If I had to sum up this concert in one word, it would be "disappointing".

Technically this show was a mess. It's Prince...expectations are for top-notch, state of the art.

The sound was terrible. I know United Center isn't Orchestra Hall, but I've heard plenty of decent mixes there. Maybe it sounded good at the board and in Prince's mix, but the house sounded awful. Vocals seemed to get burried when the full band was playing. There's no way that sound would be acceptable to a professional mixer listening in the house.

Lighting for much of the show left me saying "huh?".

Video not only did not add anything to the show, it was actualy an infuriating distraction. Cameras where shooting for DVD (for Prince's review, I believe) in 16x9 widescreen while the big stage video monitors were verticle. The resulted in Prince not being off camera nearly half the time!

The stage just didn't seem to work. The horns felt out of sync.

Maybe it's a production manager or producer issue?

Not nearly enough guitar.

The encore situation was just bad. If you want to F.U. record companies and criticts, thats fine. Don't F.U. the audience.

This show really felt like a rough rehersal.

[Edited 9/24/12 23:19pm]

[Edited 9/25/12 0:04am]

Sydney night 1 was terrible too - lots of technical issues (the most obvious was the guitar 'blow-out') ...sound was 'ok' but lighting/timing and other elements were pretty average - almost unorganised...by night 2 though it was much better.... but throughout the tour downunder it was hit and miss...the melbourne shows were probably the best in that there were less technical issues...Brisbane night 1 was great setlist-wise - but the sound was terrible...the next time he played it was better...or so I hear, but by then I'd returned back to NZ....

the same will apply for tomorrow's show - it'll be a vast improvement. Does he ever stand in the 'bleachers' at rehearsals and actually listen to how things sound 'off-stage'?

The Prince 'of years gone by' would have never allowed this trend to happen - let alone become a trend...is it his sound/lighting crew?does he have the same people working each show or do they change from city to city? or is it just him - his setlist 'evolves' over time, but to be honest the last 2 or 3 years has been pretty much the same every night..with a few exceptions...it must bore him to death sometimes...

at least he's trying something new with the horns - but to me I think he needs to move forward - stop playing 'the hits' and reclaim his throne instead of living off his past....and also enough of pushing other artists so much....we pay to see and hear him and his songs.

also it is strange to read he hardly played guitar - he palyed a lot of guitar and Bass downunder...it ws awesome to finally see him playing bass!!

[Edited 9/25/12 1:24am]

Yes I went to both Brisbane shows, and it is true, the first night was plagued with sound problems, distortion & not able to hear vocals, but the 2nd night was WOW so great.

2020 said:

From what I read on the threads, P is delivering tonight.... Pretty much the same M.O. as last year... First show doesn't measure up to his or the audience's expectations...and then he really DELIVERS in shows the following nights....