold. OF COURSE !!!

Here's some of what I remember: Prince went over the beginning of Avalanche and explained to Najee that Renalto was going to go 4 times around on the piano and he would like Najee to come in after Rhonda and Blackwell started in on the song, playing just up until Prince started his vocals.

At some points when he would have Najee practice a part, he would ask us if that sounded cool, and we would clap, nod, shout out or approve in some way. The first time we clapped without him asking, he said something to the effect that we didn't have to do this just for the practice, and someone yelled out that we were doing it because we appreciated it.

He came over to where Mary and I were sitting at one point and asked me " Are you acting up down there" so I put my coat over my head and asked him "Should I hide under here"? Prince told me " No, keep it off, I want to see what your doing". He was in rare form, cracking jokes with the crowd and at one point he put on the Hohner Telecaster and the guy next to me or behind me asked Prince how old that guitar was. Prince said " I bought this in 1981, and every time I tell people this they don't believe me, but I only paid $30. for it. I walked into a gas station and it was sitting there and I bought it." The guy who asked him offered Prince $50. for it, and Prince cracked up !!! So no rumors about this one y'all. Right from his own mouth we heard it !!! That's a great story !!! So interplay with all of the audience members took place in between and during rehearsal of songs that Prince was showing Najee how he wanted them to be played.

Since Najee had a few questions and Prince wanted to get everything right, they practiced up until right before 7:00. Prince asked what time it was at one point, and was told that it was 6:36, and then he wanted to know when the doors were supposed to open. When told 7:00, he said he was going to run thru a few things before ending.

People asked questions in between practicing and one guy asked Prince why Blackwell had the plexiglass enclosure around the drums. Without missing a beat, Prince immediately replied dryly "Breath". We all cracked up. Rhonda asked "What was the question" and Prince told her he would tell her later, saying that it was a classic !!!

The band went thru The Everlasting Now right from the bridge and Blackwell started the song as they practiced it about 5 times over the course of 15 minutes. It sounded absolutely fantastic. They did little snippets of the Santana Medley, and part of La La La Means I Love You. At 7:00, Prince thanked us for being so patient with him and he would see us in a bit !!!

The head of security for the venue got onto a microphone and told us that since we were already been checked but not had our tickets taken, that we were to go out on the right into an adjoining room, where we would be brought back in, have our tickets taken and join all the rest of the people in the lobby, so we wouldn't have to go outside. We all thought that was so great !!!

So we hung outside in the lobby and took our seats for the show, which made a somewhat late start, beginning right around 8:30. The set list was as follows:

The Rainbow Children
Muse 2 The Pharaoh
Xenophobia
A Case Of You
Mellow
1+1+1 is 3
Rollercoaster
The Other Side Of The Pillow
Strange Relationship
Sing A Simple Song
La La La (Means I Love You)
Didn't You Know - Rhonda and Prince Duet (Erika Badu Cover)
When You Were mine
Avalanche
Family Name
Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
Santana Medley

Piano Medley:

One Night Alone
Adore
TheBeautifulOnes Nothing Compare 2 U
PurpleRain Sometimes It Snows In April
I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore ?

Anna Stesia

The show lasted from say 8:30 until 10:57. Anna Stesia was 12 minutes long. And the Piano Medley lasted from 10:13 until 10:45.

The Rainbow Children kicked it out again. Seeing this for the 3rd time shows me what a great opener this has become. Xenophobia will amaze !!! Oh, it is so brilliant !!! I just keep shaking my head remembering Prince jamming with that guitar. BTW, I checked it out and I believe it's a Ibanez guitar. It's a cream color and I think he has played this before. I believe he's using it in The Daisy Chain video. 1 + 1+ 1 = 3 is just three funky !!!

Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow showcases his incredible vocals. His range is fantastic and the sound was better from where I was sitting than what I heard in Saginaw and Detroit, making it even more interesting to listen to. His vocals were also outstanding on La La La, Avalanche, and a lot of fun on Take Me With U/Raspberry Beret. He has worked the last two into a perfect pair for this set, singing full versions and making them a little funkier. They really rock !!!

Avalanche had a big impact on the crowd and it is a song to think about, having as much impact as U2 playing MLK or Pride in concert. His vocals on this were superb !!! Family Name blows it out of the universe. The guitar at the end is so wicked. Wait 'til you see this !!! It is absolutely phenomenal !!! If anyone out here saw the show, second me on all these comments. Am I not right? This show is so freakin' slammin' !!! You will be amazed. I picked my jaw up off the floor many times in the last 9 days watching Prince tear it up on guitar.


Now the piano medley..... WOW !!! Get this, he comes out alone and does about a minute and a half of One Night Alone....It was excellent. Then he does a complete version of Adore. Check this out..... The complete version !!! When he does the verse where it says "I only hear the sounds of heavenly angels" he asked "Don't you need it" ? "I just need it" about 3 times and it drove the women in the crowd crazy. The he sings "You can burn up my clothes, smash up my ride...Well maybe not my ride" and then sang "That's okay, I'll just buy you another one. I was just kidding about the ride. You can smash it up !!! Don't cry, don't cry baby". He added all the lyrics while doing the COMPLETE version of one of my favorites !!! It was incredible !!! Women were shouting out "I Love You, Prince" and screaming. It was wild !!!

On Nothing Compare to U he gets to the one line "All the flowers that U planted, sugar, in the backyard ", then breaks the song down and announces to the crowd that he was amazed when he wrote the remainder of the line and exclaimed "Can you believe it.... All died when you went away" "The flowers died....man that is deep". He then continued with the rest of the song after shaking his head in disbelief over the thought of writing a line like that. It was a memorable Prince moment !!!

Then of course the band is out with him for the great rendition of How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore ?. This is such a workout. He does the majority of the song from behind his keys, and then breaks it down after getting center stage, and asking the question "Why can't you call" while incorporating a whole rap about calling or not calling him into the rest of the number, while the band absolutely kicks it out behind him. What a powerful version !!!

He blew it out the wall on Anna Stesia. He really feels this one and the crowd was into it, chanting along and giving a roaring applause as the show ended. After the house lights came up, Prince appeared on the left side of the stage with his coat on, and shook some hands before exiting for good.

There was no afterparty announced. I had asked Billy Sparks where the afterparty was going to be when we left the soundcheck and he told me at that time there would not be one.

So no afterparty gets everyone a early report from me !!! I am still asking that everyone who sees another show or saw this one, add any comments you have so in case I missed anything, it will help me remember the show. I usually forget things so quickly, but I take notes during the show and even though my writing looks bad and I can hardly read it later on, I decipher and report. So help me out people. I want to see how the other shows compare to this one. I'm not a professional writer and I hope I'm not blabbing. Just wanted to share my experience of the last nine days with you all !!!

From Saginaw to Detroit, from Detroit to Cleveland, and from my computer to yours, it's been my pleasure to inform you that I have seen the funkiest man in the land, and his name is Prince. The Man has it going on. See the show and be mesmerized. I sure was !!!

See Ya !!! Dennis
[This message was edited Fri Apr 5 2:12:24 PST 2002 by dendmmr]

This is Mary here. I was with Dennis and I don't know how he does it, but the review is excellent. Be sure and read it all to get feel of this great concert and our experience.

The soundcheck made the NPGMC membership totally worth it! The concert was incredible and now we want to go to Pittsburgh. Do I hear another review coming in a couple of weeks ? Hope so !

Mary

thank you dennis SO MUCH for this awesome review!!

i cannot tell you how much i appreciate reading everyone's accounts about all that goes on at the soundchecks and concerts. (and i must say i can't wait till it's my turn to experience it all, too)

thank you again for this review. it was *great*.

what an incredible time to be a prince fan....

This is an excelent report Dennis, U are really good getting a feel and putting it across. Thats talent.Its detailed and warm. Thanx

DENNIS U GONNA GET ME IN TROUBLE TOO LOL
He's reading.....

Excellent report, Dennis, as usual. You missed one part though during the concert that was truly funny. Apparently, there was a lady sitting in the front row eating a chocolate sundae, and Prince says something like, "We have someone too cool sitting in the front row eating a chocolate sundae!" Prince then said to the man who was with her something about lifting her up onto her feet and "shaking what her mama gave her". Then Prince said to the woman, "I got something you need or something for you". and he sang "Other Side of the Pillow". -- lol!!!

What exactly is a "brain fart" Dennis? Never heard that term used before.

Another great review. Wish I was u!

dendmmr said:

Don't sit next to me @ the concert, I might have to slap yo' ass...

what can I say...abolutely great review!
And Prince shaking his head about "all died when you went away", I can totally understand. That's one of my all-time favorite Prince lines.

Sounds like a classic if not legendary show.

This was my second Prince concert (first was "Hit N Run") and was floored.

Prince creates such a surrealistic environment in a small venue. I didn't have the same connection on the last tour. Even though he played less hits, he tore the roof off the Palace.

