Seventh concert of the tour for the squirrel, and another solid Performance by Prince.

It wasn't the best (7th was best) and wasn't the worst (18th). Prince is quite the professional and as alway looked like he was in a good mood (has there been a show where he hasn't?).

The set list order didn't work tonight. Musicology was an odd start, and I don't think the audience (who weren't great tonight) really got into the show until Cream arrived a good 20 minutes in.

Shhh was also too soon, as again the audience didn't know it.

But all the other main hits went down a storm. The piano segment went down well, and for me, was the highlight of the night!

I almost fell over when Prince sung the whole of A 1000 hugs and kisses! I don't think a single person in D2 even knew the song.

It was a great long version of Sometimes It snows in april too.

Again, the show was a bit short. The first two encores ware good, but safe.It looked like Prince was done by 10:39 and was gone in his box but the audience were having none of it. After a 10 minute wait, Prince returned on his own for a sampler set.

Had he not returned I think there would have been a lot of people feeling short changed. Strangely, the sampler section works best at the end of the show.

However, I still think he should have avoided wasting the last 20 minutes stayed on after Nothing compares 2 U to deliver Lets Go Crazy, Take Me with U and Guitar and or 1999. That would have been a much better ending.

All in all, a solid, but not barnstorming show.

Set List:

Musicology
Prince and the band (Inc What You Need)
Play That Funky Music
Pass the peas
Cream
U Got the Look
Shhh

Electric Piano
Diamonds and pearls (edit)
A 1000 hugs and kisses!
Little red corvette
Raspberry beret (edit)
Sometimes it snows in april


7
Come Together
Black Sweat
Kiss
Purple Rain

Encore 1

I Feel 4 U
Controversy (inc Housequake)

Encore 2

Crazy
Nothing Compares 2 U

Encore 3 (Samplers)
Sign O The Times/Pop Life/DMSR/Erotic City/I Wanna be your lover/When Doves Cry/Alphabet St

.
[Edited 8/31/07 17:22pm]

SquirrelMeat said:

I thought tonight's show was better than my first (and last) which was on the 10th. I'm going tomorrow night as well so I'll see how that compares. The third encore was definitely the best part of the whole concert for me.

Completely agree with your review there Squirrel, especially agree with the best and worst dates and I've also been to 7 shows now. It's hardly surprising very few knew A 1000 Hugs and Kisses, not many around me even seemed to know most of the stuff he played that has actually been released.
[Edited 8/31/07 17:10pm]

Shelby also did a chunk of a song which is most likely called 'What You Need' before 'Play That Funky Music'.

Anyone else have a flash across their mind whether Chaka was going to come up onstage when he started I Feel 4 U or was that just me?

TheEnglishGent said:

Am I asking too much for him to add "I Wonder" into the set list then!

stereoboy said:

That would have been good. I saw it happen the other way round in Brixton back in '98. Chakka started singing, voice comes over the PA, 'Hey girl, that's my song'. P swaggered on, dueted with her, then swaggered off as if nothing had happened. One of my all time favourite concert moments.

Musicology was a brilliant opener. He looked unbelievably cool and so did the band and they really nailed the song (it was on a par with last Saturday's version of the song, which takes some doing!)

I was in block 103 and hardly anyone seemed to know Black Sweat. It's one of the best songs he's ever recorded and even better live. I really liked the almost ballad version of Little Red Corvette, too.


I need me some tickets for tomorrow's show...
[Edited 8/31/07 17:16pm]
[Edited 8/31/07 17:16pm]

LOL - that show was my first Prince concert - imagine my surprise when that happened!

stereoboy said:

It sounded like a bit of INXS "What You Need". I didn't add it to the set list, a bit like "Housequake" as it was more of a throwaway chant. But I'll add them anyway!

.
[Edited 8/31/07 17:26pm]

Tzar said:

He did look totally cool tonight!

I loved black sweat, but again, the audience didn't get it. I think he'd be better off dropping this.

Gotta agree the 7th was by far the best show I have seen, 14th was also better than tonight. It was a weird show. Still enjoyable but weird. Too many covers for me and it didn't really flow like other nights.

I believe (though someone correct me) that the cover early on was "What You Need" by INXS. We also got Play That Funky Music, Come Together and Crazay. Personally I want to hear Prince songs at the main show and save covers for the aftershow!

Still very enjoyable and yet another different experience out of the four shows I have seen.

Was there with Mentalist (DoMeBaby69's brother). Also met DoMeBaby69 and her 5yr old all dressed in purple and more excited that the Prince geeks!

Didn't go to the aftershow tonight. Wonder if he will play?

