http://theedge.bostonhera...leid=40333


Wide-ranging show marks first night of purple reign

By Sarah Rodman
Wednesday, August 18, 2004

If you didn't work up a sweat at the Prince show last night at the FleetCenter, you were doing something desperately wrong.



You didn't even really have to move that much, such was the heat wave wafting off the stage from the royal maestro of funk and his vacuum-seal tight band.



Prince began his three-night purple reign at the arena in grand style with a two-hour-and-20-minute set that illuminated all of the colors in his very unique rock 'n' roll rainbow.



The sold-out crowd - many wearing purple as the ticket instructed - was primed by a lengthy wait - an hour and 15 minutes past what the ticket instructed - but roared to life as the tribute video from his recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction was played as a prelude to his arrival.



Following the glowing words of inductor/disciple Alicia Keys, Prince arose in a shroud of dry ice and lit into the spare and funky title track of his new album ``Musicology.'' (A copy of which was handed to each ticket holder.)



Resplendent in the first of several crimson-centric suits Prince flitted about his cross-shaped, center arena stage with all the grace and verve that fans who've fallen out of touch with his music surely remember. The members of his backing band did the same, clearly chosen not only for their virtuosic chops - turning on a dime at the nod of Prince's head or the flick of his wrist - but their ability as entertainers as well.



That flexibility is a must in a show where their leader puts them through their paces on more than 24 full songs and countless snippets of other material and covering just about every style of music.



You want extended, greasy, down home fonk jams? Check out oldies like ``D.M.S.R'' or ``Let's Work.'' Righteous yet gleeful pop more your speed? Then step right up to the glittering ``Take Me With U'' or ``Raspberry Beret.'' In the mood for some scorching guitar god arena rock theatrics? Then the wee genius' take on ``Whole Lotta Love'' had to be heard to be believed; it was pure molten lava that even Jimmy Page would've appreciated.How about a Stones cover? Yep, that's a version of ``Satisfaction'' during the superb acoustic set.



For the hits-only crowd there were plenty of tasty bits. Unfortunately they were often, maddeningly, just that, bits, with songs like ``When Doves Cry'' and ``I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'' often receiving a simple verse-chorus take me to the bridge rush job that sometimes felt like a tease. For diehards, however, there were some deep cuts - like the melancholy ``Sometimes it Snows in April'' - to take them to geek nirvana.



The man himself was genial, funny and, as always, lovably arrogant, stopping ``Cream'' midsong after the lyric, ``You're so cool, everything you do is success.'' He told the audience, ``I love that line, you know why? Because I wrote it while I was looking in the mirror.'' Last night at least that line rang true.



If you're a Prince fan, U need 2 see it.

I attended Prince's One night stop in Memphis, Tennessee. You sound like I did, it was awesome, hard to explain. I only hope and PRAY that he comes back this way.
LONG LIVE THE PRINCE !!!!! [/b]

EROTICCITYNPG said:

An hour and 15 minutes late??? I think I would have been upset.

Well, at least until the show started anyway.

EROTICCITYNPG said:

"geek nirvana" Talkin' 'bout the org???