JellyJam said:

SometimesIwonder said:

dandan said:

I remember the biscuits, they kept me going I was the young lad, 18, had a leather jacket on and a hat for most of the day I think you might be the man who was really nice to me all day. Did you have a bit of an altercation with a scottish guy who was queue jumping just before doors opened?

. The actually venue had about 20 security guards dotted over the dance floor trying to stop people running. Shame I was prob only one of the folks that listened cuz then loads surged passed me. Ahhh, the beast that is the concert goer! Ha ha

I have perfected a very fast stridey walk where the bottom half of my body is covering alot of ground, but the top half looks really calm. They never stop me

I was no 82 on Sat. We were not even in the first group to be let inside. We were amongst the first few who were made to wait. Despite this we found a spot on the front row, on the left hand side. I was really surprised to get inside and find that there was still room.

Listening to a recording of Saturday right now - feels like I'm reliving it! His vocals on How Come You Don't Call Me are ridiculously good, like seriously. Such a great crowd too that night, I imagine Prince must of been loving it as much as we were. It seems like he must of remastered the backing tracks he uses for the sampler sets because they have too much low end and clarity to be straight from the record. When Doves Cry feels like it has a bassline just by the way it's been mixed.

On another note, how good is the version of The Unexpected with P's vocals I hope that's on the album or released in some form because it's fantastic. I was really digging it both times that I heard it Friday and Saturday.

dandan said:

mikeyaddict said:

mikeyaddict said:

HAPPY ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY EVERYONE!

Awww, this time last week......

jfrost said:

dandan said:

Listening to a recording of Saturday right now - feels like I'm reliving it! His vocals on How Come You Don't Call Me are ridiculously good, like seriously. Such a great crowd too that night, I imagine Prince must of been loving it as much as we were. It seems like he must of remastered the backing tracks he uses for the sampler sets because they have too much low end and clarity to be straight from the record. When Doves Cry feels like it has a bassline just by the way it's been mixed.

On another note, how good is the version of The Unexpected with P's vocals I hope that's on the album or released in some form because it's fantastic. I was really digging it both times that I heard it Friday and Saturday.

Watched Ida during When Doves Cry and she was playing along so you may be hearing actual bass.

Yeah, I noticed the band playing on the sample set, with drums on Housequake, which adds to the live feel and changes the sound

chaos said:

mikeyaddict said:

HAPPY ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY EVERYONE!

Awww, this time last week......

My body still aches from last week haha

It’s been a week to reflect on/get over what the hell happened just South of Manchester City Centre last Saturday night. Staggering out into the thankfully cold air of Oxford Road just after 11pm, clothes dripping wet with sweat, all senses a bit blurred about what had just witnessed over the previous 3 hours. It has taken a week to make sense of it all. What an incredible night.

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Of course it started with The Brits. Living in Leeds I was hoping to have a crack at the Manchester shows, so when they were mentioned on the TV broadcast I was online within seconds. Only the Friday show was up and 10 frantic minutes of F5 got me nowhere …. SOLD OUT. Almost instantly Saturday appeared. Another 10 minutes of trying …. SOLD OUT. Bollocks.

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10 minutes later, the page was still open on the laptop so, more out of frustration than hope, I refreshed again and hit submit ….. “you have 4 tickets in your basket”!!!! Never has a transaction been completed quicker online and within half an hour the e-tickets are in the inbox. Did that really happen …..Saturday night is on.

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Before long its 4pm on Saturday and we are driving over the M62 in anticipation of a great night. Included in our number is a mate of mine who is a bigger Springsteen fan (he saw him 11 times around Europe over the summer) than I am a Prince fan. It will be his first Prince gig and culmination of a 15 year agreement to see the other artist after I got to see Bruce (what a pro) at Leeds Arena in July.

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We parked up for free on Denmark Road and wandered down past the various queues. It didn’t look too bad so we diverted into Kro Bar for a couple of beers. Mostly Prince fans in there but not too busy as all as most were in the queue. Nice place, the 3 Prince tracks they seemed to own were on repeat on the PA.

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At 6pm we joined the queue at Burlington Street and the next hour passed quickly talking with other fans (Leaminton Spa, London, Manchester, Burnley), sharing their red wine and extracting a review out of the one fan who had been there the night before (A Love Bizarre for her daughter back home!).

