Firstly, the venue is really cool. We were seated on the Lower Tier, Level 1 and we had BY FAR the best seats in the house. If you have Level 1 seats by the point of the symbol then you really are sorted as he plays practically all of the show facing you.

Lets get on to the stuff we care about...

The show was really good! Opening with 1999 was a welcome surpise and the crowd responded really positively. He was looking really into it and happy to be there. His guitar work was absolutely mindblowing. No matter how many times I see him play he never fails to shock me at how amazing he is at the guitar. During the solo of Shhhh he was holding the guitar above his head and doing the most amazingly fast fingering work you'll ever see!

He dropped his plectrum twice during the show, once during Alphabet Street when he was playing solo and he just stopped, picked it up and started from where he'd left off.

One part of the night which made me laugh was during Take Me With U when the backing singer did the "you're sheer perfection" part and he responded with "21 nights? I think so!"

Black Sweat was awesome especially if you appreciate good bass work! I've never been mad on the album version but it totally transforms itself into a bottom-heavy dance-funk workout when he plays it live!

Everyone went for a beer and a piss during Somewhere Here On Earth which I thought was a bit disrespectful. I stood there in awe of his amazing vocal delivery instead.

A mass of mobile phone cameras lit up the arena during a really inspired rendition of Purple Rain. Some guys were waving their pints of beer from side to side and I thought "only in Britain".

One criticism - Prince did WAY too many call and resposes. It's one thing trying to engage with the crowd but quite another when you do it in every other song. He did an awesome version of Forever In My Life but instead of doing the elegant guitar part at the end he went into what seemed like his hundredth call and response which I didn't really feel was necessary.

Overall it was a great night though. Shame about the lack of new songs though. Guitar actually went down really well with the crowd - many of whom seemed to know the words.

Anyway, here's the setlist:

1999
Musicology
Prince and the band
Cream
Shhhh
Somewhere Here On Earth
Take Me With U
Guitar
7
4ever in my life
If I Was Ur Girlfriend
Black sweat
Kiss
Purple rain
Alphabet Street
Controversy
I Feel 4 U

ENCORE:
Let's Go Crazy
Crazy
Nothing Compares 2 U
[Edited 8/15/07 1:21am]

I went to the show with MattyJam ^^^

It was AMAZING. It was actually my first Prince concert And I was not disapointed.

The setlist was brilliant, the atmosphere was immense and Prince was really on top form.

Great night. I'd do it all over again if I had the money!!

Thanks for the write-up! Roll on Friday night!

I enjoyed the 14th SO much that I'm eyeing up the tickets for sale on other nights....

Should I part with more hard earned cash??

MattyJam said:

Your link 4 funky Prince tabs doesnt seem 2 work. Says thread doesnt exist. Would be very interested in viewing so if u could let me know the correct link that would be great!