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SquirrelMeat said: ADAMSKI123 said:
agreed no HQ in 1st set...! Top review Biscuit... It was there. He started it, but changed his mind and flipped to Hot Thing. Yup, maybe played 2 bars of the drum intro before he said 'you ain't ready for that' and moved onto Hot Thing. Which was awesome. All of my hang-ups have gone. How I wish you felt the same. |
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Set 1 had definitely had a tiny snip of HQ and almost the first note of FIML but he skipped over straight away. And a fairly lengthy Cochise jam, somewhere around Guitar and ICNTTPOYM - definitely before they left the stage first time.
(edit - Plectrumelectrum?) [Edited 6/5/14 9:27am] | |
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A Case of You... How fabulous, I've never heard it live. Lucky things! The music on this little tour is outstanding. I'd love to get another show in.  [Edited 6/5/14 9:31am] | |
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It was only my 2nd show since the O2 residency, and although I enjoyed it for what it was, I didn't really think it was anything great. If I'd had a ticket for the 2nd show, I think I would have skipped it. By selling his tickets this quickly, he's lowering expectations quite a bit - good strategy. £80 a ticket, and no set to speak of. He can perform this show in his sleep, and came dressed like he'd just got out of bed. I'm also half convinced that both the sound and vision had been deliberately sabotaged due to bootleggers. Sound was needlessly abrasive, which would sound rubbish on an illegal CD, and he was playing in near-dark far too often. I also noticed a connection between the torches getting shone in our face and sudden drops in the lighting. It was my 23rd show, but I can't imagine making an effort to go see him again until he shakes it up with new material or a new band. And the ridiculous hair has got to go. | |
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SquirrelMeat said:
Certainly for the first hour or so I thought it sounded pretty bad. I was up close and near the speakers. Jealous about Electric Intercourse for sure. Must have listened to the June 83 live version a thousand times. That would have made my night. Oh well. | |
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Sorry but how is nobody picking up on all the things that went wrong in the second show? I was at the front and could see chaos up there.
His guitar didn't work straight away
Several times Prince asked for the side fills to be turned down subtley. Nothing happened so he did it again with an agitated face Still wasn't happy so subtley asked again after shooting several evils Still nothing happened so he blatently yelled "levels in side fills down PLEASE!!! COME ON!!!"
He was so pissed off Donna looked scared.
The mic issue with the keyboard was worrying. Levels wrong plus the wire was hooked up wrong.
As someone else pointed out he called a stage hand to fix but they messed it up so he kept singing.
Then the tech tried to fix it when Prince wanted to stand and sing so he literally shoved them out of they way with his arm
The mic even fell apart at one point so Prince missed lyrics.
Then when he moved back to cetre stage he went via the tech and yelled at him.
Later guitar failure again. Cue evils to crew and the bass player looking at Donna and whincing with fear.
Later on before Purple Rain, when he was at the keyboard babbling on about "something happened in the last show" this was merely talking to get the sound guy to sort the levels out. Which they didn't. In the end he mic checked 1, 2, 1, 2, check check in the middle of a gig. Not seen that before. He must've been desperate up there.
I was so close i could see he was sompissed off he just wasn't into it. He was going through the motions. He is professional and experienced enough to still get people dancing. But in my opinion this really was a poor show. [Edited 6/5/14 11:15am] ----------
AND I GOTTA ALOTTA BUTTA 2 GO! | |
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He mic checked the same in Leeds (before the 1st encore if I remember rightly). I'm sure that the sound problems had something to do with the show being seemingly cut short. | |
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I still don't really understand why he keeps getting all these tech problems. It doesn't happen with other artists- he must be employing a really crappy team...... | |
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Agreed. I was up the front for the second show and it was plagued with tech issues. Funny how so many people are raving about it when what I saw was a pretty frustrated Prince who never really got into it (understandably). Like you say he was going through the motions, very professional but certainly the worst I've seen him. 'ELVIS was a hero to most, but he never meant SH*T to me...' | |
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Yeah the mic basically wouldn't stay upright by the keyboards, so he couldn't play and sing. When the tech couldn't fix it, he took the mic out of its stand and the mic cable came unplugged, which is why he missed lyrics. . He called out Joshua about the levels, who was by the mixing desk (presumably because the other sound guy was fired during the Leeds gig, according someone posting on the Yorkshire Post website). . I wondered if he'd been planning on playing more of Purple Rain on piano, and only picked up the guitar because he couldn't get the levels right on his keyboard monitor. |
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I don't understand why everyone exonerates Prince form these technical issues. It's his crew, he hired them. If he hasn't time or money to spend on sound checking or hiring the right crew he doesn't have the right to act like a brat on stage when things go wrong. It's completely his responsibility.
