This picks up where the soundcheck left off and after Prince came thru the lines...

One Nite Alone With Prince--and we didnt have 2 fake orgasm!

So me and my friend took our seats...and my mom and sis took theirs. My friend and I were left center, row 4. Onstage there was a big loopy water thing, where the bubbles go up and there's light in it (There HAS 2 b a name for this thing). Rhonda was sitting on Blackwell's drum platform.

Only complaints I have about the musicians: Blackwell CAN beat the hell out of his drums, but that shouldnt mean he should do it all the time. A couple times I thought he needed to back off a bit, u couldnt even hear Prince's guitar. Rhonda's bass was also loud as hell. Interestingly, she played an upright bass, not a bass guitar, for most of the show. Rhonda sang "Didnt Cha Know" by Erykah Badu (4 that person who wondered what song he was singing). I like that song, but u couldnt hear Rhonda, number one, because she has a soft voice, number two, because the people who knew the song were singing over her.(me)
Blackwell was a maniac! I read somewhere that someone called him an "octopus on crack" when he plays. That's pretty accurate. At one point he took the full suit that he had been wearing off while he was playing like"Let me get in2 somethin more comfortable!!!"

NOTE: I forgot to say this on the other thread: At the
soundcheck, one of the questions asked was "You gonna take care of those scalpers out there?" Prince said "Ohh, we gonna take care of them. We're working on them." Then he started to, inevitably, preach. "They need the Knowledge Book..yall know what I'm talkin about? They lack some home training....lack some training at home early on. And that's something pretty hard to fix up."

Back to the Show-The setlist went as someone else posted it: Rainbow Children, Muse...etc.

The first half of the show was frenzied stuff, he played lot of guitar--and it was very inspired. A little loud as I said b4. I mean, if the volume were HALF as loud, we all still would have been able to hear. Anywho....

Some memorable Prince comments : "We gonna peel the plaster off the walls!" or something and "One of my favorite things to do.....One Of My Favorite Things To Do...ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO---is go like this!" (((claps his hands)

My favorite thing he said "SOULCLAP!" Everyone was right on it...Small venue--great audience.

So yeah, that was the first half, basically. (..and he really likes to say "Bridge!", dont he?)

Second half I liked the most, this was the ballad half. After the first half he left the stage for 10 minutes. We applauded all those minutes and eventually chanted "WE WANT PRINCE! WE WANT PRINCE!". It was a great moment cuz all the lights were out, and noone was going 2 stop clapping, it was obvious. We were all standing 2. Finally he came back, played the first few notes of Do Me Baby on his PIANO (finally!)..but then he said" yall aint ready 4 that". We all moaned. The he went back to the piano and playd HCUDCMA, which made me forget that he never actually DID go back to playing Do Me, Baby.

The piano segued from one slow jam 2 another. Its amazing 2 c just how many great ballads he's had over the years. There were some he didn't finish, but I think he went far enough to do them all justice. The only thing that disappointed me was he didnt go far enough so that we could do the "WOO-HOO--HOO! part in Purple Rain (another key moment) Adore was a hit as usual-with almost every chick in the house singing it.My mother felt the last half showcased his talent more.

The songs I remember most were: I Love U, But I Dont Trust You Anymore-if anyone doubted Prince's phrasing or his incredible range--they arent alive, Raspberry Beret-band sounded great on this one., Girls & Boys- I forgot for a moment that this is basically a diehard favorite, and everyone got loose. StrangeRelationship- When it was the guys' turn 2 sing "do-do-do....do-do-do-dooo-do", I was lmao.

Another GREAT Moment--going into Rollercoaster Of Love, when that guitar riff came in, I knew the show was going 2 kick my ass.
We also sang La La La Means Love You-audience sounded cute on that one.

Prince screeched into the mic during one slow song. I wanted him 2 SCREAMM!

Basically the whole place was on their feet clapping til their hands were sore for more than half the show. I liked it when Prince told them 2 turn the lights on cuz then I could see all the folks in the balcony moving and having fun. They were doing the same as us-it was a nice sight.

I was surprised that he did a lot of Parade. Maybe he's starting to realize how great it really was.He even did the piano part from Under The Cherry Moon.

Last song-Anna Stesia.

Anyway, my dominant impression was that Prince's slogan is true: You just dance and you really don't care about what anyone thinks or whatever. It's different at other shows. I couldnt believe some of the people who sat down at this show!!!

My best friend, who I took, is a major tight-ass. But I looked over a couple times and she was getting DOWN! Couldnt believe it. After the show, she said 2 me, "Prince is hot!" I was like "What? Looks-wise? Or his playing?" And she said "He's just hot!" Keep in mind, she doesnt own one album of his.



Case Closed.
[This message was edited Fri Mar 8 8:56:49 PST 2002 by Nep2nes]
[This message was edited Fri Mar 8 9:01:35 PST 2002 by Nep2nes]

I 4got 2 say!!!! Prince told the ushers to put the popcorn down (?) and go onstage!! And they did!! It was CUTE!
[This message was edited Fri Mar 8 9:02:38 PST 2002 by Nep2nes]

Nep that sounds great! Can't wait to see it for myself!

Great report Nep!

Nep2nes said:

Ha HA!!..lol...Nicely put...

BTW...

"Octopus on crack"=copyright Wellbeyond, 2001.

I'll be expecting a check from you soon, Nep...

Cool review. How much of Purple Rain did he do ??? Did the band back him up or was it just his keyboards ??? Did he do The Everlasting Now ??? It's only been done in Chicago 3/3 so far.Thanks for the notes on the show, sounds like you had a blast !!!

The Buffalo Show.....What can i say, except Prince gave the concert of his life. I won tickets off the radio the first day they had the contest. My seats where in the balcone,Mid - upper, those where still goo seats, there are no bad seats in the house. You had to name three songs by Prince. They were all easy. "If I Was Your Girlfirend", "Soft and Wet" and "Let's go Crazy",and that what he and we did. His drummer was off the hook, I could not see to much of his hands but you could tell he was beating the hell out of those drums, I did see him come out of his suit in the middle of playing and not lose a beat. Blackwell has a riating of the Best Drummer I have seen.
Now on to the bass player. Women, Rhonda, cna't remember the last name, darn good. Sax player, Maceo. Need I say more.
Prince gave us a two hour show of all (not all), most of his jams and some old schol one that he did not write.

I went to the after party. Paid what I thought was a high cover, however it was worth it. Cuz he gave another two hour show. Now this one i was right up fornt. It was like being at one of this jam sessions. This time Larry Graham, yes Larry Graham, was his opening bass player. The two of them at times seem to be off in there one world playing. Larry called Prince his "Little Brother". The played one of Larry's old song (sorry folks can't remember the name).

For those folks that paid for front row seat at his concert and then paid for the after party. (total 130.00 each). that was money well spent.

My last word for those of you that have not yetseen his show and for those that are think about it cuz of the high ticket price. GET UP OFF THOSE DOLLARS AND SEE IT. Will worth it.

Oh one more thing. About this tanget he goes off on. It not really a tangent. He's talking about slavery and that Abreham Licion, was not wht the history books protray him. The books have us believing that he was all about freeing the slaves. He was not he was about keeping us apart. There's a qout that will be played on a screen doring this song. Read it carfuly and you will understand. Licion blames the war (Civil War) on slavery. Now there's your answer it What is he talking about.

great report Nep1 thanx for sendin' it in
PLEASE! come to Boston Prince!! PLEASE

dendmmr said:

He did Purple Rain...and that was the only one off Purple Rain that he did. In the mellower last half of the show, it was mostly Prince on piano, Blackwell drumming here and there. Prince looked like he didn't want 2 leave. He didn't do The Everlasting Now, (I dont THINK) Ask someone else..but I dont remember it.He also didnt do Paisley Park during the soundcheck, which he did at other cities), but I dont mind cuz I dont like that song much.

Nice review, Nep!

Nep2nes said:

Actually he did Take Me with U too!

Nep2nes, can you do me a favor? Can you ask your mom to write a review and post it to the org too?

Thanks.

coooo...

I'm with you on that one Shorty. Please come to Boston.

I wonder if his decision to play an aftershow was in any way influenced by that big stink about him not showing up the night before at the afterparty?

So,you went with a total of four people including yourself.Did you guys sit two and two in different places or were you able to get four seats together ?? Please tell me !! Thank-You Much

If I were rich and single, I would go to every show. The show seems to be evolving since Saginaw. I saw the first Chicago show and would have enjoyed the longer piano medley that Prince is playing now. I think I am going to sneak out the back door and check out a few more shows.
[This message was edited Fri Mar 8 16:53:05 PST 2002 by jbchavez]

Saffireseven said:

If ur talking 2 me--my friend and I attended the soundcheck 2gether with her as my guest. My mom and sister saw the show in a different area, my friend and I saw it in front. Then my sister moved 2 the vacant (!!) seat next 2 me, halfway thru.

2the9s said:

Erm..my mother will think Im psychotic. "I dont know what any of the songs are called!".....but,Ill try.

I LOVE: Calhoun Square. It is a fantastic song, beyond comprehension. If I ever hear it live, I live die a happy man!

gubbins4ever said:

I believe you're right...

:::waiting patiently for P to come to the Bay::: :X

oh yea, nice review Nep...

I had quite a few conversations with some of the crew. The word from Dizzy D (P's DJ) was that after"shows" usually happen when the band does not have back to back shows...

I also wanted to add that I had lots of interactions with band members and crew...thay were all very fan-friendly!!!