I first got into Prince in the early 1990s when I was about 12 - my first album was Diamonds and Pearls on cassette! (and I can still remember my friend playing ‘Love 2 the 9s’ down the phone to me when Symbol first came out!) and have been a huge follower (enough to be a fam I reckon) ever since. But this O2 residency has been the first time I’ve ever had the chance to see P live, and living in London I wanted to make the most of it. I bought tickets to 3 concerts at first, and now it’s up to 7! So half way through, here are my quick reviews of them

First concert, Wednesday 1st August (opening night) Block 108 Row A

I was so excited; I’d been walking around all day with a big silly grin on my face and was tingling with excitement. But nagging at the back of my mind was the thought ‘surely it can’t live up to my enormous expectations?’

Because of my seat I couldn’t see the screens so when they played the intro video I only heard disembodied voices and bits of Kiss, Alphabet Street, Let’s Go Crazy…then the lights went down and Prince came up. The excitement palpable in the air and I heard the opening chords and I thought, ‘no, it can’t be, can it? It is you know, it’s Purple Rain!’ Opening song!

Then he put away his symbol guitar and launched into Girls and Boys with some funky dance moves and pirouette. In 2 songs he’d exceeded my expectations. The net two hours were a giddy mix of fabulous ‘hits’ and songs I hadn’t expected but loved – If I was you’re girlfriend, Shhh, Pink Cashmere.

I was so engrossed, I barely noticed a couple in front of me having a massive row and walking out, then coming back, and going again. Normally this would distract me and really piss me off, but tonight I didn’t care. The biggest treat was Nothing Compares 2U; I’d never been a fan of the version on Hits 1 but this blew everyone away, there were people hugging in the aisles, everyone singing, magical.

When the houselights came up at 10.30pm people started leaving, and I reluctantly joined them… until I heard a cheer and went racing back down past the security people, right to the point of the V for the solo encore. This was the icing on the cake, brilliant solos of Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, then the rest of the band came back. I was bursting with excitement and couldn’t wait to tell everyone how great it was.

Second Concert, Saturday 4th August, Block 409 Row A

This wasn’t one of my originals, but a friend couldn’t go because of work (but was going 4 other times) so he offered it to me and I snapped it up. This was upper tier, and I sat next to a guy called Carlos and his friends. I also took a camera (naughty I know – haven’t done it again) and I promised him I’d send him my pictures and clips. Carlos if you or your friends are reading this, the offer’s still there!

Anyhow, I’d seen the setlist for the day before and was gutted to have missed Anotherloverholenyohead and Joy In Repetition, which I don’t think he’s played again since! It could never have been as good as the first time, and in the upper tier the atmosphere just isn’t the same (though I got up and danced anyway – how can you not?) You also get a better appreciation for the band and how Prince works the stage, and the crowds amazing reaction everyone he does to one of the edges!

This has been the least good so far (for me), I felt the middle section of Musicology/ Prince and the Band/ Pass the Peas/ Play that Funky Music/ Sexy Dancer just lost the crowd (I guess the Saturday night audience just wanted stuff they know) and it lost something there, but recovered with a wonderful ending, again with LRC/ R Beret/ NC2U.

Third Concert, Saturday 11th August, Block 418 Row B.

This was high up again so I was a little wary, but it I went with my brother who’s also a massive Prince fan and had come to London for the weekend just for the concert. I also knew that the friend who’d sold me the ticket for the 4th would be there too. What I didn’t know what that his seat was next to mine! Freaky!

Again, as we were in the upper tier so it felt a bit detached and I’ve been in rows A and B – I can only imagine what it’s like right at the back). Anyhow, it was still a great show. This was the one where the he had the annoying girl in purple on stage, and the middle aged (sorry mate) guy on stage and P said ‘I gotta play a song for this dude right here’ and launched into Play that Funky music (I think there’s a separate thread on this, can any find it?). A nice touch.

Then near the end, a piano and synth were brought on stage and P played lots of samples. Now, hats off to Militant for his real time updates from the night. I read them the next day and they were so funny but they sum up perfectly the agony and the ecstasy of hearing tiny bits of so many wonderful songs – Alphabet Street, When Doves Cry, Erotic City – the crowd were in a frenzy and none more so than when he played just FOUR SECONDS of SOTT – I go to lots of gigs and I’ve never seen anything like it. But why didn’t he play just one of them in full? Again, there’ve been threads on this already but after building our expectations up so much then finishing his set with A Love Bizarre seemed like such a, well, bizarre choice.

Fourth Concert, Tuesday 14th August, Block 103 Row U.

Back in the lower tier, and back with a vengeance. This was just sensational! I went with a friend from work who is more of a casual fan rather than a fam, he knew a few songs from D&P, SOTT, etc but not a fanatic and was just keen to see him. We got there early and were waiting in our seats when someone handed us a tin can. On it there was a label saying ‘Pass the Peas’!! Most people looked baffled so I explained what it meant, but I thought it was genius!

This was also the first show I caught the support act – Beverley Knight. It must be tough playing to a half empty arena when most people aren’t paying attention, but I thought her performance was amazing. She gave it everything, has a wonderful voice, and made everyone in the arena sit up and take notice. If she supports again, I’d really urge everyone to make the effort to hear her.

Tonight, P opened with 1999. I’d told my friend that P had stopped playing this so when he actually played it, we knew it was going to be a special night, and boy was it! It was special because:
- you knew P was in the mood because he played so many amazing guitar solos – 1999, Shhh, Purple Rain, (bass on) Black Sweat.
- He played Forever in my Life!! with fantastic ‘Alright’ chants
- This was also the best audience, responding to his chants, cheering in all the right places. It’s as much the people around you that make the atmosphere as the band, and tonight they were great – you could tell that P responded to it too. (there’s a lesson in there people, enjoy WHATEVER he plays and he’ll give you a better show for it).
- Only one cover so more of his own songs.
- The cool guitar/ bras version of Alphabet Street
- Best version of Controversy ever!

I knew the aftershow would be great as well, but sadly I gotta go to work in the mornings! Arrgghh! It was so good that the previously casual P fan is now not only desperate to go again (we are going on the 9th) but has persuaded 2 of his friends to come as well! It also convinced me to snap up some more… my next is 31st (on my own) and if any orgers want to meet up let me know!

Thanks to the orgers and Housequakers who put up tickets at face value, hope everyone enjoys the remaining shows. See you on the 31st, 9th, and 13th!!!

amandeepr said:

I was the one who started passing the peas...Tesco special I was sat at the far left hand side of row u.... What a awesome night heh!!!

Did the peas progress much further

Like I said, genius!

I explained it to people sat behind me and told them to pass it on - they looked a bit baffled but hopefully they did!

amandeepr said:

The guy aside of me who I first passed them to looked at me stupid as did a few others I just egged them on to pass them round This was the other label that was on the can

...I wonder who went home with them and if they understood it

too funny, steadwood!

XxAxX said:

The security there is a bit suspect...

...They checked my friends bag and took her camera off her with much questioning, but let her through without question with a can of peas

wow. that's not very good security. unless, the security people read the ORG and realize, "Oh, it's just the troll guy with the peas"

Steadwood said:

XxAxX said:

Well.... I was wearing a Purple haired troll in my jacket pocket

Steadwood said:

perfectly normal NOT strange behavior at all

XxAxX said:

I know... anyone would have thought I had a house full of em the way they looked

...The little fella got a bit excited and flew out of my pocket when he heard 1999...

...I haven't seen him since