Wow, a 3 hour gig @ PP is exactly what I imagined and based on these gr8 reviews it sounds like it was an amazing show! Thanks 2 those that took the time afterwards 2 post these reviews I sat in front of a PC waiting 2 read ur reports until I fell asleep dreaming about this gig. Very happy 4 those that saw it and know U will b on a Purple High 4 a while! It's going 2 b hard 2 top a gig like this 1, but it sounds like there is no stopping this man. Especially when he feels the love from the audience. Thank U again for sharing ur experiences! PLEASE KEEP EM' COMING!
[Edited 10/25/09 5:32am]

Swimminginkisses said:

ooo! NO MORE CANDY FO U!

Cool reviews..thanks!

Very jealous of you guys. Sounds like it was a great show.

Sounds like a fantastic show. Thanks to all that took to the time out from well deserved sleep to share their thoughts and setlists.

Here's hoping for more, more, more of these surprise shows. Especially if he keeps on working in surprise songs and reworked versions of his classics.

uptown1 said:

Just a little clarification...when I wrote my orginal post I had been up for about 22 straight hours and was a bit loopy!

The shuttle bus idea was brilliant and really made getting to/from Paisley really easy. Let's hope that Prince does this in the future for other shows!

When we first walked in a video camera was setup in the back by the soundboard, however it was removed a few songs into the show to make room for the special guests that were sitting on couches on raised platforms around the General Admission area.

He did a bit of "You Can Make It If You Try" during the Larry Graham portion of the show. I think he also did some of "Water." (The LG part really wasn't that bad as he was there as more of a complement to Prince--he did not take things over or anything). Say what you will about Larry but he IS a fantastic bass player. He did not do "If You Let Me Stay" as I had originally posted.

Yes...Bria and George Clinton were also there. Prince also mentioned that Mint Condition was in the house but I'm not sure if they were or not (couldn't pick them out of a lineup or anything).

Seriously...it was a freakin' awesome show!! Prince did have some sound issues periodically, especially at the beginning of the show. Numerous times throughout the night he was asking for his guitar to be turned up/down as well as the keys, cross-fade, background vocals, etc. I was a bit worried at first because we all know that this tends to irritate Prince, but he was in a seriously GREAT mood...really seemed happy to be back in Minneapolis and playing for the fans.

The definite highlights were "Forever in My Life" (which had to have gone on for 10 minutes!) and "Kiss" (I have NEVER been pleased with any of the live versions of this song but last night's version was killer!!!). "Northside" was an absolute suprise (I coulnd't believe my ears!) as was "Turn Me Loose." Hearing Prince do "I Want You Back" (!!!) and "Shake Your Body" was pretty cool, too. As someone else commented...the guitar effect at the end of "Purple Rain" was stunning...

Oh...and Prince doing the classic Time and Sheila E. stuff...WOW!

uptown1 said:

Thanks!

I'm at the airport right now (layover on my way back to NYC) and I have to say, I don't regret a single moment of flying out there for this. I've never been to a gig at PP so I can't compare this with the past shows there like other posters here can, but I had an absolutely electric time. I too was right on the side where Prince entered and exited and got to touch his arm at one point, which sounds like a really silly thing to be excited about, but man, it was pretty cool to see him that close after being a fan for all those years. And I gotta say, there was really something awesome about hearing all those songs played at PP as opposed to other places, there really was. I was so happy that he did Sometimes It Snows in April/Mountains/Anotherloverholenyohead, because Parade is really really special to me and I was REALLY hoping to hear some stuff off that, and I agree with everyone who said Forever in My Life was beautiful and so great. Turn Me Loose was great, and Purple Rain was completely unreal, the effects at the end of it were completely new to me. I mean, really, it was just a 3 hour party, I met so many great, lovely people and I don't think I stopped smiling/dancing the entire time I was there. Amazing!

Can someone please tell me how many people (aprox) got to go?

CarrieMpls said:

I am with you on this one Carrie! When the drum machine(?) started with the Forever in My Life beat from the Sign 'O the Times movie and he went on to do that version complete with the "alright" call outs and country style guitar, I almost died. I have to say this was truly a fantastic show... and didn't seem as canned as the Nokia, Conga, Montreaux, and Monaco performances I've heard. Thank You Prince!!! I had a Beautiful Night. It was great to meet you, too Carrie, however brief.

I might have missed him but I don't think so but I think the person you thought was George Clinton was a local named Greg:))

whellz99 said:

1000 tops with lots of room left and many left early so it was real empty by the end.

Thanks for posting your reviews...all of ya! I wanted to go SO bad! I checked flight costs ($565.00 per person!! from where I am) and that would not get it, then driving time would have been 22 hours!!! I have a job interview on Monday (tomorrow) so there was just no way I would have been able to do a 22 hour drive and make it back on time, or alert!
But at least I am able to sort of feel like I was there from these fabu reviews! I am glad you all had a blast. Glad our man appeared to feel great and alive. Love to hear about all the songs he did!
Thanks! Maybe next time I can head that way.

fielder said:

People left early?????
What were they thinkin'?

As rave as the reviews are there were many boring parts and many people were more casual fans and it was getting late so people left.

It was a good show but hardly great and the sound/mix was sort of bad.

Kevin Love of the T wolves was there.

npggirl77 said:

There were an awful lot of noobs there who probably weren't prepared for standing all night. It just meant more room for the rest of us and closer proximity to the stage. It's all good.

cool

SO I guess I gave a blowjob to a local named Greg.

Paisley Park Gig lesson 142: Don't leave before the house lights come on for at least 5 minutes.

