Yo, I'm gonna try to keep this short and sweet....but thank you Prince for kicking my ass for my 24th Birthday.

Okay, okay.....so the concert was the day BEFORE my birthday, but it kicked ass nontheless.

Here's my story:

I got to the venue (Saenger Theater) at about 4:15p for the soundcheck, and there were about 50 or so NPGMC folks in line....right in the middle of the classic Nawlins hood. Had to love it. I was WAY under the weather, so I missed meeting & greeting y'all. We'll catch up.

Anyways, they opened the door at about 5ish and let us in thru the normal stuff you people have read 50 times already. Let me get to the good shit.

PRINCE'S WIFE IS A HOTTIE. Oh yea, bruthas.(n sistas!) I saw her and at first I was like "Hmm...where's the chick been hiding on me?" until I realized "Oh wait, that's Skip's wifey." She was chit-chatting with the concessions folks selling the $2 Sprites, and made her way into the concert hall.

Anyways, we were in line, and we could hear the band runnin thru "Muse 2 The Pharaoh" (or was it Mellow) and that's when I heard Skip's voice. Then, and only then, did I get those "I'm about to see Prince" chills we all get.

So anyways, we go in for the soundcheck....I take my seat in the 3rd row....chillin'. P was at his Mercedes keyboards doodling along with the band, just doin his work....and I noticed something - NPGMC Club Members are REALLY quiet and respectful. Usually, you would think everybody would start screaming and hollering to be in the same room with Prince (I've seen it at the parties), but we were just chillin'. I guess if you're hardcore enough to drop $100 on P for tix, u're really there cuz u dig him.

Anyways, I have to agree with a comment I read earlier about how COOL it is to see Prince without him performing. He was just being Prince, and it was definitely different and warm. I mean, just watching him work, I could tell the dude is just cool as the fuck. And the way he talked to us, again, cool as the fuck. Either he's just a nice pimp, or a great actor, and I saw Grafitti Bridge.....so yea he's a nice pimp - Pacino he ain't. (C'mon.....I'm a fan, lemmee rib him).

Anyways, Prince was like "When's the last time I was here?" and we all yelled the answer (anybody remember my epic report on my Jam of the Year on-stage experience?). Then he was like "Did you have a good time?" Everybody screamed yeah, but I'm ignorant, I said "Hell yeah"....then I remembered :h wait, hell is a dirty word, right?:: followed by the thought ::fuck it::. Prince told us "I promise, we'll be better tonight".

The band is TIGHT....I mean TIGHT like R. Kelly's little friend. Renato is a fool, Rhonda was wonderful, Maceo is a living legend, Candy is just riduculous, and I can't remember the T-Bone player's name, but brutha put it down. Oh yeah, then there was this guy named Prince in the band too that was just off the chain.

Now, I know you've all read the part about the guy challenging P and playing Bambi on his old 1999 era guitar (with the leopard print strap). Well, I was the dude behind him throwing my arms in the air like Rocky. Homeboy did his thing, and Prince's "That was nasty!" faces were classics. Then, as expected, Prince was ready to respond. He was about to get Habibi, and said "Nah, that wouldn't be fair", and just bust the guys ass anyways.

Ok ok ok, let me start wrapping this up. Prince played a few more tracks in the soundcheck, including a POISONOUS Santana Medley, and told us "See you in about an hour". At about 8:05, it was showtime. And believe it or not, THAT's when I FINALLY caught the energy bug. I was chillin before....just like "Ok, cool"....but I guess because I knew it was showtime, performance time, etc etc, and the master of the show was there doing tha damn thang, I lost my damn mind for a second and was like "Yea! P!" and all that other shit we all scream at concerts.

COOL THING THAT HAPPENED: You know Prince runs his band like a James Brown troupe....stopping and starting by calling audibles like a quarterback. Well, about 10 minutes into the show, Prince says "On the one!". The band screeches to a rock solid halt. Prince, at his keyboards, stands up, points into the crowd at this chick coming in, looking for her seat. "Excuse me...what time does your ticket say?!" The whole crowd lost it, laughing. He told her to sit her ass down, then pointed at some other cat coming in with a drink in his hand. "And you, with the shorts on.....cuz I know it's HOT..." Off the chain.

So, longer story made no longer.....Prince came out there, gave us a three hour show, renamed my cousin from "Barrois" to Rosenbloom, knocked the socks off of the crowd, played WHOLE songs instead of medley's of hits, and ended with a POWERFUL version of AnnaStesia that brought me to my "I got the flu" Feet.

Good time....good way to bring in 24. Thanks P for coming to the Big Easy and bussin' a hole in the world for us. Bring yo' lil' ass back down here soon!

--CreoleFreak

CreoleFreak said:

I get those all the time! Only I'm never actually about to meet him... :O



LOLOL!!! I've screamed my head off before - that's SO not like me, I got all caught up in the moment.

Good to see you posting, CreoleFreak! & Happy Birthday - 24, huh? :X YOUTH!

CreoleFreak said:

That's classic. Really shows his sense of humor. Of course you'll have some ignant fool posting on the ORG or calling CJ talkin bout how Prince embarrassed them in front of thousands of people and slandered them for being late when they were actually coming from a bathroom break attending to their bladder problem disability.

CreoleFreak said:

On trombone: Greg Boyer. Also from JB's band.

NuPwrSoul said:

Hey man!

Stop writing all that funny s*** making people laugh first thing in the morning!

nice pimp
tight as r kelly's little friend.

lol. cut it out!

Great Report.

Prince rocked the Sanger in 81 and 02. And let's hope he hits NOLA many more times with great music.

Happy Belated Birthday!

cran

U r so lucky! Happy Birthday!!!

Cool report. The show was the most incredible concert experience I expect to ever have. Aside from the fools shouting "play some old stuff" which I 'spect the man's used to (he shoulda busted some "Y Should Eye Do That" on their asses), it was perfect. Like you said, every member of the band was phenomenal.
And I was the one who got to get up on stage after "Xenophobia." I'm only glad I didn't pee my britches.

X.

Happy Birthday 2 u.....thank u 4 the report!

I always wanted 2 go to Nawlins!

That sounds like one of those B-days U won't B 4getting anytime soon~ skin-tight experience~

That's classic. Really shows his sense of humor. Of course you'll have some ignant fool posting on the ORG or calling CJ talkin bout how Prince embarrassed them in front of thousands of people and slandered them for being late when they were actually coming from a bathroom break attending to their bladder problem disability.[/quote]

****Bwaaahahhahhhaaaaa! Man, it's been a long day, thanks for the laugh.

Doves,
tackaMel!ssa

"The Guy" who whaled "Bambi" on Prince's guitar in New Orleans is Sean G. of Baton Rouge. He is on the site as
SeanBambiBoy. He is currently gauging response to a
"FamJam" of Prince fans for this year!

Aaaaaah Shi***** You go brother CreoleFreak! You really broke it down. Your review was so great, I can't wait to attend my first Prince concert! I'm about to cry man!!!!! Especially the Anna stesia part. Thanks so much for taking the time, Mucho, mucho amor para ti! Glad you enjoyed your Birthday present!
[This message was edited Sat Apr 20 19:43:27 PDT 2002 by purpleleaf7]

yes i know this was special for you....remember how we looked when his wife strolled out in the lobby? prince has good taste!!!!

BNATURAL said:

Sorry!

Apropos birthday: One day we: My brother, some friends, me and a friend called Daniel were celebrating Daniel's birthday. We had a nice present 4 him: a ticket 4 a concert of Prince that evening. The best thing about this is: It was the 7. June 1990.. So we were celebrating 2 birthdays.

And when they were putting a birthday cake upon the piano and the crowd were singin' 'Happy birthday', it was quite magic...and very amusing 2 Daniel!

Have a nice day!
Marten www.pellworm.de

Thanks for the review. Didn't spot you at the concert.
New Orleans rulez!

Thank you for the report! What a way to spend your birthday! Happy Birthday, Boo and here's to many, many more like that one!!!

gr8 report, and gr8 way 2 spend ur b'day!

I can relate. I was born 13 June. Any1 in MPLS on that day 2 yrs ago - P rocks Northrop 2 the GROUND as I turn 29! A b'day I won't ever 4get!

The New Orleans show was fantastic! I just wanted to mention, because I hadn't seen it posted on any of the other track lists, but I think he did some of "Do U Lie?" in the piano medley. He did, right? I was so into it by that point, I might have dreamt it. Can anybody else confirm this? And is it a rarity for this tour so far? I've seen him 7 times and it's the first time I've heard him do it. Great version of "Free" too!
But there was no dancing at all from him. I wonder why. I guess at 43 years old he may be wondering if he should stop the splits and spins before it gets to the point where he has to stop. Anyway, great great show!

Prince didn't do any dancing at last year's Celebration either - said it was becuz one of the band members kicked him in the leg. Prince walked around with a cane and rode a golf cart during the sound check at the concert then. Maybe it did more harm than he let on. 43 (he'll be 44 this year) is not old, and besides age is just a number, right ?
[This message was edited Tue Apr 23 7:36:18 PDT 2002 by PurplePaisley]

CreoleFreak said: