giminicricket said:

He played 1000 Hugs & Kisses.

What a fantastic show. I had a great seat in block 111, row C.

Musicology was a great opener. Good to hear Shelby do Crazy as I hadn't heard it on this tour yet.

Was going absolutely crazy when the keyboard came back out. I loved it when Prince said "y'all gonna miss your train".

Great show.

What made it for me was finally getting to see him perform NC2U, loved 1000 hug& kisses. Still chanting 'People call me rude.....' Again I was the only one chanting this in my local vicinity, surrounded by non-fans again, gotta get floor seats for next gig. There was a guy in front of me wearing a '3121' t-shirt, never moved off his arse all nite. Was gonna poke him at the end to make sure her wasn't dead!!!!

PS. If anyone has a spare tix for 21st, let me know and I will give you the money for it

Hubster said:

I was quite vocal during Controversy too!

Excuse the length, I've taken this straight from my online journal, so feel free to ignore my witterings.

There are a billion reviews already out there, and not much more I can add. The music was hot, the man was hot. The kind of beautiful that makes you want to whimper, and I did. It was a really tight set, sleek and slick, and executed with a lazy, showy, perfection. I don't know what was played when and where, memory is less about capturing accurately, and more about capturing an essence, as a disclaimer on a a good friend's journal says 'I can't swear this is exactly how it happened, but this is how it felt'.

Amongst a blinding opening, a incredibly cute version of Purple Rain and a few gems he found lying around he took a moment or two, lowered the lights, and sat at the keys. It was that moment of connection, when you feel as though you are all alone with him, and there is no past or future, just this moment. It was the first time I'd heard 1000 Hugs and Kisses, and I thought I'd cry (has it ever formally been released? - I know it was unreleased for years because of WB). He followed up with Sometimes it Snows in April, and then my mascara really was in danger. Despite the crappy audience members who felt any moment of peace was time to get *yet another* drink, he still wrapped us up and carried us away.

I had a momentary pout or two - I don't like the twinz, yes they're stunning to look at, but they can't dance for toffee. There's a difference between moving your body because you've been told to, and really feeling what's going on. That said, if I were them I'd be terrified of falling off the wibbly wobbly shaped stage. I was angry at the amount of utterly trashed people around, it makes me ashamed to be British - I'm sorry for my country. I was gutted that he didn't play Lolita, but I can hardly complain given the fantastic set that was played. I heartily wished he had give into his naughty side and carried on with Erotic City - am I the only person in the world who thinks spiritual belief and physical action can be entwined to make something more?

Until now I always thought I went to a Prince gig for the whole experience, the showmanship, the stage play, the talking and teasing. I guess I do, but this tour more than ever, minus the Cadillac, the basketball hoops and the pyrotechnics made me realise, it's all about the music, and what music.

More about the aftershow on the relevant thread - but where were all the fan forum people?! Despite my purple hairy fairy lights of noticability I didn't see anyone!
[Edited 9/1/07 7:15am]
[Edited 9/3/07 5:45am]

ladycat said:

I think I saw you. Were you at the bottom of 105 / back of C1?

Mindflux said:

I completely agree with you and don't get the wrong idea, all the shows I've seen have been great. I can only compare any show with what I've seen before and as I said, last night wasn't the best and wasn't the worst. Got to hear 1000 Hugs and Kisses last night, which nobody would have put money on him playing. Also loved the beginning segment and the encore.

I still think he could be doing more of his own stuff though and this isn't just my point of view. Put yourself in the place of a one off casual attendee last night and think about if you saw a great show. Remember that the majority of the audience will not be hardcore and most won't have any album since Diamonds and Pears, except for maybe Planet Earth, which he seems to have stopped playing anything from anyway.

There were so many dispointed people around me and have been at every show I've been to. They don't want to be teased, they want the songs.

georgeguitar said:

I don't have any spares. I keep buying tickets from ticketmaster on the day of the show, or the day before. I see the great seats and become weak . Even a less good show on this tour is still better than a show from any other artist and I can't believe how lucky we are to have Prince here for so long.

Darren Hayes (formely of Savage Garden) wrote a review of the 31st concert on his blog on his mypsace.


www.myspace.com/darrenhayes
[Edited 9/1/07 12:06pm]

Thought the main show was excellent last night. Loved the opening sequence -it was straight into the party/club type atmosphere, I actually prefer to hear the less well known/cover versions of songs as opposed to a straight forward delivery of the hits that we have all heard a thousand times.Seeing as this will probably be my only visit, I believe I struck gold tonight. A few points:-

1.O2 is a great venue - well impressed.
2.As previously mentioned,too many drunken knobs in the crowd.
3.As expected in such a large venue, a large number of people were there for a casual evening out or just a few beers, therefore participation wasn't that great (nothing wrong with that I suppose)
4.The Mrs & me were on our feet going mental right from the word go (Block 108)so don't worry that other people don't feel it!

If you haven't been to the concerts yet, just go & enjoy the experience & have no preconceptions.
[Edited 9/1/07 13:31pm]

P2daP said:

Nice read thanks it made me appreciate being there all the more. The 3rd encore was amazing even more so for me being in 102 and seeing his expressions as he teased the crowd talking about he gotta go home. Damn I wish I was there now

stereoboy said:

Not me! I was going fucking ape shit!!!

On the way out of the show last night there was a guy on the phone just raving about the show, saying 'I don't even know any of his songs but he was just sooooo amazing, fantastic blah blah...' Just shows what a great performer he really is. He can pick up so many instruments and just play. He can play his songs in so many different ways. I don't think anyone can outclass him in terms of performance.

I wouldn't call myself a hardcore fan in comparison to some people. I don't own every single Prince album and I don't know every single Prince song. I started to like him when I was a teenager. I noticed Cream, Get Off etc but was possibly slightly too young to really get it lol. I remember buying 7 and Gold. I saw my first show when I was 16. Still he plays the odd song that I don't know but I don't mind because it is still great to watch the band play. I wish they would play Chelsea Rogers. It isn't the kind of music I would listen to at home but live I think it would be excellent to see them all play it.

stereoboy said:

I was in block 110 and was up all night!!! I was in row D right on the end towards block 109 right next to the floor entrance. I agree with you, people around were pretty quiet. Don't think the opening 20 mins helped, think if he'd opened with more 'prince' stuff it would've got people going earlier. The row in front danced most of the night but I think the couple behind us sat through most of it, didn't see them get up once. They wouldn't have seen a thing. How can you sit through Prince?!!!

Saw the dreadlocked bloke towards the end, before one of the encores he looked like he was trying to get his partner to leave. I found the number of people with floor seats who kept wandering off to get a drink annoying. Why can't people just come and enjoy it, don't they realise how luck they are to be there!

ace1967 said:

Yeah - and then she strutted around like she owned the stage - at one point she walked right on front of Prince while he was singing standing at the edge of the stage. I don't suppose that made him too happy!

TheEnglishGent said:

That was so sad! It looked like Prince was picking her out as the only person he wanted on stage and she was wetting herself with excitement only to find she couldn't get up there - gutted!!

BlueTopaz said:

Thank you heaps! iv'e sent u a note with the details...much love xoxox

Anyone remember when Prince tossed his Fender Telecaster in the air near the end of the gig and let it drop? From where I was I couldn't see where it landed - did a stage-hand catch it or was Prince really getting wild and smashing his guitar?
[Edited 9/3/07 5:29am]

abigailj said:

Nope, 106 DD, but around the right area!

Whatitis said:

I've seen him do that almost every show and his guitar-tech has always had safe hands and caught it

Mindflux said:

Thanks - I thought it wasn't like him to actually trash his beloved tele!

Whatitis said:

Well, I have seen him trash guitars too - and if you watch the Rave DVD, he doesn't do that gorgeous Warwick bass any favours either, after his bass duet with Larry. But its a classy throw and the guitar just skims along past the drums to the back of the stage. But, even for him, it would get a bit expensive doing that every night!!

TheEnglishGent said:

TheEnglishGent said:

I would just like to mention that I and my boyfriend were at the show on the 31st and we had a great night although we were in bk 114 at the front, the exact area where Prince and his band came from back stage! so we had a excellent view, Anyway my point is just because some people choose not to jump up and down,scream or sing does not mean that they are not enjoying the show, We have been fans for years and we only stood up and jiggled our stuff at the start of the show and at the end, to be honest I was in a total daze for most of the show as I could'nt believe I was actually at a Prince concert,my first ever. We are not boring farts, we just like to warm up slowly. So please don't put us quiet ones down.

And Prince if you get to read this how about you come out in a Glass box posing with your guitar next time, now that would be cool. Anyone else agree with me.

MadameJane said:

ok, respect, i understand sometimes it is better to just watch, instead of trying to jump out of your skin like i do, just glad that someone else found the 31st show amazing, my personnal fav from the 5 mainshows i have seen

having heard about sept 1st when I arrived back home fromn the aug 31st main and aftershow, I think we will forget about aug 31st at the earliest opportunity.
booo

phils123 said:

We went to the aftershow also on the 31st, yes we were a little sad he did'nt play that night and then to find out he played on the 1st!

MadameJane said:

Yeah

Please Prince be there on the 13th. I've almost sold my soul to be there