I saw the Saturday show and it was FANTASTIC.

I told someone today that seeing last night's show was a bit like seeing Rocky Horror in the privacy of my home for the first time, without the distraction of all the audience participation insanity. This is the first Prince show where I've actually experienced having to SIT DOWN and enjoy the music, and it was perfection. Instead of having to contend with throngs of people and overheated fan insanity, I felt like I was in a big room full of people wanting to do the same thing I wanted to do: sit back and enjoy the music we love. There was no vibe of "I'm wearing a cloud jumpsuit so I'm a better fan than you" or any of that foolishness. It was a nice, warm, welcoming vibe, and a perfect compliment to the mood of the show.

Also, I'm not a fan of The Rainbow Children, but hearing some of the songs live has certainly inspired me to give the disc another listen. I still may not like the songs in their studio recording form (hate the cosmic Fat Albert narrator), but he definitely brought the songs to life in concert. Wow.

I went into the concert a bit cynical, and I left with a renewed appreciation. If you're on the fence about seeing Prince when he comes to your town - if you're a little less than amazed by his recent output - give the little man the benefit of the doubt one more time and take the plunge.

I repeat: Wow.

More detailed comments to come, but I wanted to start a serious thread where 3/2 audience members could compare notes with the 3/3 crowd (alas, I'll be gettin' my cool shoeshine on with Gorillaz at the Aragon tonite). Here we go...!

As someone who was not a huge fan of The Rainbow
Children, I was a little nervous about what this, my
9th Prince concert would be like. He always throws
down in Chi-town so I hoped for the best. He didn't
let me down. Prince is obviously more subdued these
days, but the music was slamming. He did my favorites
from Rainbow - The Rainbow Children, Muse 2 The
Pharaoh, and Mellow, 1+1+1 is 3,and Family Name. I
love that Prince has become more Afro-centric these
days and speaks the truth in ways that others are
afraid too. When he stated that Abraham Lincoln was a
racist the section that I was in cheered and cheered.

He kept saying that he wasn't going to do any old
school jams and that had me worried but he came
through for us with Strange Relationship, Starfish &
Coffee, When You Were Mine, Take Me With You, Raspberry Beret, How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore, Free, La La Means I Love You, Sometimes It Snows In April, and one of my all time favorites - Anna Stesia, and covers of Santana's
Soul Sacrifice, Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha' Know, The
Ohio Player's Love Roller coaster, Sly & The Family
Stone's Sing A Simple Song. No Purple Rain though. He
said earlier that if you came to get your Purple Rain
on it wasn't that time of party. I can understand
wanting to move forward, but it was strange not to
hear Purple Rain, it's like Santana not doing Black
Magic Woman. Hmmm, Prince may want to re-think that.

Minus the preaching and Biblical references (I'm not a
Christian or religious person, I dwell in the
spiritual), I had a wonderful time and truly enjoyed
the show! I also have to add the Prince is still the
SEXIEST man I have ever seen in my life!!!!!

I didn't go to the after party, because the NPG
security were such jerks and it was so cold that I
didn't even bother to wait in line in the snow. We had
a snow storm here yesterday. At one point the big security guy yelled to the crowd that all we care about is the money and had folks waiting out in the cold! I thought that was just awful! Prince had shared such beautiful energy with us and his security marred it with their negative vibes. Even members with passes had to wait in a long line in the cold, I was not about to do that, maybe 9 years ago when I was 17 and first saw Prince, but not now, I'm 26 and too old for that. (LOL) Besides, I saw him perform at an after party the last time he was here. The lines were so long that everyone was not going to get in anyway, because they promoted the party to the entire city so people who hadn't even gone to the concert lined up outside hours before. The good thing is that I heard he didn't perform at the after party, just made an appearance.

paz y luz,

Bella

Glad you had such a good time! No offense meant, but why you americans always have concerts with seats does not get into my mind!

calldapplwondery83 said:

you wouldn't understand, calldapplwondery83.

a Prince concert without Purple Rain seems like a dream to me... I heard him play it so many times and in so many different ways, yet the song just seems worn out by now.
Good thing Prince decided to move on and play others of his huge catalogue, songs he rarely performed, and new ones.

I am someone who can stand them tv-hits

I had a blast the first night. The setlist was very much like Saginaw, without Adore (unfortunately)

The vibe was great, the preaching was a bit too much, but I think it was accidental.

Lemme explain: P started out Anna Stesia on guitar but i really think he forgot the first line! "Have you ever...have you ever..." he just repeated that for 4 lines. The he started talking about how to cope with losing someone and what you always want to say (Im sorry, I love you) and instantly it hit me that this must be about his mother, and it was very sad. He went into opening up the scriptures and finding the path, all over the music of Anna Stesia, and usually I dont dig this, but like I said, under these circumstances, it made a bit more sense. After that he looked as if he wiped his eyes, wandered a bit off stage and continued with Anna Stesia, and the Love is God chant.


The whole vibe felt like an aftershow! The covers, the instrumentals, and how happy he seemed.

Other side of the pillow was a very welcome surprise! it felt very...cool. jazzy and mellow.

All the TRC songs were brought to life so much more dynamically than on record. Mellow and Muse were perfect! i cant think of anything he could change.

He didnt have much dancing, but he had his old "move" meaning how he just flowed to the music, swung his hips at the right, time, not overdoing it but still looked like classic Prince.

I was so impressed with the musicianship of him and the band. I felt that after numerous Hit n Run shows, he had run the groove out, but this show brought the focus back on the how the music was played and not which songs were played.

The full versions of Raspberry and Take Me with U were very cool...I think everyone was tired of the medleys!!!!

That being said the piano medley could have just included Free as a full version...and everything else was a pretty full version anyways. April, Love U but I dont trusy U, How come u dont call me...


Renato was funky. Very Fink-ish and his electronic sound fit right in with the Xenophobia/TRC vibe.

1+1+1=3 is incredible live! and I do appreciate how Prince informed the ladies he was not forcing any choices on them, because alot of ppl felt that the album was misogynistic (sp?) so Im glad he hears our opinions...


speaking of which! the highlight of my night was the soundcheck! after hearing a funky workout of Willing and Able, the Work, and...damn i forget

Prince asked us where we were sitting and due to the TM screw up, we all yelled and complained and he was actually very cool about it. He came down and sat with us for a good half hour and he brought Billy Sparks to discuss the procedure of tickets. He seemed sincere in his concern that his club didnt get the best seats. He took suggestions, looked u right in the eye when he replied. He didnt look uncomfortable sitting right in with us, although Trevor was there, which is understandable.

The afterparty was just fun because ut gave me a chance t orelive the celebration with those funky ChiTown ppl! the DHJ spun alotof Prince, did a lame MJ vs P alternating thing and spun hip hop and funk.

During the soundcheck someone asked Prince if the party was free and he said yes. Trevor tapped him and whispered that it wasn't (maybe the $20 advertised) but P said no. not for the afterparty. we'll work something out.

that was cool, he said he felt bad we werent front and centre and he said he'd try to do something for us. waiving the fee was cool. But no seat in that theatre was a bad seat. Incredible view and sound!

When the band showed up they were upstair in the VIP balcony and the dj told us to "make some god damn noise!" and Trevor ran over and told him to stop cursing...too funny!

P came down onto the stage for a bit, waved and shook hands and went back up. Kind of like the Queen I guess! He had explained to us in the soundcheck that because they had a show the next day they wouldnt likely perform,but still...!

That's all I can remember now, NPGMC members really do get a great deal! We waited in line about 10 minutes at the Hard Rock. Sure it was cold but the line was long! thats cuz there were alot of members, there were no hassles or delays that some ppl complained about.


okay i need some rest!

and to all the ppl in Chicago that I met, or met again
...thank u for such a great time! see u in June!


Bob

Bring on the preachin -

Cool. Bring on the preachin! too funnny!

Aye Prince might be a minister in the works! Who knows?

He might make a switch like Little Richard!!!

"Shut Up!"

peace!

So, I finally have to molest y'all with my opinion about Prince playing PR in concert or not. I've seen only one concert (1998) and a few more on tape, and not a single version of PR was boring or not moving. What's wrong with giving 85% of the audience what they desperatly are longing for? I guess the 15% die-hards having witnessed 120 concerts are strong enough to relax for 8 minutes...?! oh, and BTW, if I had written a song like this, I'd play it whenever I could....

calldapplwondery83 said:

Went to see Gorillaz last night: no seats.

I don't know what country you're from, but I would imagine certain venues exist for smaller, more mellowed-out concerts - and these venues would (and this is merely speculation) have chairs.

No?

I'm from Germany. And don't get me wrong, it wasn't intended to be a negative statement at all. But all the time sitting or standing between seats...I just can't imagine this.
From a friend who was in the US I heard that Ani DiFranco played with seats there, too, but she didn't when we saw her over here.
BTW, she's great live, catch her if you can and haven't already!