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It IS great PR no doubt, the newspapers and websites are buzzing with Prince. BUT will it really translate into sales of Plectrum Electrum? I hope so but am doubtful. It is a shame they are not playing at The Brits (though presenting an award is cool). Obviously nobody actually knows the "plan" for the PE album but if Prince and Kobalt are sensible they would release it now to exploit maximum PR and...

I think Prince is attempting to recapture that 70s vibe with the sound of the band and the style of gigs (no internet ticketing sites - though a lovely irony with the Twitter announcements). If that is the case then the album needs to be out and there needs to be a steadily building/increasing scale of tour to grow the success of the album (ie 70s style) rather than expecting an immediate hit and if it doesn't work drop it. Loads of 70s bands built their success in this way wth extensive touring eventually driving sales (though of course the world has changed and artists make more money touring then from album sales - might have always been the way but whereas tours used to be about promoting the album, it appears to have flipped around now).

the line on sunday was one of the best in a long time. proper chilled out. very different from the previous lines, and all because of the right mentality set by fans, nothing to do with security or anyone official. no pushing in line or fighting or arguing. people seemed to actually be having a good time in line. second line got in pretty fast too. the whole day was exhausting though

Interesting write up...

"Many is the hour I’ve spent hunched over my laptop, waiting for tickets for a favourite artist to go on sale, finger poised hopefully over the “buy” button, only for the website to crash, and then re-boot itself a few minutes later to tell me that the show is sold out. Clearly there is no fun in this."

http://www.independent.co...29140.html

Yep when the second line started moving it did go very quick, compared to SBE anyway, a few people looking to jump in Q for second show, but few and far between. Great great show, didnt think much of the venue though, sound was V good but think they squeezed too many in, and unless you got in early or was a 6 footer poor view, people where on stair cases trying to see.

Who was the sax player? Thought it added to the band very nicelyl...more funky this week.

Yep when the second line started moving it did go very quick, compared to SBE anyway, a few people looking to jump in Q for second show, but few and far between. Great great show, didnt think much of the venue though, sound was V good but think they squeezed too many in, and unless you got in early or was a 6 footer poor view, people where on stair cases trying to see.

Who was the sax player? Thought it added to the band very nicelyl...a little more funky this week.

Marcus Anderson

princess said:

Marcus Anderson

Thanks.............he was smoking

So what exactly happened last night? 1st show a bit shorter (90 mins or less), 2nd show ran in to 3rd show, making one long second show, with some people let in for free towards the end of the extended 2nd show?

It is all starting to sound a bit random. I was at the 2nd show at EB for £10, which was incredible, and easily worth £70. But I think if people are queuing for hours, and paying £70, then it is a bit of a raw deal to the get one of the shorter shows. If they are £70 then I do think they should be a roughly consistent length for that money.

But I do still think the pay at the door thing is pretty great, unfortunate as it is that it means a lot of people can't go. But for those that can, I think that Independent article is bang on. When I happened to be in London on the 5th, making adhoc plans to stay over, and hotfooting it across London on the off chance really did feel like a proper fan searrching for that spontaneous concert. And the queueing was actually pretty great, with lots of people chatting and a generally good atmosphere. And then when we actually got in, a real buzz of "OMG! We're in!" excitement that you wouldn't normally get.

Anyway - hoping to make it up to one show back in London after Manchester. Bit of a commute, but judging by the queue lenngths yesterday, should be do-able.

Already queue at Ronnie Scott's!

[Edited 2/17/14 2:14am]

Chops is now officially retiring from this tour! Itch well and truly scratched thanks very much! Saw SBE last week - immense.

Queued from around midday yesterday with wife and limped back into bed around 5 ish this morning. 2 hours later up and into the office for my annual review with boss!

Feeling bizzarely devoid of any emtion - in shock I think from 2 shows of pure funk and sleep deprivation.

Utter standouts for me first show - Purple Rain - got to see it sung with my wife alonside me for the first time ever and I loved the way he kept coming back for more.

Show 2 was stellar - the love we make was spine tingling, U got the Look was great fun and train in vain was WOW!

Big props to Dre - great to meet you in the queue - for both shows!!!

Also great fun in the queue with the brothers from Brighton - you made queuing a pleasure although I was definitely the official 729!!!!

If you havent seen this tour DO IT - its breathtaking and the most energy he's had since 1995.

Big regrets about not downing tools here in Shropshire and high-tailing it to Camden yesterday. Seems everyone who wanted to, got in eventually. Well done to you all! Out of interest, people obviously had phones with them - were they taken away or did people just obey and keep them in their pockets?

I had a couple of wasted days in London but happy to hear about possible Manchester gigs. Down side that with me getting those days off work to go to London now unlikely to be able to get the Friday off am gutted I could try go after work but I would not get into Manchester till 9pm.

Unless he does 2 gigs till will be way too late.

Just have to pray for saturday.

princess said:

Already queue at Ronnie Scott's!

[Edited 2/17/14 2:14am]

The capacity is 220 so unless you are in there already I'd say chances are slim. Prince has done a private hire on the venue for the late late show. Prince is on stage at midnight and will play up to 2.30-3am. Best of luck to everyone

Spoke to someone at Ronnie Scott's. Prince and 3rdeyegirl on stage at midnight doors at 11pm. Tickets via queuing - First come first served. £70 on door 300 capacity.

Ronnie Scotts say: "capacity dropping all the time due to vast amount of equipment. Definitely under 200 RT".

Well I am speechless after last night and I really feel like I've had my fix for this tour....

Cannot for the life of me believe the length of it and the encores!!! Even bloody missed the last one as I had to catch the train home, but to be honest I feel I had had more than my fair share of enjoyment so no drama there.

Met some great people yesterday who in my drunken state I managed to get my nerd on with.

Excellent show


Oh and completely seperate note:


NILE ROGERS HAS PUT A TWEET OUT SAYING HE WANTS TO SEE PRINCE WITH KIRAN TWEETING BACK THAT SHE'S EMAILING HIM BACK...

People should be in for something special tonight I feel!

[Edited 2/17/14 4:14am]

calciumpaul said:

Ronnie Scotts say: "capacity dropping all the time due to vast amount of equipment. Definitely under 200 RT".

There will be more people on stage than in the crowd at this rate....Prince plays to five people in a broom cupboard.... I can see the headlines already!

footage of the queue I found on youtube. Its pretty early on as there campchairs and picnic baskets arent on the floor yet.

DaveT said:

calciumpaul said:

Ronnie Scotts say: "capacity dropping all the time due to vast amount of equipment. Definitely under 200 RT".

There will be more people on stage than in the crowd at this rate....Prince plays to five people in a broom cupboard.... I can see the headlines already!

Would have been the perfect time for it to have just been him and a guitar and piano - 1nitealone

On twitter:
The Prince Museum @PrinceMuseum 12 min.

LATEST: Word on the street is that queue for tonight's Ronnie Scott's Prince gig has either closed, or is near to closing @officialronnies

Ronnies. It had to happen. People brought their own sharpies....gonna get messy.

SquirrelMeat said:

SquirrelMeat said:

Ronnies. It had to happen. People brought their own sharpies....gonna get messy.

Knives! Oh no - everyone needs to just calm down a little.

Glad you got in boltybabe. It adds further weight to my earlier question though... how did people get to see both shows? I arrived about 7.15 and the queue was around 900, you a little later at 8pm and only just got it.. how did the people who weren't in the queue for at least another 90 minutes get in without pushing in?? Anyone?

SquirrelMeat said: