Published 7:00 AM PST Saturday, Sep. 04, 2004

Concert review: Prince reigns spectacular in Sacramento
By Chris Macias -- Bee Pop Music Critic


Prince's set-list is a grab-bag of greatest-hits that includes "Purple Rain," "Controversy," "The Beautiful Ones," "Little Red Corvette" and "I Would Die 4 U."
NPG Music/Afshin Shahidi


Prince isn't so good at keeping promises. He's previously declared his retirement from recording and touring, only to go back on his word.
But on Friday night at Arco Arena, the Purple One uttered an undeniable truth: "Get ready to hear the tightest show you ever heard," Prince announced.

That said, Prince and his New Power Generation launched into the second song of its set, "Let's Go Crazy." The near-capacity crowd at Arco Arena collectively flipped out and pretty much stayed that way for the next two-and-a-half hours.

So much for any doubts that Prince had fallen off pop music's throne. Prince, 46, was a combined soul man, guitar god and dancing machine in a dynamite, 5'2" package.

For the better part of the 1990s, it did seem like Prince was only out to please himself. He recorded indulgent albums like the four-disc "Crystal Ball," but few people outside his hardcore fan base bothered.

His current "Musicology" tour is geared toward pleasing everyone. The set-list is a grab-bag of greatest-hits that includes "Purple Rain," "Controversy," "The Beautiful Ones," "Cream," "Little Red Corvette" and "I Would Die 4 U."

It's a pop music blowout that qualifies as a bona fide event, where fans come decked in purple and sport tattoos bearing Prince's symbol (that male/female icon that passed for his name in the 1990s).

Arco Arena is an apt kingdom for Prince. The venue's home teams - the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Monarchs - wear purple on their uniforms, and Prince spent the last half of the concert wearing a Kings jersey under a snazzy jacket. Even the sunset cooperated with the color scheme, falling in a hazy shade of purple as showtime approached.

Once on stage, Prince was simply spectacular. He spun on the sparkly heels of his boots and coaxed scorching notes from his guitar on "Shhh" and "Purple Rain."

During "Let's Go Crazy," as purple and white confetti rained down, the concert reached the kind of fever pitch that most bands would be lucky to achieve in the second encore. By the time Prince and company were cranking through "I Feel For You," "Controversy" and "A Love Bizarre" a few songs later, the place was near pandemonium with dancing and screaming.

The stage set-up provided a clear view of the action. The concert was in the round and on a cross-shaped stage, which allowed Prince to perform to many vantage points around the arena.

Prince also had a crackerjack eight-piece band backing him up. His New Power Generation was a heavy-hitting groove machine, with an especially popping horn section that included saxophonists Maceo Parker (of James Brown fame) and Candy Dulfer.

The band also thumped with a sturdy, low-end sound. Prince has sometimes had a love-hate affair with bass guitar, stripping it from the recorded version of "When Doves Cry" altogether. But his latest bassist, Rhonda Smith, played with a muscular slap-funk style on many tunes. At one point, Prince strapped on a bass and the two jammed together.

And this was actually a tamed-down Prince show. Since becoming a Jehovah's Witness a couple years back, Prince has sworn off some of his more salacious songs and bump-and-grind dance moves in concert. No matter -- Prince's stellar musicianship and unfettered energy were electrifying on their own.

The concert was also highlighted with some low-key touches. In the middle of the show, Prince straddled a stool and played some songs with just a purple acoustic guitar for accompaniment. Even without the band behind him, such tunes as "Little Red Corvette," "Raspberry Beret" and "Alphabet St." rang sweet and sing-songy.

Prince performed many of songs in snippets. Playing tunes in medley form is a tradition of Prince's concerts, but it was still frustrating to hear the drama of "When Doves Cry" in abbreviated form.

The show's pacing also hit a few awkward moments. Prince sometimes left the stage to change his outfit, leaving his band to fill the gaps with snoozy jazz interludes. A solo version of"Georgia on my Mind" sung by saxophonist Parker also ended up as an unintentional intermission. Though the tune was intended as a tribute to the late Ray Charles, many streamed out to Arco's concourse for mid-show snacks and restroom breaks.

Prince could have charged a king's ransom for an otherwise amazing show, though tickets were priced at a reasonable $47.75 - $75. Compare that to another one-name icon who toured earlier this year. Top seats at Madonna's concerts were priced at a regal $350.

Call Prince's show the bargain of the season, and the concert of the year thus far.