olb99 said:

I was at the show, quite close to the stage. Yes, it was a fun show, but great? Not really. Montreux 2009 was way better. I think Prince was really lazy. 20 musicians on stage. He didn't play guitar. Or any other instrument (except percussions, at some point). Yes, his voice can be seen as his main "instrument", but he's 55 and it shows. Also, Shelby J might be nice and all, but I don't need to hear her again in my life. Really. Once in 2007 was enough.

I was told Monday is going to be the "different" night (3rd Eye Girl only?). Can't wait!

I knew this would be the case... As a musician, I wouldn't care to witness this show. As amazing a bandleader as Prince is, it's just simply not the same as seeing him on Bass, Guitar, Keys, etc.

It worked during the Parade tour, but that's about it.

Although I love his voice (I also sing besides playing various instruments), his voice has aged much more than his skills on guitar, bass, etc., where he just keeps getting better.

I'm old school, and I've always "hated" the terms "singer" and "pop star" used in refference to Prince. He's simply far greater than that.

I'm thinking that he may be planning his move to solely being a bandleader, which is great. Duke. Cab. Many in jazz. I prefer the combination of player and bandleader. The jazz fusion that happened with John Blackwell, Rhonda, and Renato was phenomenal. I love the live 3rdEyeGirl stuff I've heard. I also love the larger, heavy horn section band, but for Pete's sake P... play something! I just really hope and pray it's not something like carpal tunnel syndrome... his hands are too precious for that, but it can happen.

Peace.

.

[Edited 7/13/13 19:07pm]

Giovanni777 said:

olb99 said:

I was at the show, quite close to the stage. Yes, it was a fun show, but great? Not really. Montreux 2009 was way better. I think Prince was really lazy. 20 musicians on stage. He didn't play guitar. Or any other instrument (except percussions, at some point). Yes, his voice can be seen as his main "instrument", but he's 55 and it shows. Also, Shelby J might be nice and all, but I don't need to hear her again in my life. Really. Once in 2007 was enough.

I was told Monday is going to be the "different" night (3rd Eye Girl only?). Can't wait!

I knew this would be the case... As a musician, I wouldn't care to witness this show. As amazing a bandleader as Prince is, it's just simply not the same as seeing him on Bass, Guitar, Keys, etc.

It worked during the Parade tour, but that's about it.

Although I love his voice (I also sing besides playing various instruments), his voice has aged much more than his skills on guitar, bass, etc., where he just keeps getting better.

I'm old school, and I've always "hated" the terms "singer" and "pop star" used in refference to Prince. He's simply far greater than that.

I'm thinking that he may be planning his move to solely being a bandleader, which is great. Duke. Cab. Many in jazz. I prefer the combination of player and bandleader. The jazz fusion that happened with John Blackwell, Rhonda, and Renato was phenomenal. I love the live 3rdEyeGirl stuff I've heard. I also love the larger, heavy horn section band, but for Pete's sake P... play something!

Peace.

.

[Edited 7/13/13 18:59pm]

i can't see prince staying away from his guitar for too long!

but with all this bandleader talk, i'm really curious to see him in action tomorrow.

& anyway i have always maintained that it's ALL about his voice. his instrumentals don't do much for me & people can cover his tunes precisely.. they can sound bloody near great til they open their cakeholes. his voice gives me the goosies

Giovanni777 said:

I knew this would be the case... As a musician, I wouldn't care to witness this show. As amazing a bandleader as Prince is, it's just simply not the same as seeing him on Bass, Guitar, Keys, etc.

It worked during the Parade tour, but that's about it.

[Edited 7/13/13 19:07pm]

I think the Parade tour worked so well because Prince was such a great dancer back then. He was fun to watch.

I'll be there for the second show and i am kind of heart broken to know that I won't get to see him play his guitar

Oh , well...

I'm liking the subtle melody changes he made to Purple Rain and his touching tribute to Claude.

olb99 said:

I was at the show, quite close to the stage. Yes, it was a fun show, but great? Not really. Montreux 2009 was way better. I think Prince was really lazy. 20 musicians on stage. He didn't play guitar. Or any other instrument (except percussions, at some point). Yes, his voice can be seen as his main "instrument", but he's 55 and it shows. Also, Shelby J might be nice and all, but I don't need to hear her again in my life. Really. Once in 2007 was enough.

I was told Monday is going to be the "different" night (3rd Eye Girl only?). Can't wait!