Oh and just to say that for me Musicology (the way it was performed tonight) was an excellent opener!

shelby doing 'what you need' was amazing. took me a while to figure out the tune. but woah. girl can blow!!

jaypotton said:

Hey Jay! Ellie ended up falling asleep in her chair after about 45 mins! So I woke her up when Purple Rain came on and she stayed awake for the rest of the concert. On the way home in the car she told me I should marry Prince and she wants to go and see him again. Lovely to meet you tonight!

shelby doing 'what you need' was amazing. took me a while to figure out the tune. but woah. girl can blow!!

Was DoMeBaby69 wearing white???

SquirrelMeat said:

Yes I was! Did you see me?

SquirrelMeat said:

All white with a little Purple daughter (all purple!)

jaypotton said:

Don't forget my purple accessories (purple nail varnish on toes, purple hoop ear rings, purple bangle, purple necklace, purple eyeshadow, purple lipstick, purple ring).

DoMeBaby69 said:

Hey you. Am about to hit the sack but cool to meet you and Ellie too! Had a very cool night. Enjoy tomorrow.

Night night everyone (getting too old for this!)

DoMeBaby69 said:

I was down in D2 and I was looking up before the show to my mates who were in 111 row F.

While I was scanning for them I saw a beautiful little girl in a purple dress waving in my direction, so I waved back!

I saw a yummy mummy in white next to her!!!!

SquirrelMeat said:

Awwww, well that'll be me then!!! My little girl was waving to my brother! She defo would have waved to you though if you'd waved at her. Shame I didn't see you waving. I would have joined in too!

I'm off to bed now. Going tomorrow night as well plus aftershow. Was trying to stay up to see if P shows at the aftershow tonight as I can't bear not knowing and I so want him to do tomorrow night's but I can't keep my eyes open any longer. Doubt if I'll sleep though as I can't get Chelsea Rogers out of my head at the moment (had it playing in the car on the way home and it's stuck right in my head). Good night everybody xxx

Excellent review man, spot on. I was in C2 and had an EXCELLENT time, was proper up close and loving it, singing along to every word very loudly.

I had a tear in my eye when he did the second verse of "sometimes it snows in april".

The solo keyboard part was amazing in general, 1000 hugs and kisses was just awesome. The sampler encore....OMG, P killed it, straight up. Glad he was doing fuler versions of the songs.

DoMeBaby69 I saw you and your daughter as well! Dunno if anyone saw me but I had my big purple NPG hockey jersey on and a purple bandana to match.

hey which one of you caught the drum stick???
he knew who i was and asked me...Cool Geezer!!!
Great Time!!!!!

I agree and dont agree with squirrels review, but to get into that would be too detailed, lol. Was my 4th show tonite in a row, and each one had something special, with maybe the exception of the 25th, where the crowd were just awful.

the 1,000 hugs and kiss's, must ashamedly admit, i dont know this song, so maybe someone will enlighten me from what album it comes from. SISIA full version, brought tears to my brothers eyes almost, shh was amazing, as was black sweat, and to piss you all off, I went to the loo and got beer during Purple Rain, but was back for the guitar solo, but it was not as good as the version on tues 28th.

But for me the hammer of this show, was the beginning, playing the first 4 songs in this fashion on a friday nite, was a hardcore fans dream, as i have mentioned already in other threads, tonite's main show was like one massive aftershow, loved it.

Just for info, the F block may not offer the best view, but the sound is incredible there, and when he started playing bass guitar tonite, well.....

I love the fact that it's different in some way every night, a real pay off if you go several nights

I've been to six, and every night i've had a different opening number, put me on my toes right from the start!

and i think 'forever in my life' may well be my absolute highlight (outside of the aftershows - and probably superstition from those)

not many left now!...i've only got 2 shows ....what a summer!

1000 hugs and kisses? i have it on an mp3, but i'm not even sure where i got it from....i'm guessing it must be from the npgmc

I thought Purple Rain tonight was the best version of the tour so far. Loved the way he broke it down in the middle of the verses for some more "wooh wooh wooh wooh" chanting.

Hi Militant

I saw you walking around outside, and inside the venue. If I knew you were a fellow orger I would have come over and spoke to you.

Just had such an amazing night last nite. I think I might have pissed off the two couples sitting next to me (I was a 'loner' last nite) as I refused to sit down and pretty much sang and danced like a maniac all nite.

Gotta get tickets for the 21st.

What IS 1000 Hugs & Kisses????

MattyJam said:

An unreleased song from 94. It was a duet recorded with Nona Gaye in the 1800 New Funk/Exodus period.