It is quite funny to watch at times though, I saw a classic "I'm gonna get you" thunder face pulled by him in Manchester when the "roadie" didn't pass him his hat at the right point in the sampler set. Jesus, if looks could kill.
He always pulls it back for the performance though. But really those things shouldn't be happening, be a perfectionist, I admire that, but it takes preparation and $.
"My God it's full of Stars"
Indigo Club, September 21st 2008, 4.24am | |
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It was clear he got frustrated with issues in the first hour of the second show, but once it was sorted, the little anger got him fuelled and you could literally see the change in him half way through The Beautuful Ones, when he paused and then decided to do the whole song. From that moment on, he was in a good mood to go off on a tangent. . |
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[Edited 6/5/14 12:21pm] | |
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I love watching all that shit. Like James Brown counting off with his hand, while the band all know it's really giving them a five buck fine taken out of their wages for a mistake.
Obviously the glitches did prevent a few songs being done as intended, Hot Thing and Purple Rain being the examples that jump out at me, but they're far from being show ruining to my mind. All part of the spontaneity of live performance, and it's interesting to be able to compare and contrast between two very similar sets in the same venue on the same night. Just interesting watching how they deal with it, and sometimes the disconnect between the smiling crowd pleasing performance and the steely eyed perfectionist. Hard to know how reliable trying to ascribe emotions like "fear" to band and crew is. As far as I can tell from the crowd, things seem a lot less tense than at the O2 and aftershows, they seem to be pretty happy with this whole hit and run thing to me, but I suppose you'd need to be much more of an insider than most of us to know for sure. I also love a bit of sound checking and tweaking the mix during a gig, Prince giving band leader cues etc. Hop Farm basically started with a full sound check, we were reminiscing about it in the queue. Interesting watching them work. I kind of think that the "best" shows happen in your own head anyway, and you're doing yourself a disservice if you let this sort of stuff put you off. Thirty seconds of arsing around with a dodgy mic stand is a tiny part of a 2 hour plus performance, not the main event. Perhaps next time stand a bit further back! [Edited 6/5/14 12:49pm] [Edited 6/5/14 12:54pm] | |
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"...best shows happen in your head..." I really like that comment. Be grateful for what you've seen people. Desire leads to some poor places. | |
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GrahamS said: I love watching all that shit. Like James Brown counting off with his hand, while the band all know it's really giving them a five buck fine taken out of their wages for a mistake. Obviously the glitches did prevent a few songs being done as intended, Hot Thing and Purple Rain being the examples that jump out at me, but they're far from being show ruining to my mind. All part of the spontaneity of live performance, and it's interesting to be able to compare and contrast between two very similar sets in the same venue on the same night. Just interesting watching how they deal with it, and sometimes the disconnect between the smiling crowd pleasing performance and the steely eyed perfectionist. Hard to know how reliable trying to ascribe emotions like "fear" to band and crew is. As far as I can tell from the crowd, things seem a lot less tense than at the O2 and aftershows, they seem to be pretty happy with this whole hit and run thing to me, but I suppose you'd need to be much more of an insider than most of us to know for sure. I also love a bit of sound checking and tweaking the mix during a gig, Prince giving band leader cues etc. Hop Farm basically started with a full sound check, we were reminiscing about it in the queue. Interesting watching them work. I kind of think that the "best" shows happen in your own head anyway, and you're doing yourself a disservice if you let this sort of stuff put you off. Thirty seconds of arsing around with a dodgy mic stand is a tiny part of a 2 hour plus performance, not the main event. Perhaps next time stand a bit further back! [Edited 6/5/14 12:49pm] [Edited 6/5/14 12:54pm] Agreed. I find it interesting too. It also did get him fired up. But... In my opinion it was still a lacklustre, poor, Prince by numbers performance. ----------
