jaynoonan said:

Last night was the last night of the Oakland shows…..I attended Monday’s show, had a great time and was very impressed but it could not hold a candle to what I witnessed on Thursday night.

One thing that I recommend for people (if you can) is to sit in lower level for a show, and floor for another. You get a completely different experience. For lower level, I got a great overall feel for the show with a view slightly above the stage so I can see the lighting as well as the performance.

The floor gives you a very intimate experience of the show but you have no idea what the actual stage looks like. Both were awesome, but I always prefer up close & personal on the floor.

So why do I consider Thursday nights show one of Prince’s best arena shows that I have ever attended? It was all over the place, he played rarities, fairly new songs, and hits galore. I won’t go into the setlist cause that has been done but it was sooooo unpredictable and a completely different show that I saw on Monday.

Couldn’t believe he opened with “The Love We Make”, and that version of LRC is literally the best I have ever seen! Prince and Sheila have amazing chemistry and I have not seen them act this playful since the Lovesexy days!

The encores are what floored me….one after another. I felt he basically took Monday and Tuesdays show and combined them for Thursday night. This is one show I left thinking “He did just about everything!” Hit after Hit for the encore and he invited floor people to rush the stage for COOL. Being 2 feet away dancing to COOL was insane!!! Almost everyone thought the show was over…lights were on but crowd continued to chant….he came back for 2 more "Lets Work” and U got the Look. (again dancing right next to the stage with other hard core fans!!)

Are you kidding me? Thursdays show was at least 1 hour longer than Monday nights show. 3+ hours….I think I prefer not having an opening act!!!

I know some have witnessed Prince 100s of times in concert. This was my 21^st time and it was the best arena show I saw him put on! (along with Lovesexy).

Absolutely blew me away…..and paying $280 for Section A seats with last nights set, was worth every penny and the 2 hour drive home to SACRAMENTO!!!!

Still in awe this morning!!!

[Edited 2/25/11 8:59am]

3 hours? Well you beat us with the 2/7 show. He started at 8:40pm and ended by 11:00pm on 2/7. We had a 2 hr 20 minute show.

[Edited 2/25/11 9:16am]

2elijah said:

jaynoonan said:

Last night was the last night of the Oakland shows…..I attended Monday’s show, had a great time and was very impressed but it could not hold a candle to what I witnessed on Thursday night.

One thing that I recommend for people (if you can) is to sit in lower level for a show, and floor for another. You get a completely different experience. For lower level, I got a great overall feel for the show with a view slightly above the stage so I can see the lighting as well as the performance.

The floor gives you a very intimate experience of the show but you have no idea what the actual stage looks like. Both were awesome, but I always prefer up close & personal on the floor.

So why do I consider Thursday nights show one of Prince’s best arena shows that I have ever attended? It was all over the place, he played rarities, fairly new songs, and hits galore. I won’t go into the setlist cause that has been done but it was sooooo unpredictable and a completely different show that I saw on Monday.

Couldn’t believe he opened with “The Love We Make”, and that version of LRC is literally the best I have ever seen! Prince and Sheila have amazing chemistry and I have not seen them act this playful since the Lovesexy days!

The encores are what floored me….one after another. I felt he basically took Monday and Tuesdays show and combined them for Thursday night. This is one show I left thinking “He did just about everything!” Hit after Hit for the encore and he invited floor people to rush the stage for COOL. Being 2 feet away dancing to COOL was insane!!! Almost everyone thought the show was over…lights were on but crowd continued to chant….he came back for 2 more "Lets Work” and U got the Look. (again dancing right next to the stage with other hard core fans!!)

Are you kidding me? Thursdays show was at least 1 hour longer than Monday nights show. 3+ hours….I think I prefer not having an opening act!!!

I know some have witnessed Prince 100s of times in concert. This was my 21^st time and it was the best arena show I saw him put on! (along with Lovesexy).

Absolutely blew me away…..and paying $280 for Section A seats with last nights set, was worth every penny and the 2 hour drive home to SACRAMENTO!!!!

Still in awe this morning!!!

[Edited 2/25/11 8:59am]

3 hours? Well you beat us with the 2/7 show. He started at 8:40pm and ended by 11:00pm on 2/7. We had a 2 hr 20 minute show.

[Edited 2/25/11 9:16am]

Last night was literally 1 hour longer than Monday night. It was INSANE!!!!

jaynoonan said:

2elijah said:

3 hours? Well you beat us with the 2/7 show. He started at 8:40pm and ended by 11:00pm on 2/7. We had a 2 hr 20 minute show.

[Edited 2/25/11 9:16am]

Last night was literally 1 hour longer than Monday night. It was INSANE!!!!

Well, I can tell from your excitement, it was a good show.

Prince Ends Oakland Run With Tribute to Sly & the Family Stone

THEY FORGOT LET'S WORK AND COOL for those crazy ending encores

[Edited 2/25/11 9:47am]

2020 said:

Apparently no opening act Prince open with a blistering guitar solo

That's an understatement!! He blew the roof off!

NDRU said:

Larry & Sheila were perfect additions tonight. I don't want to hear Larry sing a whole set, but a bit of riffing between he & Prince is worth watching.

Sheila looked gorgeous and she played drums on Purple Rain.

I thought the outfits were tame until the people in the expensive seats got onstage. Biggest tits ever.

Really I have seen bigger.. but not on such a lovely face. I think that was Elle LeMasters FKA Breze

Yes I saw her also, so did the WHOLE arena a chocolate goddess. Shelby was cheering her on.

I'm still floating on air...I supposed to go to work

But I can't come down from this high

Awesome show every second of it....was screaming the whole night

Dancing, waving my arms in the air...I love Prince....I love him I love him and

I love him

He looked absolutely perfect in every way, petite yet very masculine and strong.

I was mesmerized all night long watching him.

he kept outdoing hisself one hit after another. The only song i feel that was missing

is "Erotic City", but I can understand why he probably left it out.

And "Do Me Baby", oh my Gawd!!! loved it loved it loved it he let us sing every other verse

So intimate... Wow i can't come down off this high..

Some more points to mention "Purple Rain"....Wow I've seen my man

about 20 times and this was special I was so feeling him and the lighting spectacular.

My son was recording pieces throughout the show, but have not had time to see it yet.

That's gonna be like reliving it.

I am 50 and my son is 18, this is our first concert together and wow did I pick the right

one. Now he knows why I've been a die hard my whole life.

This show is up there, way up there. Before this show the best Prince concert

to date I would say is Musicology in Reno the opening show in 2004, but now here it is

7 years later and the man hasn't aged a bit. Justs keeps getting better.. Oh Yeah

I love Prince I love you..

Larry and Prince reminded me of the Brothers Johnson, remember thunder thumbs and lightening

licks? ..well that was them last night

And oh yes Sheila you go girl

those drumsticks are like extensions of her arms flawless motion

I feel like a giddy school girl

Love you guys 4 ever

...chriss...

I might go to work now

masterl said:

NDRU said:

Larry & Sheila were perfect additions tonight. I don't want to hear Larry sing a whole set, but a bit of riffing between he & Prince is worth watching.

Sheila looked gorgeous and she played drums on Purple Rain.

I thought the outfits were tame until the people in the expensive seats got onstage. Biggest tits ever.

Really I have seen bigger.. but not on such a lovely face. I think that was Elle LeMasters FKA Breze

Yes I saw her also, so did the WHOLE arena a chocolate goddess. Shelby was cheering her on.

Prince was amazing my partner and I were sitting on floor section A. I was not surprised to see Elle there in VIP but was really surprised she got on stage. I think she really likes Prince and he was performing like he did back in the lovesexy days

chriss said:

I'm still floating on air...I supposed to go to work

But I can't come down from this high

Awesome show every second of it....was screaming the whole night

Dancing, waving my arms in the air...I love Prince....I love him I love him and

I love him

He looked absolutely perfect in every way, petite yet very masculine and strong.

I was mesmerized all night long watching him.

he kept outdoing hisself one hit after another. The only song i feel that was missing

is "Erotic City", but I can understand why he probably left it out.

And "Do Me Baby", oh my Gawd!!! loved it loved it loved it he let us sing every other verse

So intimate... Wow i can't come down off this high..

Some more points to mention "Purple Rain"....Wow I've seen my man

about 20 times and this was special I was so feeling him and the lighting spectacular.

My son was recording pieces throughout the show, but have not had time to see it yet.

That's gonna be like reliving it.

I am 50 and my son is 18, this is our first concert together and wow did I pick the right

one. Now he knows why I've been a die hard my whole life.

This show is up there, way up there. Before this show the best Prince concert

to date I would say is Musicology in Reno the opening show in 2004, but now here it is

7 years later and the man hasn't aged a bit. Justs keeps getting better.. Oh Yeah

I love Prince I love you..

Larry and Prince reminded me of the Brothers Johnson, remember thunder thumbs and lightening

licks? ..well that was them last night

And oh yes Sheila you go girl

those drumsticks are like extensions of her arms flawless motion

I feel like a giddy school girl

Love you guys 4 ever

...chriss...

I might go to work now

Oh I forgot to tell you about the dancing. that boy can gig

he was gigging all over the stage, I mean getting down with the stink moves

I especially was groovin watching him get down on top of his Purple Piano

You go Brother, can't wait for you to come back and serve us up again

Thank you Prince so much for all that love you give us. I really

feel it way down deep in my soul. It's artists like you that make life so precious.

...chriss...

just called by boss, I will be going in late today, but that's cool he understands

I work for a sign shop have been doing graphic design for about 15 years.

The very first illustrator piece I ever made was a prince drawing ( part of it is in my icon user name), any way I've been here at this job for over 6 years

and I have my original artwork (from 1996) of Prince over my desk

So my boss definitely understands how I'm feeling about now

aldape69 said:

purplemookiebut said:

over 3 horus??? omg. he loves oakland more the nyc!!

Prince will always be loved in the San Francisco Bay Area. I thought I read somewhere that we are his number one fan base. He knew he could announce a show on Thursday and it would sell out all 3 shows. He has played at the civic center, warfield, san jose event center, oracle, paramount, fillmore and aftershows at DNA. He plays all over the bay and we all flock to him. He played the San Jose Event Center and the bottom floor was standing only, you should have seen the crowd bounce up and down the whole night. Great music from a great musician

i thought pver europe was the #1 fanbase?

rainbowchild said:

Thanks for the reviews! More please! Wish I was there! Prince better come to Chicago soon!

Oh, how I want this!!!! I am happy for those of you who saw him in Oakland. I loved him in NJ and NYC. I hope he makes it to more places this years. For a lot of you, it's been 7 years since he came your way.

jaynoonan said:

Prince Ends Oakland Run With Tribute to Sly & the Family Stone

• Posted on Feb 25th 2011 4:48AM by Benjy Eisen
• Comments (1)

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The artist known as Prince became King of Oakland, Calif. this week, bringing his 'Welcome 2 America' tour to the Oracle Arena for a three-show stand, which was announced and ticketed less than a week in advance. It was a risky move given today's economic climate and the volatility of concert attendance in recent years. And yet, Prince pulled it off, seamlessly. And it wasn't the only risk he took with these shows -- it was just the first of many.

Whereas Monday night's grand opening featured special guest Carlos Santana and an unexpected cover of Rihanna's 'Rude Boy,' and whereas Wednesday's show was a hit parade through Prince's back pages, the third and final performance was reserved for an all-out funk-off. It was a dance party that lasted nearly three hours and which spanned the width of Prince's multi-era career, opening up with a string of guitar bangers before giving way to the show-stoppers.

And although he's been known pay homage to his heroes for entire show segments, it was still a treat when Prince brought out bassist Larry Graham -- who opened the first two nights with his band Graham Central Station -- for a little tribute to Sly & the Family Stone, of which, Graham was an integral member. Prince wedged his own 'Alphabet St.' inside a Sly & the Family Stone medley which included 'Everyday People,' 'Thank You (Fallentinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' and 'Dance to the Music.'

In the end, Prince had a hard time saying goodbye to Oakland -- he said parting words such as "goodnight" and "thank you" and "we'll see you next time" for nearly two hours, and he even left the stage entirely multiple times, only to come back for seconds and thirds. After three encores -- which packed such punches as 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' 'Let's Go Crazy,' 'Delirious,' '1999,' 'Purple Rain,' and 'Kiss' -- Prince waited for the house lights to come on and the place to start clearing out before deciding to have one more go of it. Those who stayed were treated to even more of Prince's chart toppers, including 'Raspberry Beret,' 'Cream,' and -- finally -- 'U Got the Look.'

Given the unconventional, hit-and-run nature of Prince's 'Welcome 2 America' tour, who knows where he'll strike next. But his stay at the Oracle Arena in Oakland was, by all accounts, victorious. "Bring foot spray because it's going to be funky," Prince told reporters at a press conference for the tour, back in October. "Come early, come often ... no two shows will be the same." He's got that right.

