Cleveland Soundcheck + Concert Setlist
One Nite Alone With Prince
Palace Theater, Cleveland
March 10, 2002

SOUNDCHECK (5:45p.m. -- 7 p.m.):

Strange Relationship (instrumental)
La, La, La Means I Love You (instrumental)
Avalanche (instrumental)
Santana Medley
The Everlasting Now
Calhoun Square

Najee replaced Maceo Parker for the first time in Cleveland, and the bulk of the soundcheck featured Prince and Greg Boyer showing him the respective flute and sax parts. This was more of a “working” soundcheck, and Prince’s talking was limited to joking around and answering a few questions between songs. He was very playful and joked around quite a bit with the members of the NPGMC, which probably numbered in the 200 range (with guests). One interesting comment he made was that his famous Hohner guitar from the early 80’s was purchased in a gas station on the road for $30 just because “I needed a guitar for rehearsal that day.” He also remarked that at first he thought it was a toy!

“Calhoun Square” was, without a doubt, the highlight of the soundcheck!


CONCERT (8:25 p.m. to 11 p.m.):
The Rainbow Children
Muse 2 The Pharaoh
Xenophobia
A Case of You
Mellow
1+1+1 = 3/Rollercoaster of Love
The Other Side of the Pillow
Strange Relationship
Sing A Simple Song
La, La, La Means I Love You
Didn't You Know
When You Were Mine
Avalanche
Family Name
Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
Another Star
Santana Medley
-----
ENCORE:
One Nite Alone
Adore
The Beautiful Ones
Nothing Compares 2 U
Purple Rain
Sometimes It Snows In April
I Love U, But I Don't Trust U Anymore
How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
Anna Stesia

The main concert was pretty typical for the tour. The Cleveland audience (which was sold out) seemed to really enjoy the show, even though it was obvious that most were not familiar with the material.

The piano medley was extended and quite lengthy, with Prince singing most tracks in their entirety (with the exception of “One Nite Alone,” which he sang just the first verse only). Interestingly, he ended up performing “Purple Rain” even though he has said earlier in the show that if people were expecting to hear it…”It ain’t that kind of party!”

Great report. I noticed that the crowd took so time to warm up, but the energy snowballed as the evening went on.

When he first came out the cheers were subdued. In fact, the majority of the four rows in front of me remained seated (!).

However, as Prince mentioned, the "Rollercoaster of Love" injection into 1+1+1=3 (a stunner live) "hooked us in."

- Matt

Matt - I agree with you that the Cleveland crowd took a while to warm up...but once they did they were really into it. I think part of the problem is that the people in the front few rows set the tone of the concert. Most of them were sitting down at the beginning because they didn't know the songs. Sounds like the ticket situation will change soon. Take care!