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nuthinbuttamuffin said: GrahamS said: I love watching all that shit. Like James Brown counting off with his hand, while the band all know it's really giving them a five buck fine taken out of their wages for a mistake. Obviously the glitches did prevent a few songs being done as intended, Hot Thing and Purple Rain being the examples that jump out at me, but they're far from being show ruining to my mind. All part of the spontaneity of live performance, and it's interesting to be able to compare and contrast between two very similar sets in the same venue on the same night. Just interesting watching how they deal with it, and sometimes the disconnect between the smiling crowd pleasing performance and the steely eyed perfectionist. Hard to know how reliable trying to ascribe emotions like "fear" to band and crew is. As far as I can tell from the crowd, things seem a lot less tense than at the O2 and aftershows, they seem to be pretty happy with this whole hit and run thing to me, but I suppose you'd need to be much more of an insider than most of us to know for sure. I also love a bit of sound checking and tweaking the mix during a gig, Prince giving band leader cues etc. Hop Farm basically started with a full sound check, we were reminiscing about it in the queue. Interesting watching them work. I kind of think that the "best" shows happen in your own head anyway, and you're doing yourself a disservice if you let this sort of stuff put you off. Thirty seconds of arsing around with a dodgy mic stand is a tiny part of a 2 hour plus performance, not the main event. Perhaps next time stand a bit further back! [Edited 6/5/14 12:49pm] [Edited 6/5/14 12:54pm] Agreed. I find it interesting too. It also did get him fired up. But... In my opinion it was still a lacklustre, poor, Prince by numbers performance. I think that's the odd thing about this 'tour'; it's for no discernible reason other than just for the fun of it and he so often says "I've got too many hits" ....so why not mix it up a bit? The same core setlist runs through every show likes he's promoting something but it's not too dissimilar at times to much of the O2 setlist from 7 yrs ago...LGC, TMWU,U got the look, purple rain, piano sample set. Admittedly you get the odd curve ball....but think how many jaw dropping surprises he could unleash P-p-e-n-g-u-i-n......the P is silent | |
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Ppenguin said: nuthinbuttamuffin said: Agreed. I find it interesting too. It also did get him fired up. But... In my opinion it was still a lacklustre, poor, Prince by numbers performance. I think that's the odd thing about this 'tour'; it's for no discernible reason other than just for the fun of it and he so often says "I've got too many hits" ....so why not mix it up a bit? The same core setlist runs through every show likes he's promoting something but it's not too dissimilar at times to much of the O2 setlist from 7 yrs ago...LGC, TMWU,U got the look, purple rain, piano sample set. Admittedly you get the odd curve ball....but think how many jaw dropping surprises he could unleash He's been saying 'I got too many hits' or 'so many hits, so little time' at almost every show I've seen since the Musicology tour ten years ago. It's a tired show, imho. There's still some excitement that it's Prince after all, but that's close to being it for me. I know I don't speak for the majority. I've had issues with aspects of his live shows for at least 10 years, and once one of these issues appears, it stays on the show forever. They just multiply: Purple Medleys, Sampler Sets, so many covers (and always from a small pool of tracks). Added to that at the Roundhouse, we got a pub set, the worst lighting I've ever seen at a concert, and he's now stopped making an effort even with his costumes. And two songs only from the last 20 years leaves little doubt that he's resigned to being a nostalgia act. And one that was knocked off with as little care and effort on each and every front as any gig I've ever attended. But to quote Kevin Smith... 'still, it's Prince!' | |
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Hmmmfunny how you don't see any of that if you are a little bit further back. In my case much further back and his pro face worked for me. I thought he was having a ball and totally enjoyed himself. Thought the same about the hits line. I'm actually tired of hearing it and felt like shouting well don't play your hits then!! I have to say in my block there seemed to be casuals apart from me. To my left the block was rocking away and to my right. I wonder how many people were casuals... A lot of money for a casual fan though. Whatever you heard about me is true