Dreamer20ten said:

I saw a tweet just now that "they released doves at the end" ...????

The reports sound so amazing ... I'm excited about it all those miles away in Austria!!! PRINCE ROCKS!!! He is simply the best live performer and anyone who says something else has no idea!

FALSE! I stayed to the VERY END. I was one of the last to leave the arena. No Doves.

mrphil22 said:

Dreamer20ten said:

I saw a tweet just now that "they released doves at the end" ...????

The reports sound so amazing ... I'm excited about it all those miles away in Austria!!! PRINCE ROCKS!!! He is simply the best live performer and anyone who says something else has no idea!

FALSE! I stayed to the VERY END. I was one of the last to leave the arena. No Doves.

yeah we were indoors, I can't imagine any doves were there

Hi all, I went Monday and Thursday, and the latter was easily superior. These were my first two P shows and hands down, yesterday was the best concert of my relatively young life!

I'm actually more a fan of P's slow stuff, much more than the funky songs (I know, I know) so I thought the slow version of LRC last night was the best thing I've heard in years! And I went ballistic when he got on the piano and did Do Me Baby--probably my favorite P song. I bought the bootleg Naked Tour DVD in Tokyo just for that, so I relish every chance to hear it live.

Admittedly I left a little unfulfilled after Monday's show (no LRC, 1999, Let's Go Crazy, etc.) but I'm on top of the world now.

[Edited 2/25/11 13:38pm]

Wow. sounds like Prince shut it down! I havent heard of a setlist like that in ages.

More pics from last night pleeeeease!!!

souleyvegan said:

More pics from last night pleeeeease!!!

I'll have some for you later

He really did "The Love We Make"??? Nobody tell L4OATheOriginal that because he's going to be pissed off that Prince finally honored his request on the West Coast where he couldn't hear it.

chriss said:

souleyvegan said:

More pics from last night pleeeeease!!!

I'll have some for you later

Gracias!!!

sextonseven said:

He really did "The Love We Make"??? Nobody tell L4OATheOriginal that because he's going to be pissed off that Prince finally honored his request on the West Coast where he couldn't hear it.

I was outside talking to heartbeatocean, and we heard the song, but it was such a low-key beginning we were saying "is this Prince or the opening act?" but then I recognized the song.

I could not believe he opened with that! Kinda set the tone for a night that was not by the numbers.

An official audio/dvd release of this show would really represent the 20Ten/W2A era

it would also represent that Prince is absolutely the best Live-performer at this time.

I'm a little proud I was at the 2009 Paris concert in which the current concert setlist was born

Prince performed Take Me With U/Guitar/Anotherlover, Mountains and a Uptown/Let's Work/Cool medley for the very first time

[Edited 2/25/11 14:20pm]

I still can't get over what I've witnessed the last couple of nights. Prince shows are always something special, but these particular ones were something -very- special, even by prince standards. There's a little something extra that comes out when he plays the bay area. Last night's show was over 3 hours long! Multiple encores. The setlist.. lawd. I'm still reliving it. Easily the most memorable concerts of my life.

[Edited 2/25/11 14:31pm]

CHRISLUV92 said:

nice

CHRISLUV92 said:

Check out the spelled "Prince" on armband.

LOVELYSKYE said:

CHRISLUV92 said:

Check out the spelled "Prince" on armband.

Gangsta

purplemookiebut said:

aldape69 said:

Prince will always be loved in the San Francisco Bay Area. I thought I read somewhere that we are his number one fan base. He knew he could announce a show on Thursday and it would sell out all 3 shows. He has played at the civic center, warfield, san jose event center, oracle, paramount, fillmore and aftershows at DNA. He plays all over the bay and we all flock to him. He played the San Jose Event Center and the bottom floor was standing only, you should have seen the crowd bounce up and down the whole night. Great music from a great musician

i thought pver europe was the #1 fanbase?

ridiculous HE LUVVVVVVS NEW YORK! I had never been there before the 7th but I know he felt the love. He always talking about america as some place spoiled and unappreciative compared to Europe. (okay he never said that but I get that vibe from interviews where he's asked where he like sto play) But I know that's lolo to say now because he knows he has thousands of really loyal fans here.

Cyra said: