I arrived in Dublin after travelling down by train from Limerick at 11am, i was very lucky in that a member of the NPGMC who lives in Dublin contaced me and offered to take me as his guest.

He sometimes posts to amp as Enivri, Bill...thank you very very much for doing this for me, and for giving me a bed for the nite, you are a cool and kind hearted person and someone i will be looking after as only i know how.

After spending an hour or so playing Bill some music i brought up with me and giving him my promised "gift" we took a taxi direct to the Point Depot.

At around 12:30pm less then 10 fans were queing up outside, security were setting up the barrier system still, the next 3 hours were spent "networking" with fans, many from England who had traveled and another fan called Susan Foley from Florida.

You guys should know Susan, she has seen Prince for all his European shows thus far, lovely lady.

The fans are all sweethearts, i very much enjoyed sharing stories with them and they doing the same, like to say thanks and hi! to the guys from Preston and London i chatted to, the fan from Australia who flew in with his wife.

Belive it or not...Prince has alot of NPGMC members, someone said at least 100 out of the list of 152 were Irish members, trivia et al.

The fans spoke about the nonsense and stunts about queing that happened in London, well let me say this...NOTHING like this happened in Ireland, no raffle tickets...no numbers or lists.

I simply must give respect and gratitude to the security and staff of the Point Depot who were professional and were fully informed as to what and how things would go down.

We were told that a list of 152 NPGMC members were on a prepared list, we would be allowed into the foyer of the Point Depot at 4:30 pm, if you were not on the list you would not be allowed in.

No one made any fuss...we all qued and stayed right where we were, we all had a good time and chatted to each other, no one skipped or made any fuss...Dublin set an example to London and i hope this will follow for all the upcoming concerts.

So...we were first searched for "recording equipment" and cameras, then proceeded to que outside the point itself before being left into the foyer...while we waited outside Prince soundchecked "Sign 'O The Times", but NPGMC members were still queing and waiting to be let in.

Prince started the soundcheck at approx. 4:35pm...at around 4:50pm we were let into the foyer, while all along Prince was soundchecking, members received a very cool green laminate which was different to all other shows in London and Manchester, and we all got green wristbands.

We had to get the signal then from Prince that we could take our seats, while all along Prince was working out on "Pop Life", he did several takes, Candy was also warming up and doing some improv. stuff...we waited 20 minutes or so.

At 5:10 Prince gave the signal to Takumi to let us in, and Takumi came down and told us to be cool and walk to our seats...lol, it was the fastest damn walk i have ever made

Yet again i got my ass front row, center stage , but Prince noticed that his field of vision was taken up with all male geeky fans, so he asked us to move a few seats to the right as he wanted some ladies in his field of vision.

We smiled as it was sorta quirky request and moved, Prince spoke with some of the members, one fan commented that it had been 7 years since he played in Ireland, Prince didn't seem to remember himself and said, "has it been 7 years...seems like 7 days, or 7 minutes".

I then said...welcome back to Ireland, he responded with a polite "Thank U".
Several others fans spoke and made some jokes etc, one funny part was where i asked him, "what kind of show can we expect tonite?", and his reply was, "what are you a journalist?".

hehe, see i had my notebook and pen out, to take notes of the setlist, he saw this and kinda thought...well, you know

I guess at this stage i should give the setlist for the soundcheck which lasted from 4:35pm to 6:10pm...but we were actually seated for the "official" soundcheck for 60 minutes, 5:10 - 6:10pm:



Soundcheck: Point Depot, Dublin, Thursday October 10th 2002:

Sign 'O The Times(instrumental version - no vocals)
Pop Life (several takes)
Tuning up with Candy and improv. work
Automatic (bassline only - very brief)
Shake ( full song with lyrics, Prince sitting at the piano, with the bassline for "Automatic" just like the Celly)
Sometimes It Snows In April (snippet on piano only, extremely brief..few seconds)
Prince speaks with the NPGMC
Empty Room (stunning...i had tears in my eyes, full song with heavy guitar)
The Ride (wow!...Prince is a genius on guitar, he played it like i have never heard before, amazing guitar work)
Dolphin (snippet on guitar only, that reverb stuff he plays at the start of the song)
Prince talks with the NPGMC
Hair (instrumental version - long...great bass from Rhonda, lots of guitar work..he stretched this track out)
777-9311 (Rhonda played the bassline briefly...we clapped and asked for him to play...no joy
Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again - Days Of Wild (very long, some 15 minutes, incrediable..the sound was powerful, john blackwell's drums went through my body that i could feel it)
The Rainbow Children (instrumental)
Drum workout (Prince went 20 rows back and sat down, directed John Blackwell and was just tuning and druming improv.)
Pop Life (instrumental)


NPGMC members witnessed a 60 minute soundcheck from their seats, but we had a further 20 minutes while waiting for Prince to give the word, and outside Prince soundchecked S.O.T.T.

In total the soundcheck lasted from 4:35 - 6:10pm...longest thus far on the tour.



Regular concert setlist, as noted by me as it happened:

Drum Intro
The Rainbow Children
Xenophobia
Money Don't Matter 2 Night
The Work Pt.1
Extraordinary
Mellow
1+1+1=3 (Incl. Housequake/D.M.S.R.)
Speech
Strange Relationship
Pass The Peas
When U Were Mine
Sign 'O The Times
Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
The Everlasting Now
Interlude ( 10 minute break, audience screaming the house down)
Adore
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Condition Of The Heart
Diamonds & Pearls
The Beautiful Ones
Nothing Compared 2 U
The Ladder (Incl. Speech)
Starfish & Coffee
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore ?
All The Critics Love U In Dublin
Pop Life
Anna Stesia
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold - remix (Incl. Rise Up)

The main concert started at 8:15pm, and ended at 10:50pm, in total we got a 2 hour 35 minute show which was amazing, some fans who attended London and Manchester said it was the best so far they had witnessed.

Prince was in such a happy mood...he reacted soo well to the people in the NPGMC section and those on the ground floor, we were all jamming and dancing like crazy, Prince had to work to get the folks in the balcony off their asses, but Dublin showed Prince how funky we are, which he commented on many times.

Highlights for me were too many, i think Prince did alter the setlist for the Irish fans, more "hits" were played...and the audience did seem to really enjoy it and even though they may not have all known song from TRC album, they did none the less witness a classy performance.

During "All The Critics Love U In Dublin" Prince brought some 40 fans, mostly female, on stage to dance and get funky...during "Xenophobia" one fan was asked "r u a leader or a follower ?", he was savvy to say follower, so Prince brought him on stage to dance and he stayed on stage till the end of "The Work" which was long and very very funky.

I could go on and on here, but you guys should know it was the best show i have seen to date, and i've seen many.

The aftershow was announced over the PA and took place at a club called "Spirit", we got a taxi down to the club which already had a huge long ass que, but luckily NPGMC members were left in ahead of everyone, entry was free to members, 50 Euro for guets...which i glady handed over with a big grin

The aftershow was something to witness, hard to estimate number in attendance...anything from 500 - 800 people, or more.


Spirit, Dublin, Friday October 11th (am) 2002:

Instrumental Jam (with just Renato and John on stage for the first few minutes before Prince and the rest of the band hit the stage...frenzied and fast paced, incrediable sound...included a drum solo from John also)
Joy In Repetition (Incl. Speech)
Instrumental Jam - A Love Bizarre - All The Critics Love U In New York
Prince & The Band (full song with all the lyrics)
Dolphin
Calhoun Square
Peach (Incl. It Ain't Over Chant)


The aftershow started at 1:45am and ended at 3:10am, taking out the 10 minutes or so when he left the stage after playing "Calhoun Square" for an ancore, of and very extended 20 minutes workout on "Peach", in total the aftershow lasted 75 minutes approx.

Amazing to witness this, the stage area was VERY small...the band were all squashed together like sardines, but you could tell he was into it and by god...did he play guitar.

He was very relax, smiling and getting the audience to participate, one point during "Joy In Repetition" was wierd, he held up a bible that the hotel had in one hand, then in his other hand he held up *his* bible and said how strange it was the text differed from one version to another.

Prince gave the hotel bible to a member of the audience and had her read a passage, which in turn he quoted from his own bible.
The audience didn't seem to appreciate the preaching, nor did i...but he moved on quickly and sang the song and played his guitar till it burned up.

This aftershow was heavy on the guitar all through, the horns ripped shit up and it was a very relaxed and informal jam session, only "real songs" played was a slowed down version of "Dolphin" and guitar heavy "Calhoun Square".

"Prince & The Band" was full length, full lyrics but different instrumentation then what i have heard him play at the Celly and other shows, the jam on "Peach" was incrediable...John blackwell's drums pounded through the club and everyone could "feel" the man, he tore shit up for 20 minutes on that song.

Again i could go on and on, it was a million times better then The Pod back in 1995, or the other aftershow i saw in 1993...stunning stuff.

I saw Scottie hand over the DAT of the aftershow to Trevor right after the gig.

Once again Dublin not only got the real funk...but the longest aftershow so far on this tour, i think Prince will come back to Ireland, i have a good sense he appreciates the Irish crowd, for me as a fan this has been magical experince, something that will always be with me.

I thank all the fans, i thank Dublin...but mostly i thank Prince & The Band.

Thank you for the review. I'm so happy to hear you're all enjoying his show. He is a master musician and showman.

Wonderful review. Thank you for the full setlist. Sounds like the soundcheck was a concert unto itself.

That's a great review Lib!!! Thanks, this must have been an awesome day!!!

Thank you very much Mr. Dower, I'm happy for you and you know it

It's a fantastic report...




Just me.

Wonderful review!

Dear LIB


U have outdone Ur self again.

So well put down on "paper"


Thanxxx(xxx)

Amazing review thanks

Thank you so very much for this onederful
review -

1 hour and 45 minute soundcheck

and 2 hours and 35 minute show

and 1 hour and 20 minute aftershow =

almost 6 hours of show - can you say HAPPY


Man - I wish I would have looked up some
Irish ancestors right about now, LOL

You will be flyin for a while now,
won't you.

Lib, but did you like the gig?

wow lib, groovy!

wow, excellent review man. Did you take notes???Peace

riverjones said:

Yes...i took detailed notes, as i wanted to ensure fans had an accurate insight into setlists, i am sure fans will do the same for all other upcoming shows.

Lib - the journalist

five woots 4 u, libbz!

what a great account, thanks.

Thanks Lib - nice review.

I'm now updating the list of songs at:

http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=24854

Can you tell me: the song 'Prince and the Band' - is it a genuine song or jsut like the intro to the days of Wild song released as the single? I've included it in the list for the time being.

Based on this, I will follow my instincts next time and take the flight to Dublin!!!

Yeaaa Lib! Great review of a great show!

What took you so long? Just kiddin and you know it!

langebleu said:

Prince & the Band

Like a rimshot on a new ROOTS joint
My band is tight, yea anointed
Live in concert au natural
Pass my tape go straight 2 jail
And another thing - I sing
Black and White hold hands
Start clappin' when we enter the
Jam packed dance
If U want it just
Clap yo hands, Clap yo hands
Clap yo hands, Clap yo hands

Happy y'all cause I finally got PAID
I'm off the plantation Boo,
Chillin' in the shade of the sun's light
We got it right
Distribute your own make a million overnight
B4 the tax come, quick buy some land
But don't build nothin' just
Clap yo hands, Clap yo hands
Clap yo hands y'all, 4 Prince & the Band

Record labels used 2 be a friend of mine
Now they're just a monumental waste of time
Sell a million records, make a dollar a pop
Still unrecouped when your band gets dropped
Got your own label but your given them half
Xpenses off the top, who's takin' a bath?
7 years of prime-time, your soul your name
Just 2 keep yourself a SLAVE 2 the game
Crazy man!
Whatever U can't do alone is not worth the fame
They all get older but we still look the same
Y'all can't understand
Just clap your hands - 4 Prince & the Band

Like a policeman 2 a crime
I just can't make up my mind
2 jam or not 2 jam
The BIG CROWD ROCKER
That's who we AM
Funky y'all, TRUTH be told
Prime-time aint ready 4 us all
We bring tha noise the best we can
Clap yo hands - 4 Prince & the Band

And another thing - I sing
Black and White hold hands
Start clappin' when we enter the jam packed dance
If u want 2 just clap yo hands
Clap yo hands y'all, 4 Prince & the Band

(c) 2002 Emancipated Music
NPG Records

Oh man I can't wait 2 C him here in Rotterdam, You all drive me till madness. I hope (and prince if U read this) U give us all you've got like you always do. We will support U with our regular singing en anticipation.

Please let it be Tuesday and let us get Funky :afro:

B4ever

man, i thought "Prince & The Band" was wild - anyone know if it's a new song or what?

and liberation - awesome review ... it was some night - how about "The Ride" in the soundcheck ooohhhwwweee he can play...
damn, time 4 another name change: King & the NPG

oh & Candy was incredible ... i think i'm in luv

Thanks for the lyrics, Lib.

Also do we have concensus now on whether Now was played during the Aftershow???

langebleu said:

Consensus?...only one person has claimed Prince played "Now" live during the aftershow..why has no one else said this?.

I took notes as the gig went down, did the person who claimed Now was played take notes?.

Irish fans, report in on this..if you were there talk to these people, DJ Dudley played Now while he was doing his DJ set, it was just straight off The Gold Experience, folks were getting funky on it.

But it was not live nor did Prince play it.

liberation said:

I'm with Lib on this. "DJ" Dudley played Now. Prince hadn't shown up on stage by this point - the dancing girls were still on the stairways leading from the stage to the balcony.

Great review, cheers.

ihateuall said:[quote]

liberation said:

Now definitly was not played live. The DJ did play it...before Prince came on stage.

Calhoun Square was amazing, and his voice was so Raw on Peach. Fantastic experience.

Wonderful review!!!
Thanks for the details...including the little Bible
thingy.

liberation said:

Whoa - down Lib I'll choose my words more carefully next time!I've followed the debate on a.m.p. since and see we're going to have to wait for the definitive evidence to come in to support.
[This message was edited Sat Oct 12 10:52:44 PDT 2002 by langebleu]

Thanks for the set-list, liberation, much appreciated. I was at all events in Dublin too, my only disappointment is that the layout of the venue meant a slight lack of atmosphere compared to the smaller London Apolo but the set itself was excelent and very different to the version I saw 5 days earlier.

At the aftershow I stood at the right of the stage by the exit where the band was coming on. They weren't letting people stand there but I spoke to Prince's girlfriend (I think) and she politely didn't tell me to f**k off, so when the goons asked me to move I told them I was with her and they left me alone.

Why all this information? Well, after seeing Prince 18 times now, I finally got into my first aftershow ever, walked out with Candy Dulfers towel, shook hands with most of the band, and took a high-five from Prince on his way out too!

A very special night and a fantastic few days in Dublin.

Great review Lib! ...thanks, Stan - Dublin

Cheers for the kickass report liberation... you just saved me the Ryanair flight back home