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When the queue started moving it moved fast, it had been well organized where we were and we walked quickly through the doors of the student union building where tickets were checked (no ID requirements at all) and searches took place. Out of the side door of that building, across the fenced off street, and into Academy 1. It is one simple large room with the stage at the far end, bars at either side, a small merchandise stand right at the back. No time for that though because it was obvious straight away that, even though we were well back in the queue, we could keep walking past the sound desk and join the crowd maybe 10 meters from the stage, just off centre left.

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This was too close for words, the Mic stand with the symbol was so near it made no sense. Now I’ve seen Prince in 90, 93, 95, 02, 07 and never thought I would get into anything as small as Manchester Apollo in 2002, but this was something else. This was going to be very special. Security were already prowling the floor asking for no photos but they were good natured about it before the gig, he “pretended not to notice” shots of the empty stage taken around us.

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I took my spot at about 7.20pm. By 7.40pm the hall was filling and anticipation building fast, and the lights dimmed just after 7.50. Fair enough I thought but then I was caught by surprise, and I think a few others were as well, at 7.55pm when Hannah, Donna and Ida walked out to a huge roar. Trying not to be distracted by Hannah’s tight blue trousers, and her friendly and polite request for no phones, all that was going around my head was the time ….. 8pm ….. that means it could be a long, long show …. could it?

.

The band walk off and over the PA comes The Unexpected/Wow, which sounded great and with Prince’s vocals manage to confuse/whip the crowd into a frenzy. That track fades out and the band walk out again, with Prince, and we’re off with reloaded LCG that you will have all seen by now. What an opener, it always has been, but it just seems so freshened up in its new format, and right from the off the crowd seem totally up for a great night.

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Guitar follows, a personal favourite, and I’m coming to terms with the sound which is loud but not uncomfortable, and vision which is a stripped down no frills rock and roll gig; and I can see everything. Plectrum Electrum and FixUrLifeUp follow, quick chance to glance around in the crowd and understand where the hardcore fans are stood as they recognize these numbers, and casual fans who either stay into it but look a little lost, or bizarrely get their phones out to text/tweet!

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For the first time tonight a young guy in a white shirt, high as a kite on something, pushes through the crowd heading away from the stage. He would turn into a minor nuisance through the night, until patience snapped and another young guy made it clear he should disappear. Of course at any standing gig it’s only the idiots that are moving around; a few were trying to push up, but we were far enough forward that the people were packed together enough to discourage them.

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Prince is on the move now, keyboard vocals and then guitar on Something in the Water with great audience interaction. “There must be something in the Water they drink!!!!!!” His early audience target, I assume some good looking girl who I couldn’t see, had “done a runner”, then a rare treat, When We're Dancing Close and Slow on keyboard and terrific vocals although I too noticed a lot of background noise (talking basically) on this quiet number. A quip about a track written in the 80’s preceded She's Always in my Hair and before we knew it Funknroll has the place bouncing including the stage with about 15 audience dancers, standout being the bearded guy giving it everything alongside Josh Welton and who was picked out by Prince “thanks to all the dancers including Mumford & Sons”

.

Now we’re on the Sampler for a SOTT collection, the highlight being Forever in my Life and Prince giving it some on Ida’s Bass. After that they go off for a few minutes but does this count as an encore? Not yet surely, more a mini break and they are soon continuing the SOTT theme with ICNTTPOYM (slowed down, funky and brilliant). Crimson and Clover followed, another that would have been on my request list tonight, and it didn’t disappoint, I love that cover. “Don’t stop the groove – Over and Over” Next WDC and Alphabet Street which everyone recognizes and they are buzzing.

.

He’s not finished with the bass though, 777-9311 is a treat, right in front of me I can see the strings moving while the bass pops. Housequake gets the room jumping, I Would Die 4U then the rousing end to the first set Purple Rain, unusually all done on Keyboard given it’s a guitar heavy show. A few phones appeared at various points but security were quick, shining bright torches at the culprits. This works through peer pressure, as those around the phone in question soon tell the owner to put it away to remove the distracting torches.

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Of course no one moves for 5 minutes and the screaming and cheering for the inevitable encore (it’s only about 9.30pm) is more likely to damage my hearing than the PA was …. women scream loud! Back out they come “it’s Saturday night, you know how many hits I got, we’ll be here all night, call your kids” and we are off with Screwdriver and Chaos and Disorder back to back. This is where this band is most comfortable and they rock it out with solos galore.

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Off again, the audience catches its breath, the cheering doesn’t quite hit the peak it did before because they are back quicker this time. It’s more piano, and again I’m delighted with the set, HCUDCMA with vocals that have the audience hooked, Starfish & Coffee, Diamonds & Pearls, Beautiful Ones, SISIA (wife’s favourite) and a rousing NC2U to close. This particular medley was a classic because everyone in the room recognised some of it, even tracks they didn’t know they knew, and it worked so well, the room was hanging off every note and every word. He had everyone’s complete attention, again.

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Straight into something else. What’s this? The Max, reworked and hearing both the funky piano and watching Donna making the guitar wail brought an almost forgotten track back to life for me. I could even overlook the repeated Manchester chants (not good when you are from Leeds) it was that good. The Max transforms into Play That Funky Music which always brings the house down … and it did. Lights on, crowd singing, climax, “thank you, goodnight” Mic dropped on the floor and gone.

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Band off, no one moves, the Purple Rain Oh, Oh’s start in the crowd for 3 or 4 short minutes, and they are back again. Prince heads to the keyboard again and name checks the band before starting “I do this for them, they deserve it. Do you think they just play rock and roll? I want you to hear something …” Take me with You/Raspberry Beret, one big singalong, but then I didn’t expect Cool, with a slightly different vibe as he stayed on keyboard, but the calls outs still worked with the majority even if they didn’t know the song. You know the atmosphere during this, he has the audience in the palm of his hand and the vibe is one big party.

.

Off they go again, my “Springsteen” mate has taken to tweeting the encores “They’re off/they’re back” and he admits he can’t keep up. I’m thinking that might be it, but I know better than to move, and the stage crew are wiping down mikes and resetting guitars which is a good sign. We didn’t have to wait long, again is was only 2 or 3 minutes of clapping and cheering and back they come. This time we get a little speech, “Thanks and apologies for queuing, but we have to take it old school as we have no love for bootleggers and scalpers. Let’s keep this rolling as it’s the weekend ….”

Boom …. Endorphinemachine. Another I would have had on my request list and it rocks like it always does. Prince still has energy and enthusiasm, the band are still smiling but their body language suggests they are feeling the pace keeping up with him. It finishes and we have a teased exit with 2000 people shouting for one more. “We’ll do this one for our runner” he says name checking the missing girl from Something in the Water 2 hours before, before ripping into Bambi with the excellent slowed down passage in the middle.

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A big finish and that’s it right? I think it is, the only doubt in my mind being that the band haven’t taken a bow stage front. The Scandinavian guy on my right is adamant it won’t finish on Bambi. I have my doubts, it did the night before. We are just discussing the odds when they come out for the umpteenth time.

What are those drums? The Scandanavian guy is ahead of me and is freaking out. The penny drops, Colonized Mind. Fantastic, of course he does what he wants and if he wants to end on rarities all the better for the minority!!

.

Fortunately he announces the next one as I would have struggled. “We are gonna leave you with this one … Cause and Effect”, another treat with seemingly personal lyrics and a track that just fits the bands vibe perfectly.

That’s it. “We’re gonna take a short break and put the album out, and we’ll be right back at you as soon as we can. Josh will play a little bit of it for you, pick it up online”. The band take a bow, Pretzelbodylogic hits the PA, Hannah distracts everyone again dancing in those blue trousers with her Fella.

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It’s clearly over, but we have to push our way to the exit, the majority of people are not moving, either in shock or hoping for even more but its obvious Prince is now sat in the back of his Mercedes.

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Out on the street, it’s thankfully cold as we all need cooling down in more ways than one. Trying to deconstruct it after the event is always difficult, but it’s clear we have seen something special. As the days pass it starts to sink in. What made it special for me? The length of performance and number of tracks, the crowd vibe from start to finish, the intimate and stripped down setting and above everything else the attitude and skill of the musicians on stage, all of them.

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And my “Springsteen” mate who didn’t know what to expect? What a first experience and well impressed. He took to twitter to extol the excellence of the night to the #brucebuds, sharing the two you tube videos with a recommendation as to the “funk, soul and rock n roll” he had seen. You know they are going to be blown away, but it’s always good to hear the positive independent reviews.

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Sixth gig, best one of course even though I’m not comparing like for like as Stadium and Arena shows are different animals. It’s a week on, I’m still on a high. My sleep pattern is just about recovering after not being able to sleep a wink on the Saturday after the gig. Nothing does more to keep your interest in an artist alive than seeing them live, especially when it’s a once every 5 year experience (unlike many of the luckier ones on this forum). He was on great form, on fire. The interactions, the reworked versions, the mix of old and new material, it will keep me going for years to come. What memories.

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It was Unexpectedly amazing, and it was Wow!

[Edited 3/12/14 9:18am]

Thanks, Gottobefunky! Enjoyed your review very much.

Pueroda said:

Thanks, Gottobefunky! Enjoyed your review very much.

Seconded - really good review Gottobefunky, man, even thinking back to it now I get a warm feeling well up inside and I nearly (nearly mind you) do a little cry. What a special night!

colouritin said:

hw3004 said:

218

i was 209

I was 206 and my wife, Annabelle, was 207! Did she go for a pee with you?

glassman said:

We also had to put up with smelly twat in the white shirt trying to barge through everyone, a lot of self control was required as I was on the verge of introducing my elbow to his face, also had to put up with "The Hair Bear Bunch" who were a couple in front of us with 5 feet of hair blocking everyone's view, munching each other's face off AND talking all the way through the gig, I despair sometimes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! although apart from these few exceptions the Manchester crowd were awesome.

Anyway after all of the moaning above this my eighth P gig starting with Lovesexy '88 all have been amazing but Saturday just can't be topped, words can't explain how legendary this gig was, if asked I bet even Prince will say it was pretty special, he pretty much wore everyone out by the end, sore back, feet but it hurt sooooo good.

The journey from Edinburgh via Newcastle and Liverpool was so worth it.

And the "hair bear bunch" even appear on the LGC video Get a bloody haircut yer freaky fucker!!! The 80s have buggered off already!

Oh, thanks for the choccy biscuits. I declined as I needed the loo. Would have used the bush but I'd have needed paper I lost a good place near the front due to my over-indulgent lunch at Jamie's Italian.

At the end of the night they played Stop This Train. The only song I know titled this is by John Mayer but I'm sure it wasn't that one. Anybody confirm what it was that played whilst Hannah did her twerking?

PS: She must have read my Tweet seeing as she got up to show off her mighty fine figure

RicoN said:

colouritin said:

i was 209

i've probably got a photo of the backs of your heads then!

If it's mine then I'm sorry for the glare. Prince only needed one light in that place with the number of bald heads sending the beams flying about the room. Apart from old Wiggy of The Hair Bear Bunch down the front.

ilo said:

At the end of the night they played Stop This Train. The only song I know titled this is by John Mayer but I'm sure it wasn't that one. Anybody confirm what it was that played whilst Hannah did her twerking?

PS: She must have read my Tweet seeing as she got up to show off her mighty fine figure

stop this train is a new track from the new cd that hannah mimed to at the end of saturdays show. it's not a cover

unique said:

ilo said:

At the end of the night they played Stop This Train. The only song I know titled this is by John Mayer but I'm sure it wasn't that one. Anybody confirm what it was that played whilst Hannah did her twerking?

PS: She must have read my Tweet seeing as she got up to show off her mighty fine figure

stop this train is a new track from the new cd that hannah mimed to at the end of saturdays show. it's not a cover

Can't even remember how it went. I was so tired by that point. Saying that five pints of Guinness and a McDonalds with a couple of Orgers after the gig seemed to perk me back up.

..

[Edited 4/3/14 22:29pm]

Interesting to note that cd's of this show are clearing seventy-six pounds approx. one hundred and twenty six dollars on ebay.

At the end of 'How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore' I didn't hear him say "just call me three little letters,S.E.X", it is on the recording though, love all these little details

jayspud said:

Interesting to note that cd's of this show are clearing seventy-six pounds approx. one hundred and twenty six dollars on ebay.

Why? when most people can track down a recording for free?

The recording isn't great, but it is a memory of that night.

I think "Hanna's request" and the "Bootleggers and scalpers" being left on the recording is quite funny