Wow... an absolutley incredible show.
Made me realise again just why I love this guy and his music, and made all the past few years of standing by him, when the rest of the world believed he was going slightly mad, worthwhile. There is nobody, and I mean nobody, could even live with him on form like this.He tore the place up, and had most everybody in the palm of his hand from start to finish. He proved himself to be, with out doubt, the best performer on the planet, bar none. I just wish everyone who knows me could have been there last night to understand just what I've been going on about all these years!...ah well maybe next time!!

The Show -

We had great seats bout 20 rows back right at the aisle and a fantastic view of the stage. So I was happy stright away.
Then the music they were playing goes off, and I glance out on the aisle to see Maceo Parker standing beside our seats waiting for the nod the start the show!! I just froze and looked at him for a second or two...then I feel my hand dart out and I tip him on the arm!!..I expected him to either ignore me or tell me to F. off, but instead he turns to me looks me in the eye, shakes my hand, and says "Hello Sir, how are you?" then heads off up to stage!! Holy shit. Night made. There and then. Without a note having even been played!!

The show kicked off with the usual Rainbow Children stuff, the had us up on our fet and dancing, a very funky Xenephobia, and a brilliant full version of 'Money don't matter' ( now my fiancee's new favourite song).

Prince was clearly enjoying himself and got a guy up on stage and told him to go sit by the band while he played for him..then challenged him to a dancing comp...some actully funny stuff from Prince here the really had people laughing out loud.

Then after giving us an hour of the funk he starts lashing into some absolute classics - 'When U were mine', Sign o the times','Take me with U' 'Raspberry Beret', a bit of DMSR thrown in, before rounding off with a pretty short 'Everlasting Now' and leaving the stage.

Then kicks into, for me, the best part of the show, sittin' behind the piano. He starts with 'Adore' with a brilliant version of 'I wanna be your Lover' in the middle which has everybody up dancing again. Then, I couldn't believe it but he started 'Condition of the heart'...Wow..Just one verse,but...Wow...

'The beautiful ones' had everyone, especially Lorraine (my fiancee) in absolute awe. Incredible seeing him perform the song live, just like i've seen it performed a thousand times in 'Purple Rain'. Just awesome.

'Nothing compares 2 U' follows as does 'The Ladder' and 'HCUDCMA' and he gets a load of people up on stage for 'All the critics love you in Dublin' Cool.

When its finished one of the girls on stage asks him to play 'Controversy' and he's like "Hold up! This ain't TRL! This is my job!" Very funny. He says hows about 'Pop Life' instead and everyone's happy as the band do a very funky version. Finishes with 'Anna Stasia'

The show was so good that a number of times I stopped myself and tried to concentrate on remembering what I was witnessing, because it really was something special.

One thing that sticks in my head - during 'Pass the Peas' I watched Prince as he played in the backround. As he watched Maceo and Candy Dulfer play, he had a huge smile from ear to ear, and it never once left his face.

Sums up the whole night.

beautiful report bazman, nicely written.

Fully agree with your "I wish everybody I knew could have seen it" comment! I was saying and thinking the same thing after last weekend in London...

This band is just too good! How can live music get any better???

Hi Bazman,

That review was lovely.. I wasn't a big Prince fan myself until I went to the concert the other week.. My boyfriend loves him and that was why I tagged along but it was well worth it. He even got me into logging onto the website, I never knew there was so many Prince fans in Ireland.

Dublin Nikki.

Thanks Nikki!

I never knew there was so many Prince fans here either..sometimes I feel like the only one!! Thats why it was so cool to see so many other fans at the gig who know and love his music the way I do.

Bazman

They were not *all* from Ireland.

Cheers from Holland !

Tweety.

bazman said:

They only come out of the woodwork when he is playing a concert. You never spot them on the streets...