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Printable From the point of view of someone who has seen him three times (last night of the 02 run, Manchester and Leeds of this tour) I've seen some of the best shows I've ever seen. The Manchester show, first night at the Arena especially- I went home and couldn't sleep for excitement! Was incredible in my view.
As the dates have gone on, the real shame I think is that the 3EG stuff is being sidelined- that stuff was amongst the highlights of the Manchester show for me.
I think the major issue is that he is trying to appeal to more casual fans, as, sadly, the ticket prices do mean that a different type of person has been attending the shows. High ticket prices in my view attract the 'I want to tick Prince off the list of people I've sene play' types, and those with money but very little appreciation. Fans who are more interested in hearing less-played songs, and songs from his newer albums probably haven't got loads of money (I know I haven't) from my experience of talking to people in the queues. He's appealing now to the rich crowds, which I think is the biggest pity of all.
But, for me, having not a massive wealth of live Prince experience, the live shows I have seen have blown me away. I can't make any sense of the continued technical problems (no other musician seems to have them) but the performances to me have been incredible.
It is time now though for him to leave it and go off tour here. I think the UK has seen enough Prince shows now (as evidenced by lots of them not selling out) and not push it too much further here.
As for the 3EG album, I don't think we'll ever see it now. The songs have (largely) gone from the setlist, there is no mention of it at all, and sadly, after this tour I think the momentum will have gone and he'll move on to new things.
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I feel a bit sad for some of you guys who are feeling so jaded. Give yourself a long break, switch off the org, listen to some other music, and find your enthusiasm again. In a few years time when (hopefully) he'll tour here again and perhaps you can rediscover your mojo. It can be a bit difficult when you've worn the records out, and when you've seen the magic act enough times to know all the tricks. I almost always see something special at some point in the evening, thankfully, and try to resist the temptation to pin the butterfly into a collection and break the illusion, but I'm probably not nearly as over-exposed as some of you. I really think these shows have been a success in many ways. I look forward to checking in again in another couple of years, see what he's up to next. | |
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This long winded thread of bitching and moans is just more proof that a lot of y'all need to get out the house more and enjoy life...lol
When you have too much invested an any one artist and it gets to the point where you dissect the way he holds a mic stand or talks to his guitar tech, it's time to pull back....
The irony is in the everyday, outside world beyond the Org bubble the Roundhouse gigs were given GREAT reviews....Just saying folks.....Take a breather and enjoy life....
Reviews:
http://www.gigwise.com/news/91532/prince-plays-two-insane-hit-packed-shows-at-londons-roundhouse
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/prince-london-roundhouse-gig-review-endless-medley-of-hits-renders-modern-artists-embarrassingly-underaccomplished-9490148.html
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/prince-and-3rdeyegirl-roundhouse--music-review-9490511.html
http://www.gigwise.com/news/91534/the-10-best-bits-from-princes-roundhouse-gig-in-london | |
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GrahamS said: I feel a bit sad for some of you guys who are feeling so jaded. Give yourself a long break, switch off the org, listen to some other music, and find your enthusiasm again. In a few years time when (hopefully) he'll tour here again and perhaps you can rediscover your mojo. It can be a bit difficult when you've worn the records out, and when you've seen the magic act enough times to know all the tricks. I almost always see something special at some point in the evening, thankfully, and try to resist the temptation to pin the butterfly into a collection and break the illusion, but I'm probably not nearly as over-exposed as some of you. I really think these shows have been a success in many ways. I look forward to checking in again in another couple of years, see what he's up to next. I actually used to say that no matter what he released, he'd always smash it live....but after a 7 year break of not seeing him I was really underwhelmed when I saw him in Feb at KOKO. Can't lie, Birmingham on 19th was really good but I realised I was very less enthusiastic than I coujd remember...I think being at the front you realise how 'text book' something's are...pointing out into the crowd at nobody in particular etc P-p-e-n-g-u-i-n......the P is silent | |
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The pointing in the crowd at no-one in particular is a good one. At Show 1 I thought the whole bit about a girl with big appetites, big everything etc was a spontaneous moment and a funny bit about a real audience member. The repeat in Show 2 when I was near the front exposed the illusion. I think a lot of people in the crowd fool themselves with eye contact, and little looks etc, whereas I've come to reckon lots of it is undirected showmanship. But if you think about these details too much it's like ruining a joke by picking it apart. Instead respect the punchline that got the audience laughing. Being good at all of this stuff is one of the reasons his live reputation is so good. Picking the right setlist for the right crowd on the right night is another. I'm just as guilty of romanticism as anyone else. I choose to believe that, for instance, he got something out of playing Purple Rain at the Roundhouse and it was a little bit special for most of the people in the room, and that there was genuinely a shared feeling. Perhaps everyone else but me was thinking "Not this again" and Prince was counting the minutes looking forward to getting back to his hotel, kicking his heels off and reading a book. Hope not! | |
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I also would put a good word in for a well chosen cover in a live set. I'd rather have heard Train in Vain, Crimson and Clover, A Case of You, Misty Blue, Come Together, Love is a Losing Game, Give it to me Baby, Villanova Junction , Rock Steady, thank you for talking to me Africa etc etc at a show than an obscure rarely performed offcut from a record he released in the nineties I haven't listened to since. Stratus is often a highlight for me. I always used to think the Wild Cherry song was a bit naff really, but on the right night (for instance when they were firing up the acoustic set at King's Place it can raise the roof, and I think that's because he's better at picking songs than I am and knows what the audience is going to love (and presumably likes the song himself). | |
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Thats a really good point. I have dated a performer in the past (Noone hugely famous I hasten to add) and knew her and some of her band. What you see on stage is typically acting. She may wink at someone or pout, but when she finished she was nothing like her stage persona.
