Prince has never been predictable. He has always divided opinion. He is also a genius. All 3 of these aspects have played out in recent days. Sat here at 1.50 am on Monday morning I am still shaking my head in amazement at the day that has played out.

I missed out on the opening events of Prince in London earlier this week and was determined to be a part of this weekend. I was in the car en route to London inside 30 minutes of his announcement to play shepherds Bush Empire that came just before midday. Unfortunately hit and run means there are casualties – not enough time to sort the kids and take the wife so she missed out. Again. We will get there one day I promise!

Micra's are not designed to be driven the way I drove mine and I fear my car will never quite recover. I might not either. My bladder isn't designed to withstand large periods of time without emptying so they both got a good workout today!

As I drove into the area of shepherds bush I noticed a bus queue that just seemed to go on and on. The penny dropped – that the Prince queue. Am I too late already?

I hit the queue and quickly started chatting with some great people. There was a lot of love and a lot of newbie's there – Prince's fan base has always been eclectic – tonight no different although it felt an older audience to me!

2.30 – 7.00 was breeze to be honest especially when security secured our spots with a somewhat old fashioned ticketing system that involved scribbling our number onto our hands in magic marker pen. I was 620. That meant a guaranteed spot downstairs – great.

I was more than happy to shell out the £70 notes that was being quoted. Whether it was a giant publicity stunt or it was the work of the 2 guys that initiated the 10 pound prince campaign I don't know but in the end it was a tenner to get in. The tickets said £70. Prince provided hot chocolate too. For free.

Doors at 7 – start at 8 and it pretty much did. 3rd eye girl came on asked everyone to be nice and not record. Then Pretzel Body language the new tune came over the PA system. Then it all went off!

Some 2 hours and 40 minutes later, after 5 (I think) encores' and a run through of maybe 30 different tunes it was over. For tonight at least.

The default setting was definitely Rock – P opened with Lets go crazy reloaded and continued in the same vain through tunes like She's always in my hair, Guitar and a slower I could never take the place of your man. There was a ton of songs from Classic albums, Purple rain got a good look in with Lets go crazy, The beautiful ones, when doves cry, purple rain itself and even u rare outing for I would die for you. Whilst Rock was the default and the first set almost entirely there was time for a beautiful nod to the One night alone Tour with a piano medley that included How come you don't call me, the beautiful ones, diamonds and pearls, purple rain and adore. There was a lot of sign of the times material Hot thing, sign of the times and a funky Forever in my life in there. A bit of glamorous life and the most beautiful girl in the world were nodded to, nothing more.

In the crowd I thought I saw Larry Graham although he looked like he really let himself go – turns out it was George Clinton who Prince propped at the teacher – I never seen George look so smart.

Back to the funk endorphin machine got a playout. Play that funky music was in there as was a great Something in the water does not compute. Bambi was insane. There is no other was to describe it. Prince kept coming back 'You expecting an awful lot for 10 dollars. I got a big black hat out back I'm gonna pass round'. He just did not stop. It was thunderous and triumphant. There was I like it there and chaos and disorder thrown in for good measure.

Whatever you think about Prince and the way he has conducted himself this time round he was a delight on stage tonight. Funny, funky and with more energy than I have seen since about 1995. Straight up. This band works like a charm for him and I hope as many people as possible, including my wife, get a chance to see him before he heads home. A stunning night!

Whitnail said:

OirishKev said:

I was there for that too. Loved every minute of it.

point depot 95, went to both and The Pod (the night before the aftershow). Those two concerts were amazing, I thought he would level the place on the second night, he got the audience into such a frenzy. One key thing about it back then was, i didnt have a rucksack, phone charger, tablet...and so on. Aw, the memories!

I have a cassette somewhere.... I bet we were standing next to each other, I remember that Get wild Jam. I thought they were going to need to call the law to contain it.

Impossible to sleep!! Feel like the adrenalinemachine

3QuartersInAGlass said:

Impossible to sleep!! Feel like the adrenalinemachine

I hear ya there!

'dre

<p>&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p class="bqoa">SquirrelMeat said:</p><p>From memory, might be a bit out. 2h 40mins</p>
</blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p>
Thanks!
Setlist looks quite OK.
The skeleton of the show has changed since the other try-out shows in the USA.
We still see a Purple Rain and a sampler set but the latter is slightly different now.
I do think I would have liked to be there.

Having seen Prince in LA numerous times over the past few years, and most recently up close and personal at the Darby in NYC, I'm really chuffed that my home city is finally getting some love. Thank you all for the updates and pics!

james said:

and although ALL Prince songs sound best live, the show was 50% B or C class material. C&D, I Like it There, and the new tracks just aren't up to his best!

Taste may vary..

Did you notice a guitar-oriented vibe throughout the show?

OirishKev said:

I can't even actually isten to the radio today - but I am genuinely happy for the crew that made it. Keep the faith. I may just stop reading this thread althogether!

Thanks for the setlist and stories from last nights concert, I can literally feel how great it was!!! I think Prince and the girls drew a new baseline in the history of live music; this is how its done, folks.

If they are playing tonight I just gotta get me some of that, got to.

james said:

Chops said:

Stranger said:

Thanks for the setlist and stories from last nights concert, I can literally feel how great it was!!! I think Prince and the girls drew a new baseline in the history of live music; this is how its done, folks.

If they are playing tonight I just gotta get me some of that, got to.

Couldnt agree more with that.....me too. I am ready to go at short notice pretty much any day this week. Thank you to all those people on the org which make it easier to track down when and where the next event will occur

Got in the queue about 1.30 - the next 6 hours were a breeze to be honest. The show was easily the best i had seen Prince perform.

Very raw rock - He apparently has the Empire on hold for the next few days and has the electric ball room booked for the whole week.

OirishKev said:

Whitnail said:

point depot 95, went to both and The Pod (the night before the aftershow). Those two concerts were amazing, I thought he would level the place on the second night, he got the audience into such a frenzy. One key thing about it back then was, i didnt have a rucksack, phone charger, tablet...and so on. Aw, the memories!

I have a cassette somewhere.... I bet we were standing next to each other, I remember that Get wild Jam. I thought they were going to need to call the law to contain it.

I have the cassette from the first night. I bet the cassette is from the first night. The reason I say this is, I wanted the tapes to both gigs but that little record store in Temple Bar where i used to get them, burnt down the night of the second gig.

However, the 2 nd night did eventually surface. I also have the Pod one, but thats nothing to write home about. I remember reading a review of that and what I heard on the boot confirmed what a poor aftershow that was. The Pod was always well known for being full of knobs, and most of the knobs there that night didnt recognise Bono, let alone Prince. The again, Bono is probably the greatest Knob in the music business, so no surprise there really.

Chops said:

Prince has never been predictable. He has always divided opinion. He is also a genius. All 3 of these aspects have played out in recent days. Sat here at 1.50 am on Monday morning I am still shaking my head in amazement at the day that has played out.

I missed out on the opening events of Prince in London earlier this week and was determined to be a part of this weekend. I was in the car en route to London inside 30 minutes of his announcement to play shepherds Bush Empire that came just before midday. Unfortunately hit and run means there are casualties – not enough time to sort the kids and take the wife so she missed out. Again. We will get there one day I promise!

Micra's are not designed to be driven the way I drove mine and I fear my car will never quite recover. I might not either. My bladder isn't designed to withstand large periods of time without emptying so they both got a good workout today!

As I drove into the area of shepherds bush I noticed a bus queue that just seemed to go on and on. The penny dropped – that the Prince queue. Am I too late already?

I hit the queue and quickly started chatting with some great people. There was a lot of love and a lot of newbie's there – Prince's fan base has always been eclectic – tonight no different although it felt an older audience to me!

2.30 – 7.00 was breeze to be honest especially when security secured our spots with a somewhat old fashioned ticketing system that involved scribbling our number onto our hands in magic marker pen. I was 620. That meant a guaranteed spot downstairs – great.

I was more than happy to shell out the £70 notes that was being quoted. Whether it was a giant publicity stunt or it was the work of the 2 guys that initiated the 10 pound prince campaign I don't know but in the end it was a tenner to get in. The tickets said £70. Prince provided hot chocolate too. For free.

Doors at 7 – start at 8 and it pretty much did. 3rd eye girl came on asked everyone to be nice and not record. Then Pretzel Body language the new tune came over the PA system. Then it all went off!

Some 2 hours and 40 minutes later, after 5 (I think) encores' and a run through of maybe 30 different tunes it was over. For tonight at least.

The default setting was definitely Rock – P opened with Lets go crazy reloaded and continued in the same vain through tunes like She's always in my hair, Guitar and a slower I could never take the place of your man. There was a ton of songs from Classic albums, Purple rain got a good look in with Lets go crazy, The beautiful ones, when doves cry, purple rain itself and even u rare outing for I would die for you. Whilst Rock was the default and the first set almost entirely there was time for a beautiful nod to the One night alone Tour with a piano medley that included How come you don't call me, the beautiful ones, diamonds and pearls, purple rain and adore. There was a lot of sign of the times material Hot thing, sign of the times and a funky Forever in my life in there. A bit of glamorous life and the most beautiful girl in the world were nodded to, nothing more.

In the crowd I thought I saw Larry Graham although he looked like he really let himself go – turns out it was George Clinton who Prince propped at the teacher – I never seen George look so smart.