Many people left before the Purple Rain finale which was mindblowing,one of the most heart felt ones I've heard and a new arrangement. At one point I thought he started a new song, then he brough it back hard and finished by offering his guitar to the crowd where they held it up high out of respect for the guitar god.

I've been to many concerts at the park,this one was one of the best, longest, smoothest I've seen and Prince was in a very happy mood. He shut it down right at 2am..if not for the city, I think he would have kept playing.

Most of the night he didn't use falcetto voice, I was thinking maybe his voice was sore and he couldn't hit the notes - the he broke into Kiss..Wow!

As mentioned Forever in My Life was Awesome. Weirdly, I thought Larry Graham added to the show vs getting in the way. They jammed on bass and guitar for awhile with nothing else...Some 80's rock bands played that tight, but that level of musicianship doesn't exist anymore...amazing.

The issues he was having with the sound was actually very cool to watch, how he can hear and change it on the fly just puts him on a different level.

He was calling out the light changes too. At one point he said "light down in back" they didn't come down a few minutes later he say's " I know the women (back up singers) have lovely dresses on but I've seen them already, please turn the lights down" the crowd laughed.

Sometimes it Snows in April with just a guitar and no band...Awesome. And Northside great to hear and very fitting.

I think there were a lot of casual fans that he just wore out at the end of the night, I had one guy in front of me dancing his ass off on the first 3 songs, needless to say he never made it to the final oncore. We are also very spoiled in Minni - it's like those who live by the ocean and take it's beauty for granted. Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone.

Lots of musicanship and a VERY happy,comfortable, talkative and playful Prince - and 3 hours!

For the oldschoolers - Prince threw up the Wild Sign a couple of times, I saw a few 95 era hands up in the air but not many. Third finger down ya'll. Peace and be Wild!

DIG THE SCENE; THE GIG WAS GREAT!! PRINCE ANNOUNCED WHO WAS IN THE HOUSE, LARRY GRAHAM WAS FIRST MENTION, ALONG SIDE WERE SPIRITUAL FAMILY WITH HIS SISTER TYKA, HE ANNOUNCED MINT CONDITION WAS IN THE HOUSE. HE WENT DOWN ALONG FRONT, WHILE TALKING 2 SOME FAM'S. OF COURSE HE CALLED MANY UP ON STAGE 2 DANCE, ACTUALLY A FEW TIMES!!

HE GAVE TRIBUTE 2 MANY WHICH HE SAID HE WOULDN'T B WHO HE IS 2DAY; M. JACKSON, SLY STONE, LARRY GRAHAM, CHAKA KHAN, AL GREEN, AND OTHERS!! HE ALSO SANG A COUPLE OF M. JACKSON'S TUNES.. WHICH WAS FUNKY!!

AS WELL, WHILE PLAYING W/THE FATHER OF THE BASS; MR. LARRY GRAHAM, PRINCE ADDED; WHEN THIS MAN (LARRY GRAHAM) 1ST. GOT 2 MINNESOTA, I SAT DOWN AT HIS FEET JUST 2 LISTEN 2 HIM PLAY -----!!, WITH THAT LARRY STARTED THE FUNKIEST BASS PLAYING I'VE EVER HEARD!! SO BEAUTIFUL THE BROTHERLY LOVE THEY HAVE. HE ADDED; IF ANYBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH LARRY GRAHAM, THEN U HAVE A PROBLEM WITH US!! & TRUST YAWL DON'T KNOW HOW THESE BROTHERS ROLL..U BETTER ASK SOMEBODY!!

I SAY; YAWL BEST START RESPECTING, AND GIVING CREDIT WERE DUE. U MAY GET MORE CONCERTS..& LATE NIGHT JAM SESSIONS!!

ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENING WOULD B, WHEN PRINCE SAYS; I'M SO FUNKY I CAN'T EVEN SLEEP WITH MYSELF..HA, HA WE LOVED THAT!! I CHOKED ON MY GUM..BUT I'M OK..LOL


LOVE

OO by the way..Lenka Paris was Dj'ing in the house..2 Funky.....

Love

&&&
I've been to many concerts at the park,this one was one of the best, longest, smoothest I've seen and Prince was in a very happy mood. He shut it down right at 2am..if not for the city, I think he would have kept playing. &&&

he used to play until sunrise at PP. I highly doubt theres a curfew there on the outskirts of Chanhassen.

After all, he STARTED at 2:45 am on 7/7/7 at first avenue.

anyway, shane
[Edited 10/25/09 9:35am]

augustwinters said:

Right on! I know Larry doesn't get a lot of love around here - but even the biggest hater would have to admit that the section Prince did with him was the point at which that show turned from a nice, comfy campfire to a raging interno. It really was awesome.

I was already really impressed with his version of I Want you back but Shake your body is an even better song. Dying to hear what it sounded like

One question though: was P on vocals himself for the MJ covers? He usually leaves it to the backing singers..... (Shelby, Tamar)
[Edited 10/25/09 10:12am]

man if it wasn't such short notice I would have booked a flight.... love the reviews

Sounds like a fun show. Thanks so much to those who have taken the time to share their experiences.

Nice to see that things went smoothly. It can be done!

Nice to see the show was a solid 3 hours long. Does my heart good.

I'm so glad that it was a wonderful experience for those who attended and that the items needed for those without were obtained in abundance!

eelco said:

Prince did I Want You Back (as I recall). Elisa sang Shake Your Body.

shelbey from youtube was sitting in one of the VIP seating areas. but sitting all by herself...it was kind of strange.

hope she had fun, she was all by herself...she needed to come down and dance!