Prince is a performer and a fine good one at that but lets not over analyse too much from a gig.
FWIW, I'm not jaded but would like more new material. If he announces another gig next week I'll still be there as I love live music and he does it better than most.
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I guess it's a vicious circle of sorts. If you charge a lot for tickets (these recent gigs were pretty expensive for what they were IMO).
Then you will get an expectant, not neccesarily experienced Prince concert goer. They want to hear the hits. That's all they want really, I could see P losing the audience with Musicology and even Endorphinemachine, before regaining there excitement with Kiss or whatever.
That's why the aftershow set-up is perfect for Prince and long term Prince fans. No real expectations, generally the type of setlists you really would pay a lot of money to see/hear.
The shows were great for what they were though. And for unexperienced P fans, pretty mid blowing I would imagine, to hear hit, after hit, after hit..
"My God it's full of Stars"
Indigo Club, September 21st 2008, 4.24am | |
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I've certainly seen enough that I would always pick the aftershow stuff if given a free choice, but I was pretty taken this week with hit after hit. Bam bam bam. Sometimes "too many hits!" Can sound a bit off when it's part of a flabby show, but the concentrated back catalogue squeezed into a relatively small room and performed with verve and energy, well it's quite something. There was one bit where Controversy or whatever segued into the keyboard stabs of 1999 and I couldn't even remember which one it was, I just thought "Oof!" | |
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I only got to 2 gigs - Shepherds Bush Empre and the first night at Birmingham - and talk about a massive difference. SB was like he had something to prove - this is my new sound get used to it - and he seemed confident with it too. And yeah, he totally rocked it - and as most top gigs do 2hr 45min went like a blur framed in a heavy, garage rock purple funkolia. Loved it and found myself leaving the gig genuinely excited in his new direction. Then Birmingham - had to stand towards the back so my short girlfriend could get a view, and I dunno, was so disappointed. I'm sure it was where we were standing, crap sound, crap visuals of Prince on the big-screen, wherever we move always seemed to be a couple talking all the way through(?!), shame especially reading about so many here had enjoyed it so much close up. But it was also shoe-horning his hits into the set, which for me made it disjointed. . So glad I witnessed SB - what a gig - that size venue and setlist is where 3rdEyeGirl excel. | |
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My wife was so excited when Alice Cooper did that and pointed right at her and sang "You even make your gradma sick!" All night she was like "Alice Cooper says I make my grandma sick!"
I felt it too when I saw Pete Townshend play solo once. I was still bummed about my father passing away a few weeks before, and I swear he looked right at me when he sang the line "Should tragedy befall you, don't let it drag you down."
I think it's like when you're at the aquarium and there's a manatee swimming around a giant pool. At some point he's going to swim right up to you and look you in the eye. And you go "Awww - the manatee looked at me! Was he trying to tell me something?"
So if Prince walks right up and asks you "What's the matter with your life?" he's not asking for the real answer. But feel free to answer anyway.
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bobzilla77 said:
My wife was so excited when Alice Cooper did that and pointed right at her and sang "You even make your gradma sick!" All night she was like "Alice Cooper says I make my grandma sick!"
I felt it too when I saw Pete Townshend play solo once. I was still bummed about my father passing away a few weeks before, and I swear he looked right at me when he sang the line "Should tragedy befall you, don't let it drag you down."
I think it's like when you're at the aquarium and there's a manatee swimming around a giant pool. At some point he's going to swim right up to you and look you in the eye. And you go "Awww - the manatee looked at me! Was he trying to tell me something?"
So if Prince walks right up and asks you "What's the matter with your life?" he's not asking for the real answer. But feel free to answer anyway.
Agreed...there was a bit at the Birmingham show where Prince did the 'crazy' sign (finger circling his ear)...I've seen 3 people arguing on twitter that he did it to them. The thing that gave the act away at KOKO was that he pointed to a place on the balcony where there was no one P-p-e-n-g-u-i-n......the P is silent | |
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well all I can say is I was doing the wild sign and I swear he looked at me many times... Whatever you heard about me is true
I change the rules and do what I wanna do | |
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Prince has always been scripted if you pay close attention. It comes with being a perfectionist. Leaves me a little cold but his musicianship is so amazing live I forgive him. I remember seeing him with Tamar in SF & he was making so many "passionate" guitar faces that people were lauginhg at him. [Edited 6/7/14 8:19am] |
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His smiles and looks are all part of his stagecraft. Although, there were definitely quite a few things at the Manc shows that were directed to individuals. There was a girl with a 3rd eye painted on her head and Prince looked at her with a smile and put his finger to his forehead. He sang the 'slow down' part of LRC to a woman stood next to me as well, 100%. I got two sides... and they're both friends. | |
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Yeah, I was at the second Manchester show in Febuary and I dont know if it was planned or not but in the second or third encore he played a little bit of Starfish and Coffee after I had been shouting it out to him for pretty much the whole of the show. I don't believe he's played it at any other show since then.
Maybe he heard me? Maybe it was already planned? I dunno, I was like 10 rows back and in direct view of him.
All i know for sure is that when he played it this was literally me:
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Very true....King of looking after himself and his buds. | |
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ALT+PLS+RTN: Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift. |
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This guy was happy..
"Watching Prince is like watching a super human. It's as if he knows something no one else does, like he's discovered a cheat code in the game of life. To see him pull off a mind-melting guitar solo or a 720° ballet spin is to watch someone on a higher, almost divine plain of existence. "
http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=15095 | |
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