Back to the funk endorphin machine got a playout. Play that funky music was in there as was a great Something in the water does not compute. Bambi was insane. There is no other was to describe it. Prince kept coming back 'You expecting an awful lot for 10 dollars. I got a big black hat out back I'm gonna pass round'. He just did not stop. It was thunderous and triumphant. There was I like it there and chaos and disorder thrown in for good measure.

Whatever you think about Prince and the way he has conducted himself this time round he was a delight on stage tonight. Funny, funky and with more energy than I have seen since about 1995. Straight up. This band works like a charm for him and I hope as many people as possible, including my wife, get a chance to see him before he heads home. A stunning night!

He also said before one of the encores, possibly the 2nd last one, "You are gluttons for punishment" which I thought was actually quite true.

Can anyone confirm what he said during "I Like It There", about doing something all over the floor. I am sure he said ejaculate, but that cant be right.

Actually, I just looked up the lyrics and it is "All my emotional ejaculate on the floor (on the floor)"

paolo said:

Very raw rock - He apparently has the Empire on hold for the next few days and has the electric ball room booked for the whole week.

"Apparently"? I think we need a bit more information than that. Where did you hear this? Who told you? Etc, etc.

Last night was the best Prince show I have ever seen. WOW, truly. Met some fantastic people. I hope to met up with you again real soon. For those who, like me, began to put objections in the way of going. You are just going to have to make it happen.

Whitnail said:

OirishKev said:

I have a cassette somewhere.... I bet we were standing next to each other, I remember that Get wild Jam. I thought they were going to need to call the law to contain it.

I have the cassette from the first night. I bet the cassette is from the first night. The reason I say this is, I wanted the tapes to both gigs but that little record store in Temple Bar where i used to get them, burnt down the night of the second gig.

However, the 2 nd night did eventually surface. I also have the Pod one, but thats nothing to write home about. I remember reading a review of that and what I heard on the boot confirmed what a poor aftershow that was. The Pod was always well known for being full of knobs, and most of the knobs there that night didnt recognise Bono, let alone Prince. The again, Bono is probably the greatest Knob in the music business, so no surprise there really.

Yes the little bootleggers did burn down. The hat shop underneath it caught fire. I helped him load his stuff into his car!!! As a result - I have both nights!!

Rorywan said:

You could hear it in Cerys Matthews voice when she asked 3EG on air where the fans could go and buy tickets.

I didn't - think you might be projecting!

MatthewBest said:

paolo said:

Very raw rock - He apparently has the Empire on hold for the next few days and has the electric ball room booked for the whole week.

"Apparently"? I think we need a bit more information than that. Where did you hear this? Who told you? Etc, etc.

Security was saying he had the Empire on 'hold' doesnt mean he'll play there, but can if he chooses to. In regards to your second question, a fellow orger in the queue said that he had the ballroom booked for the whole week - you can take that with a pinch of salt, but seemed pretty convinced.

GoldiesParade said:

tintin said:

GoldiesParade said:

For those who, like me, began to put objections in the way of going. You are just going to have to make it happen.

Easier said than done for a lot of folks on here.

OirishKev said:

Whitnail said:

I have the cassette from the first night. I bet the cassette is from the first night. The reason I say this is, I wanted the tapes to both gigs but that little record store in Temple Bar where i used to get them, burnt down the night of the second gig.

However, the 2 nd night did eventually surface. I also have the Pod one, but thats nothing to write home about. I remember reading a review of that and what I heard on the boot confirmed what a poor aftershow that was. The Pod was always well known for being full of knobs, and most of the knobs there that night didnt recognise Bono, let alone Prince. The again, Bono is probably the greatest Knob in the music business, so no surprise there really.

Yes the little bootleggers did burn down. The hat shop underneath it caught fire. I helped him load his stuff into his car!!! As a result - I have both nights!!

Wow, after all these years, I find out what happenned. I always thought it was a bit random that it burnt down that particular night.

Anyway, I just rooted out those tapes. Green cover photocopy of the ticket, and oddly another inlay in pink which has some hand written information. Almost like these were the first copys. I cant recall where or when I got my hands on these. I am certain it was not on O'Connell Bridge. It is possible I went in before going to the second show. Would they have had them the day after the gig?. I am curious about this as I didnt live in Dublin.

udo said:

james said:

and although ALL Prince songs sound best live, the show was 50% B or C class material. C&D, I Like it There, and the new tracks just aren't up to his best!

Taste may vary..

Did you notice a guitar-oriented vibe throughout the show?

Yeah, not really to my taste these new songs... but I'm glad he's playing new songs.

I love the idea of the rock show, and it certainly made a refreshing change from another hits show!!

My complaint is only that he has better "rock" tracks... Peach, Fury, The Ride, Undertaker, Let's Work, When You Were Mine, Electric Chair.

All a matter of personal taste though !