I change the rules and do what I wanna do | |
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Nope, you're right. Definitely listed as WOW. I love Liv's version, but the Prince version sounds awesome. The opening is brilliant, with his soft 'hello' I just hope this album actually gets on the shelf and not shelved. I can't wait for it | |
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Did you get the chance to come to the shows in February? Personally, I think we've been really spoilt this year. Those shows had a huge amount of new material aimed at people like us. He tried to keep as much of it in at the opening night in Brum and personally I don't think it worked, plus the crowd were flat that night, so he changed it back to a more hits stlye show.
Then, at Roundhouse, I was hoping for a more Feb type show, but for me we got something in the middle and I found it truly magical and a wonderful experience. Everyone has different tastes for sure. I'm happy | |
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The only negative I can throw at these shows is familiarity and predictability. Too many hits indeed. But he has been using these exact audience interactions and shoutouts for how long now? 7-8 years? I really enjoyed the number of 3EG gigs I've seen, but I have to admit I have set list fatigue with the hits. Great versions and all, I don't really want to see him play LRC again. The highlights of these shows have been the odd track for the fans. Love we make, electric intercourse etc I wish he did more of his new 3EG material, because it's great fun live from what I have seen. "My God it's full of Stars"
Indigo Club, September 21st 2008, 4.24am | |
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This is what kept me away from the Roundhouse gig, despite going to the box office and being offered a seated ticket for the late show - would have been harder to turn down a standing ticket
The first set was going on and I could hear it was very similar to the Hit & Run shows earlier in February - which were amazing, but I want to hold on to that and not have a moment of standing in the audience feeling like it's the same again...
Feel happy for everyone who went, I think Prince and the band are putting on killer shows and giving the audience an unsurpassed live experience. If familiarity is the worst you can say about these gigs, I think everyone should be pretty pleased!!
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jasontate said:
Did you get the chance to come to the shows in February? Personally, I think we've been really spoilt this year. Those shows had a huge amount of new material aimed at people like us. He tried to keep as much of it in at the opening night in Brum and personally I don't think it worked, plus the crowd were flat that night, so he changed it back to a more hits stlye show.
Then, at Roundhouse, I was hoping for a more Feb type show, but for me we got something in the middle and I found it truly magical and a wonderful experience. Everyone has different tastes for sure. I'm happy I thought the opposite of the feb show I saw (first KOKO gig)....he played the few new ones and a couple if nice surprises (endorphinmachine and the max) ...but the rest were snippets of the usual medleys. But then it was the worst and shortest show by miles so perhaps not a fair judgment. I just think, if I'm tired of purple rain, let's go crazy etc...then he really must be. Says a lot about how samey it's been that it was a lovely shock to hear little red corvette a few weeks ago. How many of songs on the 56 track Hits cd have we heard properly (ie not just a brief sample)...personally I've heard 11 in 2 shows. Admittedly there have been some great surprise snippets (17 days). I guess my point is I used to be able to justify to friends who scoffed 'you're seeing him again' that it was a different show each time...can't say that anymore P-p-e-n-g-u-i-n......the P is silent | |
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I was at the Roundhouse on Weds and I was really hoping for some more 3EG material and was disappointed but the masses seemed happy with the hits show that seems to have evolved. I still really enjoyed the show so my disappointment was limited to the lack of new material.
I remember from the 80s/90s looking forward to his gigs to hear the new album. I even had Live for Love running through my head the other day remembering how it was so cool to hear the new songs live. I think this is going to be the way it goes from here. He has a great back catalogue and can dust it off every 5years, do a short tour and make a few $million. He will add a few real obscure songs and mix them up a bit but the variety even of Prince from the 90's seems to have gone.
I went to both shows and I am glad I did as he did play a few different songs on the second set and it seemed to be more lively. I also got to witness the arguement in the queue between the guy mentioned earlier in this thread and someone annoyed that he pushed to the front for the 2nd readmission. I have no issues with anyone but if someone says he isnt pushing in and then does so anyway thats bad manners in my book. In the end it was irrelevant and I hope everyone had fun.
[Edited 6/6/14 3:26am] | |
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jasontate said:
Did you get the chance to come to the shows in February? Personally, I think we've been really spoilt this year. I didn't see him at all this year till this show (first one). And I know he can't please everyone with the setlist (except when it comes to the covers - does ANYONE genuinely want to hear him do these rather than one of his own? I hope not). It's just, for me, the show featured the absolute minimal effort and planning as was humanly possible. Complete auto-pilot. I don't remember the source, but wasn't there a recent interview where Prince claimed he can make $200k any night of the week he chooses? For me, that's all Wednesday was about. And why there were two shows, not one. The guy I went with said the first hour of show one was the best hour of Prince he'd seen, and he's in the hardcore. I wasn't sure we were at the same concert. The greatest act in the history of popular music he may be, but I just can't get it up for watching him go through the motions any more. Not regularly any way. And 10 years ago I would have attempted to get to every show. My enthusiasm for the live performer now matches my enthusiasm for his current recorded output, sadly. I'll buy any new CDs, and go to a gig once in a while, all for nostalgia's sake. But I won't expect anything other than the ordinary. | |
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slimeyc said:
I was at the Roundhouse on Weds and I was really hoping for some more 3EG material and was disappointed but the masses seemed happy with the hits show that seems to have evolved. I still really enjoyed the show so my disappointment was limited to the lack of new material.
I remember from the 80s/90s looking forward to his gigs to hear the new album. I even had Live for Love running through my head the other day remembering how it was so cool to hear the new songs live. I think this is going to be the way it goes from here. He has a great back catalogue and can dust it off every 5years, do a short tour and make a few $million. He will add a few real obscure songs and mix them up a bit but the variety even of Prince from the 90's seems to have gone.
I went to both shows and I am glad I did as he did play a few different songs on the second set and it seemed to be more lively. I also got to witness the arguement in the queue between the guy mentioned earlier in this thread and someone annoyed that he pushed to the front for the 2nd readmission. I have no issues with anyone but if someone says he isnt pushing in and then does so anyway thats bad manners in my book. In the end it was irrelevant and I hope everyone had fun.
[Edited 6/6/14 3:26am] Perhaps we've, from the inside, not realised where Prince is....could he just be at the 'Vegas' stage of his career. Making ends meet with his safety net hits? P-p-e-n-g-u-i-n......the P is silent | |
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Can’t pretend I’m not nostalgic for the time a new tour meant a new album he loved showing off; new rearrangements of classics; amazing stage set; new band; new look… rather than the last 10 years where it’s been a hits-heavy revue with little variation since Musicology. At the O2 I didn’t even think he’d bothered to stage it so he made the most of playing in the round – not like Lovesexy. . But I think this year's been a massive improvement. He clearly likes the new 3EG tracks enough to play a lot of them. He's bothered to significantly rearrange a few classics (Let’s Go Crazy, Never Take the Place) Yes he could drop some tired hits, and - please God - the sampler set. But I thought these shows have been rawer and just more interesting (tech slips and all) than I’ve seen for a while. And never thought he’d dig out “What’s My Name”. If he'll just play "Hello" live, I can die happy.
[Edited 6/6/14 3:43am] |
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