Why go if you're so bitter? I had a blast and was also "quite close to the stage." I did notice some sourpusses around me and wonder why they took up a ticket. Loved seeing Prince in the bandleader role. Maybe if it's the only Prince show you've ever seen it's a disappointment, but I thought it was a blast. And the new arrangements were killer. Like a New Orleans-style jazz throwdown. Man, the negative energy from Prince fans sometimes blows my mind.

limoncello said:

olb99 said:

I was at the show, quite close to the stage. Yes, it was a fun show, but great? Not really. Montreux 2009 was way better. I think Prince was really lazy. 20 musicians on stage. He didn't play guitar. Or any other instrument (except percussions, at some point). Yes, his voice can be seen as his main "instrument", but he's 55 and it shows. Also, Shelby J might be nice and all, but I don't need to hear her again in my life. Really. Once in 2007 was enough.

I was told Monday is going to be the "different" night (3rd Eye Girl only?). Can't wait!

Why go if you're so bitter? I had a blast and was also "quite close to the stage." I did notice some sourpusses around me and wonder why they took up a ticket. Loved seeing Prince in the bandleader role. Maybe if it's the only Prince show you've ever seen it's a disappointment, but I thought it was a blast. And the new arrangements were killer. Like a New Orleans-style jazz throwdown. Man, the negative energy from Prince fans sometimes blows my mind.

Because I'm a fan? Can't you be a fan and be a bit critical? As I said, it was a fun show, but Prince can do a lot better. Montreux 2009 set the bar quite high.

Also, I listen to a lot of jazz and when Prince tries to be "jazzy", it's always a disappointment. His musicians are good (except Hannah Ford), but they're musically so far behind the musicians I'm used to listen to, it's not even funny. Simply compare Andrew Gouche to Marcus Miller, for example. Or any saxophonist in Prince's band to Kenny Garrett. Or Cassandra O'Neal to any keyboardist in Marcus Miller's band. I'm not even talking about Herbie Hancock or Keith Jarrett... But they're "fun".

Anyway, some fans around me were obviously blown away, but I was under the impression that Prince could have done anything and they would have still been blown away.

And, once again, it was a fun show. You can be positive and critical at the same time. It's not negativity.

olb99 said:

limoncello said:

Why go if you're so bitter? I had a blast and was also "quite close to the stage." I did notice some sourpusses around me and wonder why they took up a ticket. Loved seeing Prince in the bandleader role. Maybe if it's the only Prince show you've ever seen it's a disappointment, but I thought it was a blast. And the new arrangements were killer. Like a New Orleans-style jazz throwdown. Man, the negative energy from Prince fans sometimes blows my mind.

Because I'm a fan? Can't you be a fan and be a bit critical? As I said, it was a fun show, but Prince can do a lot better. Montreux 2009 set the bar quite high.

Also, I listen to a lot of jazz and when Prince tries to be "jazzy", it's always a disappointment. His musicians are good (except Hannah Ford), but they're musically so far behind the musicians I'm used to listen to, it's not even funny. Simply compare Andrew Gouche to Marcus Miller, for example. Or any saxophonist in Prince's band to Kenny Garrett. Or Cassandra O'Neal to any keyboardist in Marcus Miller's band. I'm not even talking about Herbie Hancock or Keith Jarrett... But they're "fun".

Anyway, some fans around me were obviously blown away, but I was under the impression that Prince could have done anything and they would have still been blown away.

And, once again, it was a fun show. You can be positive and critical at the same time. It's not negativity.

I will agree with you on Hannah Ford. The weak link. Always seems to be one, doesn't there? Anyway, I was not disappointed with the show, though I was surprised. Loved Something in the Water Does Not Compute & Housequake, esp. As far as Shelby, I'll have to differ with the rest of the board here. She's a great voice and hype woman. (FYI, I rarely post on here because the negativity is overwhelming at times).

Prince was pissed off by the people with their cellphones taking pictures of him. He said"Put down your cellphones! I am trying to satisfy you." Then he put his glasses on for the rest of the evening. Maybe that is one of the reasons why he left early.

I really hate those people with their stupid cellphones. There will also be somebody who will make a good film of the show. Why can`t they just wait for that. Enjoy while you are there and watch a DVD later, people.

yellowday said:

Prince was pissed off by the people with their cellphones taking pictures of him. He said"Put down your cellphones! I am trying to satisfy you."

