With Prince coming back to Montreal less than a year after his Jazz festival show and with NPGMC tickets I have to say i was ready for something great. I've seen prince four times before but never closer than like the 30th row! So I arrived at the Molson Centre at midday to find only three others there, Joel, Francois and Emily (the original Rainbow child) they had already started a list so everything was off to a great start. However we were then told by the Centre's security that they wouldn't let us in the building without our confirmation letters, no mention of which exitsts on the NPGMC site. he didn't care. So 3 of us went screaming all over the city to find computers. When mine decided to crash i more than made up for Prince's lack of cuss words, man I could teach him a few.We all got back our position in line, it was cool to hang out with some true fans, people who share our dark secret, we love Prince. We were told there would be 59 members in all in attendance.
We were let in around 4:45 and taken into a room beneath the stadium where we could hear the band in the background (they did The Work 3 or 4 times and also When You Were Mine, strange as they didn't play the work that night). After about half an hour we were taken in, of course the list went out the window, thansk pushy Albany guys, real nice. I told an organiser that we had kept a list and he just said "who cares theres only 60 of you you'll be in the front two rows, what does it matter" Well sorry "dude" but it matters when you've been waiting almost 6 hours and some people who arrived 15 seconds ago got the best seats in the house! To those guys, and you know who you are (Mike and Gabe) (never trust a Gabe especially when hes "not really that much of a fan") I hope theres a big black cloud of Karma raining on you all week long.
Anyway, enough bitching, heres the stuff you wanna know about. Prince sat behind us in the stands as Rhonda performed a song we didn't know,Prince would occassionally ask her to "give it more bottom" etc. After the song he asked us who wrote that, no one knew. He replied "Joni Mitchell. You are the Weakest link. Goodbye". He wandered up to the stage, dressed in a tan suit, wide collared white shirt and a white fuzzy beanie (couldn't have been Angora or Wool though, not if you've read the Rave liner notes, but sure looked like it). Joel's cousin Jeff complimented him on the Ottawa aftershow, said it had been his birthday. Man does this guy not read! Prince of course went into his "we only have one real birthday" routine. Then teased the guy about how he probably celebrated, had a big cake blew out all the candles. It was pretty funny but Jeff took it all the wrong way and sulked the rest of the night! Joel thanked him for bringing Rhonda home. at which point Prince decided he must be her ex. P is funny.
Finally they started playing. First up a fantastic jazz guitar reworking of "Something in The Water". All the hassles were gone and it was all worth while already (still got great seats, front row 3 or 4 from the center). After this they played "Question of U" which segued into "The One". Prince stopped the band and they worked the segue a few times with some notes for John Blackwell, I heard Primce ask him" Why you coming in so early. Theres four more bars of this. Do you have your tape, have you listened to it". he also mentioned the tape when talking to Maceo. They worked for a while on a brass part for "the one" then started all over again this time going from "the One" into Alicia Keys "Fallin'". Prince later told us this song was a big surprise for tonight that we shouldn't tell anyone. Who we gonna tell? They never played it in the show! (there was much speculation later that Alicia was supposed to come but didn't).
The next song was "Elephant and Flowers", a pretty faithful version of the original. At the soundcheck you really see just how esy this stuff is for P. He can looked bored just strolling around the stage while tearing the place up! P then moved to the keys for an instrumental version of "I'll Take you there", a followed by instrumental "With You" that was a blast from the past! There were then two more instrumentals, recognised parts of "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore" and "The Mellow" P also commented on all the guys in the front, particularily one, generously proportioned guy "How Am I gonna sing Do Me Baby to you". Also promised he'd be on stage tonight.
He then thanked us for coming and off he went.
During the break checked out the merchandise, a really good range of stuff, including Xenophobia long sleeve T's.
It felt great being in the front as the place filled up. It seats 3000 but probably had round 2500 in it by showtime, 45 minutes late, of course!
While we were waiting they were playing what I assume was the Xenophobia album. For those wondering what its like, its very much like a continuation of Madhouse, neo-jazz with a touch of funk. But certainly doesn't go off like the live version.
The show. I gotta saw I like the Rainbow Children but live I love it! Its been a while since I think P's done an album where the tracks are truely great starting points for the live versions, every song he did from RC was off the charts!
Xenophobia was rocking, and P's guitar work just gets better and better, he played a lot tonight, just the way I like it!
He again did the leader or follower bit, the girl Jennifer-Anne apparently doesn't read the reviews here, we're all going "follower, follower" she didn't hear us and says leadre. Duh. She was kicking herself all night as somebody else got to go up for P to play for them.
1+1+1=3, awesome, Emily and Francois up to dance, Emily can now die happy! Guitar solo from the Cd replaced by Maceo.
P was wearing a red suit with high necekd black shirt, while the whole band wore the reverse, black suits red shirts.
Larry was there foir Sing a Simple song, and the funk just kept on coming!
Avalanche was awesome, just breathtaking, the sheer quality of his voice was amazing, as was Maceo's solo in the audience and Renato is so good, brings a new sound to the band, classical jazz feel. P had many applause breaks during this song for the message. I guess with Lincoln not being one of Canada's historical icon we were open to some questioning of his stance.
Did I mention Cool As The Other Side of the Pillow". can a song be anymore perfectly performed ... stunning, jawdroppingly fantastic on a song I didn't really like previously.
After two hours of non-stop dancing the intermission was desperately needed.
After 10 minutes P returned to the piano, told us many times how much he'd loved playing in canada and how he could feel the love here tonight,
The Medley differed from Toronto, he added Do me baby and a full Nothing compares 2 U. After Purple rain Prince seemed genuinely moved be y the response and went into his preaching, about how if everyone here were the world and we all knew God by the same name but never spoke it but taught it to our children there would be no more confusion and all the "ism's" would come to an end "that'll hit you on the way home". This was lengthy but very well received.
P left the stage again hugging Larry and Tina in the wings, then returned in a Montreal canadiens Hockey Jersey (with Prince 1 on the back) Brought Larry back and off they went on a 15 minute version of Days Of Wild. heaven was right there in the front row!
Concert enede after three hours! I gotta say I've never seen someone work a room like that. The man had everyone satnding and dancing most of the night, and you know for most of them it was to songs they didn't even know. thats how good he is. Being so close was an incredible experience, join the NPGMC. its so worth it just for that. To see him so close, to feel his joy performing, to see his every expression and watch those fingers blur on the guitar. Amazing. NPGMC $100, Tickets $150, merchandise $140, the experience Priceless!
If you ever start to waiver in your respect for his artistry and your love of a phenomenal body of work, just see him live, it all makes sense again, you understand why you're obsessed by the little dude and happy to be so.
As for an aftershow they announced to members only Chez Le Blanc on St Claire. through a lot of detective work we found out it was actually Le Blank on St laurent. A small restaurant. No real stage, so no hope of show. In the reservation book at the front desk it said "the Atrtiste. Double VIP". By 1:30 he hadn't showed and rumour was another club was holding the official afterparty. So we headed there. P arrived at 2:15, but left by 2:20. Securit was hopeless and he was mobbed. Also didn't help that the band there was awful, luckily he left just before they started possibly the worst cover of "Kiss" I've ever heard, and I include Karaoke versions!
So the post show was frustrating but it was fun o hang out with the other "fams". Besides if you started getting pissed you'd just think back on the show and feel the grin coming!
That it, heres the set list for anyone still reading this!
Soundcheck
Something in the water
Question of U
The One
Fallin'
The One
Elephants and Flowers
I'll Take you there
With U
2 Instrumentals.
Concert:

Rainbow Children
Muse 2 the Pharoah
Xenophobia
Guitar Solo
A Case of U
Mellow
1+1+1=3
Love Rollercoaster
Other Side of the Pillow
Strange Relationship
Pass the Peas
Sing A simple song
Lala la la la Means I love u
Didn't cha know (duet with Rhonda)
When U were Mine
Avalanche
Family name
Take Me With U
Raspberry beret
Everlasting Now

Encore
Adore
I wanna be Your Lover
Do Me baby
Diamonds and Pearls
The Beautiful Ones
Nothing Compares 2 U
Clap for Prince and the Band
Days Of Wild.


Phew, thats it, sorry for the typo's too tired to proof read it.
Peace, out.

Thank you! Very kind. Very kind indeed! Much appreciated your words are.

Nice review...thanks for taking the time to write it!

Thanks for the review This is the reason for the ORG existing !!!

.
[This message was edited Thu Jun 20 16:30:21 PDT 2002 by FunkyStrange]

Great review. Thank you very much!

Slight amendment to the set list, he played Purple Rain after the Clap Your Hand For Prince and the Band jam.

THANX 4 UR REVIEW!

kiwirefugee said:

Simon,

I enjoyed your review, except I have a problem with this part of it:

"We were let in around 4:45 and taken into a room beneath the stadium where we could hear the band in the background (they did The Work 3 or 4 times and also When You Were Mine, strange as they didn't play the work that night). After about half an hour we were taken in, of course the list went out the window, thansk pushy Albany guys, real nice. I told an organiser that we had kept a list and he just said "who cares theres only 60 of you you'll be in the front two rows, what does it matter" Well sorry "dude" but it matters when you've been waiting almost 6 hours and some people who arrived 15 seconds ago got the best seats in the house! To those guys, and you know who you are (Mike and Gabe) (never trust a Gabe especially when hes "not really that much of a fan") I hope theres a big black cloud of Karma raining on you all week long."


Do you remember Gabe & I getting there between 1:30 & 2:00? To me, that doesn't sound like 15 seconds before 4:45...does it to you?. Matter of fact, I was number 9 on the list & Gabe was 10. When we went into the waiting room, in my opinion, that is the place that the list went out the window. When we were finally told to exit the waiting room, anyone who was seated closest to the door got out first. I wasn't seated closest to the door & about 12 - 15 people went out before me...I too, had just lost my position on "the list". Once we left the room, people were walking pretty fast & I got passed by a few others. I heard you and Joel mention to the guy in charge about there being a list & I was hoping they would agree. In fact, I even added a "Yeah!" in agreement to implementing the list as it would be the fairest thing to do. I was kind of upset myself that the guy in charge said that it didn't matter. So, anyways, I entered into the soundcheck further down "the list" then my original number 9 ranking. People just starting picking seats. Emily & the 2 Italian girls that were there picked seats slightly off to left of the center of the stage. There were over 15 people in front of me entering the arena that picked seats in the front row. Some people must prefer to sit slightly off to the right or left of the center of the stage, possibly due to the fact that his lyric book slightly obscures a fan's field of vision if you sit directly in front of it as I was. Whatever the reasons of those people who got in before me choosing the seats that they chose doesn't really matter...to each his own. When I was able to pick from the still available seats, I chose the one I wanted. It was my first Prince concert, so maybe I had a big white (or purple) cloud of karma raining on me instead of the big black cloud of karma you are wishing on my friend & I.

If you, Joel or Francois, had asked me if you could have my seat, I would have given it to you, as you were on the list before me..."ask & you shall receive". I wouldn't have to give up my seat, but I would have given it up as that would have been the most moral thing to do. There was an empty seat right next to me all night long, you could've taken that one if you wanted it...it was there for the taking. You seemed to enjoy your "bad" seats anyway. You said & I quote:

"still got great seats, front row 3 or 4 from the center"

Wow...and you are compaining about that?

True, my friend wasn't a hardcore Prince fan, but he was my guest, paid his money for the ticket, and, along with myself, is a musician. Both of us being musicians with about 20 years of playing experience each, I knew that he would truly appreciate this concert. He loved the concert!!! As for trusting Gabe, he went & bought Emily something from the concession stand with his own money because she mentioned that she was thirsty. Yup, I guess "you should never trust Gabe" - he might try to do something nice for someone else w/o being asked. He did this before the concert started...before Prince mentioned "loving your brother". You're review was impressively detailed, yet with your good memory you didn't mention this in your review. Perhaps you didn't hear it or just don't agree with that philosophy. Of course, Gabe didn't need to hear this philosophy from Prince...he was already practicing it.

It's kind of sad about your whole attitude towards us because Gabe & I were commenting on how friendly the Canadian people were to us. Emily was just an awesome person, and Joel and Francois seemed very nice to us also. You seemed friendly on the outside, but in some small way I got the feeling that you didn't really like us from the beginning, hence the slanderous remarks that you posted about us.

Well, I still feel Montreal has is full of nice, friendly people. I won't let you taint my perception of Canadians.

Jeez, Mike, lighten up a little and I will too. Sorry if I singled you guys out, I certainly didn't mean to imply that you were the "15 second" people. I wrote my review whilst very tired and very quickly and I can see that it may read that way, for that I apologise. If you feel in anyway slandered I apologise again! I guess I picked you guys cause I knew your names and didn't want to cowardly not mention any. I'm glad you loved the concert, I told you before that you would ... oh and I'd love to know why you thought I din't like you guys from the start ... cause you'd be wrong, so I guess we're both not really giving each other a fair go! I think thats great that Gabe went and bought Emily a drink, hes to be commended for it! "Never trust a guy named Gabe" was merely a joke, it wasn't meant as any kind of slur,
I guess i din't mention P saying "love your brother", man I can't remember everything he said, but I do remember at the time looking down the row at some people thinking, yeah, like the way you just shoved past us, my estimate of being only 3 or 4 seats from the centre, is also kind of generous.
Would you have asked other people to move? If so your a braver man than I, but if you truely would have moved then I think thats an incredible gesture and I thank you for the sentiment. Can we still be friends?

Simon - I'm glad you responded & cleared things up. I guess it was a case of us both jumping to conclusions & not knowing the whole story.

No, I would not have asked anyone to move if I was in your position, but I just wished that there was someway I could have known that you weren't completely satisified with your seats because I definetly would have switched with you. As I said before, you (or any of the 8 people who arrived before me) should have had your choice of seats before me. I didn't realize that you entered the arena after me, I just thought that you guys choose the seats slightly off the center of the stage because that was where you preferred to sit. Everything (and everyone) was going so fast when we entered the arena, that I couldn't keep track where all 8 people who arrived before me were at. I just knew that alot of fast walking people farther down the list than I had already passed me on the way into the arena, so I was just focused on grabbing the first available seat I could get in the front row closest to the center & ended up getting the one I did.

There are no bad feelings on my end since you have replied to my previous post. I'm the kind of person that wants to get along with anyone & everyone, so let's completely forget about this whole thing, shall we?

I feel a great big Canadian hug coming on!
I'm feelin' the love!

Consider it forgotten Funky777, next time your in Montreal we'll go have a beer!