XCel Energy Center in St. Paul is a much better sounding venue than Target Center.

But, with Target Center, you have the whole downtown Minneapolis, walk to First Avenue thing going on.

I was in 3rd row..dead center. The best seats I've ever had as far as visuals...but the sound was horrible. We often couldn't tell what song it was until we managed to catch a familiar word or two, hearing his asides was hit and miss. We thought it was just because we were in the direct line of the sound system up front, but obviously this is an overall problem of the Target Center based on the many complaints I've read here and in other places. I still was very happy with the show, probably because I could see every nuance on stage. BTW, Prince did notice the poor sound, because during the audience members rendition of "Play that Funky Music" (NO, that was NOT John Goodman)he motioned several times to the sound guys to turn up his mike, and after several attempts, he rolled his eyes and went toward the back of the stage.

It seemed that he kept asking for the houselights to be turned up or down, but they didn't hear him.

I couldn't help but chuckle when these two people at the Aftershow kept taking photos before the gig started and one of P's bodyguards got loud with them.

Well that wasn't the funny part, the funny part was that they looked at each other and said, "I didn't know we couldn't take photos!"

Maybe it was their first show?

MilkSode said:

Call me crazy, but that Cars cover fucked with my head as much as him OPENING with Purple Rain. I wouldn't trade that one out for anything. Seriously, one of the weirdest shows I've ever been to. I still can't wrap my head around it.

from the sounds of the whole day i wouldn't b able 2 wrap my head around it. glad i didn't role there 2 hear a bunch of tunes i've heard many times.

Farfunknugin said:

Coasting???? The band he has now is the weakest??? If we're wearing blinders you must be wearing ear plugs!

airbak said:

Na he is right, he is costing, he did the same old canned ham crap he has done since musicology, starting off a real good song we all want to hear and then stopping and saying " you aint ready for that "

Then doing it again and saying " no time for that, too many hits yall"

Thats schtick is gettin real old!

and so are the one handed way over done guitar solos, The band was weak compared to previous bands I have seen him with and the crowd was also kinda weak. He looked very tired and not what I would call 110% into it.

The hairs on the back of my neck never stood up once... because i had seen it all before... I agree he is coasting

Sheila E did the same ole stick with knocking over the microphione in a flurry of drumming... its just a great act that needs some refreshing.. No offense meant here either.

I think a lot of this could be blamed on the absolutely horrid acoustics of the Target center. If you know you dont sound good when your playing, it takes the fun out of it. So, before I would cast a final judgement on the band as a whole, Id like to see them again, but in the target center, it was weak and felt like a very canned ham type of show. IMHO

chillichocaholic said:

Aaaaaammmmmeeeeennnnn!

jagpurplerain said:

How's that colon taste? Ooops, here's a napkin, you've got a little brown on your right cheek. And take a breath mint, fer fuck's sake.

endorphin74 said:

Yeah, I'm one of those who never tires of hearing Purple Rain live, but having it open the show was weird for me.

Im sorry u felt that way but man to me it was an AMAZING per4mance. Walkin out on Sheila and the rest? Oh hell nah

rozilla said:

I noticed that he asked them to turn up the houselights during one of his songs, too, and they didn't respond. Good grief..... Tar-Jay Center SUX.

purpleheadedlovewarrior said:

the arrangements of flowing in2 one song in2 another seemed rushed 2 me as well. it's like a bombardment so that no one gets bored or something. he needs 2 incorporate more space in between songs.

"and so are the one handed way over done guitar solos"

WTF did you go to the show for?

purpleheadedlovewarrior said:

PapaSmurf said:

-----
Dude P did 3 shows in one day. Do expect that nothing would go wrong. Just because some us don't expect P to be perfect and beyond making a mistake does not make anyone a butt kisser.

I really think some of you need to get off the Purple boat and go turn on the radio. The sound of the dreadful music might make you apprecitate P more.

minneapolisgenius said:

HARDCORE? I wouldn't call it that. I would call it more like, the DUMBEST thing I have ever read someone doing!

We all sat in Sec 201 & 203, and heard the show just fine. Maybe because we were warned in advance how shitty the aciustics were/are in the Target Center.

I would watch him 10 times in there as opposed to standing outside whinning about it. Be glad you were in the building watching the show. And, tha fact you are blessed to enjoy some things in your life and not living on the streets.

There are alot more things you could use your negative attitude towards, like our lovely government!

See you at the next show peeps! sup meko - Love Ya!

The sound quality at his shows have been sub par since he first did his Tamar thing . (The Roosevelt show excepted). I think the biggest problem is P himself. I think he is losing or has lost much of his high range hearing. I've been at many soundchecks of his shows and he micro manages the sound engineers, setting the levels himself usually. The biggest problem I have with his live shows is that his high end is turned up so loud it is almost piercing. His sound men don't usually last more than a few gigs these days. My guess is that they are taking the blame for P level settings. Just my opinion though.
[Edited 7/11/07 15:20pm]

I wonder why he chose the Target Center as the venue- if he knew the acoustics would not be good?

I'm glad I didn't get tickets.. My dad passed away in his sleep on 6/25/07, so I would have had to cancel anyway....


Bobby Johnson

sunrise 7/18/46 sunset 6/25/07

ndigo said:

sorry for your loss