He was more animated and personable than any other performer I have seen. He suprisingly bantered with the audience, cracked jokes, poked fun at his lyrics, brought people on stage (definitely NOT pre-selected), walked out into the crowd (he stood right in front of me in the fifth row on the side), and came out after the performance to shake a few hands. I was with the understanding that as Prince's career progressed he has become increasingly bitter and isolated. While I'm sure this holds true of the industry, he certainly isn't taking his fans for granted these days.

I am a reborn Prince fan once again, and kick myself for not joining NPG before this concert. Looking forward to newly discovering older material that I did not pick up long the way, including the Crystal Ball set.

Come back to Cleveland soon.

- Matt

"speaking of close encounters, have a seat and relax"

mm, i can't wait!!

I love the story about the Hohner. I always wondered if it was the same guitar he always has played. The guy who offered him $50 bucks for it is hilarious!

question dennis... i was at the cle. show as well, and were you by any chance what we called "the line nazi." if so...good lookin' out!
jason

dendmrr..u had 2 have been the line nazi..thank u so much..

Dennis,Mary and everyone else "in the front of the line", What a great show!!, I'm glad to have shared Prince's greatness with y'all.
Darren

lol, what's a line Nazi? glad u all liked the Cleveland show. Cleveland was givin it up 4 some serious funk!

The line nazis were the three guys in the front of the line who took control of setting up the line before it got out of hand. I was one of the aforementioned line nazis.
Darren

Whew... now that was a great review!! I already want to see him again!

Another excellent report! Well done Dennis.

Plesae do me a favour. When you're at the souncheck of the next concert you go to ask him if he intends to take the tour to Australia.

You can tell him we are all dieing to hear this show downunder.

Cheers:)

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.....thank u Dennis!

I can't believe y'all forgot when at the soundcheck somebody asked if Batman was his favorite superhero since he did the album. Prince said something about not believing in or liking superhero's and then said that him and Michael Jackson were supposed both do half of the album! Somebody then asked if they talk and Prince said "yeah we talk" and then another person said something like "you guys don't battle?", and Prince turned back toward the crowd and laughed with a funny ass look and said "NO!" Shit was pretty funny...

Another question was at which concert did the best questions at soundcheck happen. Prince said one of the more recent ones (probably after Buffalo) because we talked about "The Truth." A couple other religious questions were asked and Prince joked that "this is how it started!". Somebody asked if he read the Bible to which he replied yes...and another asked if he read any other books (I took it to believe holy books like the Koran and such) to which Prince replied that he used to but not anymore.

Prince also joked about how a pastor at a recent show asked him to sing in his church. Prince joked and said "why to hear this?" and proceed to play his guitar in a loud/rock type way...it was pretty funny.

No doubt he felt comfortable and at one time even commented that he was being a bad host since the band was trying to familiarize Najee into the show.

They performed The Everlasting Now and Calhoun Square during the soundcheck.

hey Dennis much thanks again give us a call i'm thinkin about a road trip in a couple of weeks.

"Prince also joked about how a pastor at a recent show asked him to sing in his church. Prince joked and said "why to hear this?" and proceed to play his guitar in a loud/rock type way...it was pretty funny."

LOL!

Great report! I was there and it was ON! It was amazing to watch the man work the band at the soundcheck...like seeing the birth of the genius. Calhoun Square was absolutely incredible!!
Another memory of the show: At the end of Annastesia, he said that he felt he had bonded with the crowd and wanted to share something with us. Then he talked about "have you every lost someone?" and said that the hardest part is all the things you wished you had said to them, but now the chance was lost. That really got to me. It's incredible that he is so open and gives to his fans/fams the way he does when he must be dealing with so many personal issues as well.
So....all I want to know is: WHEN DO TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR PITTSBURGH!!??!!

The guitar IS an Ibanez. It's the George Benson model - GB10 or something like that. I think George actually gave him that guitar.

Not to sound nit-picky, but the song title is "1+1+1 Is 3" not "1+1+1=3". I keep seeing it the incorrect way and it's driving me crazy.

Thank u, Dennis!
Very good report, i love it and i envy you!

U right Jwsullivan this is "1+1+1 is 3" and not "...=3",and the Erykah Badu cover is "didn't cha know" and not "...you know".
Long live 2 Prince and the new power generation!

Are the 'line nazis' in any way related 2 the 'Soup Nazi'??

just wondering....

When you hear reports like this it makes me say "damn Prince is cool a dude"
When do yall think the turn around was as far as him now being so personal with the fans. I mean I remember even at Paisely with the body guards, now he just rolls and doesn't give a fuck.
Which is nice
MS