It was just the regular lyrics, more or less:

"It's time 2 send Ur company home and turn off Ur cell phone

Baby, can't U c, eye just want 2 get U satisfied (satisfied)"

I really hate those people with their stupid cellphones. There will also be somebody who will make a good film of the show. Why can`t they just wait for that. Enjoy while you are there and watch a DVD later, people.

yellowday said:

Prince was pissed off by the people with their cellphones taking pictures of him. He said"Put down your cellphones! I am trying to satisfy you." Then he put his glasses on for the rest of the evening. Maybe that is one of the reasons why he left early.

I really hate those people with their stupid cellphones. There will also be somebody who will make a good film of the show. Why can`t they just wait for that. Enjoy while you are there and watch a DVD later, people.

if it wasn't for cellphones, there wouldn't be video of most of Prince's show. and has he put out the Montreux DVD from 4 years ago yet?

I wonder if Prince will adress the Zimmerman verdict tonight? It's an issue I believe he cares deeply about. And so does his bandmates judging from their tweets.

A nice video report on the first nite which also shows the crazy stuff when people entered the venue:

http://www.rts.ch/video/i...certs.html

I'm going to the third show on Monday and I'm obviously really excited, but that video looks a bit chaotic..can't they just let folk in one at a time rather than have people racing around and shoving? Not very nice - I think I'll just hang back!

if i flew around the world and larry graham showed up.. i would be SO PISSED!

JEEZ!

i wish he would go away!

i hate that i let him cloud my love for P.. but i cant help it!

Back in the hotel after the second show, actually third to be correct. The horn section was given less time tonight, less solo's...but what a party it was! Prince launched the second show with a combo of songs (see prince vault for details) that made people dancing from the first notes...The NPG horn section makes the songs sound amazing, full bodied funk that sounds better than ever. Man these guys are tight and they got the moves too. i could care less wether Prince plays guitar or any instrument for that matter, they have all the instruments they need and the level of playing is high. i truly don't understand the whiners that infest this blog with nothing but complaints. If he would do the same set every night they complain, if it's different they complain because he doesn't play a certain song, if he does medley's,...complaints again, differents arrangements more whining, his voice is not as strong...blah blah blah. You have the chance to see one of the greatest performers alive doing HIS stuff. Have some fucking dignitiy and respect what the man is still doing in his fifties. I flew al the way from China to see him at work and i am super gratefull i am still able to see him perform. My first concert was in 1982, Sign of the Times tour in Anwerp and i have been following him ever since. So, thank you Prince for giving me these shows, these moments of greateness, for being able to see a true genius at work, allowing me to be a part of it. 2 completely different setlists in 2 days, who on earth is putting in the energy to do that ? I waited for more than one hour for Larry Graham to finish his routine show, waiting for Prince to show up, and when he did, it was all worth it, 15 minutes of great funk, playing keyboards and guitar backed up with his super powerfull new NPG horns section, so again i am gratefull and i feel blessed that i can still see my idol at work...now to sleep, need time to recover these old bones and get ready for show number 4 and maybe hopefully number 5,...

P

I forgot something, Prince sang Purple Rain at the end of the first show as a tribute to Claude Nobs the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival. I have never seen so many grown man cry, although they tried to hide it. I didn't, hell it was dark anyway. It was the most moving tribute i ever saw at it ran shivers up my spine. Prince's introducion and special words halfway true the song were touching and when he sang his last words,...i witnessed greatness and tears welled up, it was so beautiful and no it didn't have the guitar solo but it was not necessary, it was Prince saying goodbye to Claude and it was the perfect ending to another great night !

P

[Edited 7/14/13 21:42pm]

stillwaiting said:

excited said:

It was dire, I feel like crying

WTF is this nonsense? The second show started an hour late, was shorter, and that was disappointing. The content of the show was tight and great, and the vibe in the crowd (at least up against the stage) was fantastic - fun, much less aggressive than night one, happy people. Have to agree with purpleloft here, Prince fans too often sound like a bunch of spoiled brats living in the 80s-90s. The man is 56 and I just got to see him two almost completely different set lists, two nights in a row and had a damned blast. And to the person who said his voice is going: Oh, PLEASE.

I am not a sycophant. If these shows had been bad, I'd be upset for having flown 5,000 miles for them. Instead, I'm having a blast and thrilled to be a part of it. The horns section alone has been worth it. Can't WAIT for tonight.

limoncello said: