Continued from: http://prince.org/msg/12/421646

Thread for continued general discussion of tour.



Please post concert reviews in the dedicated threads, thanks:

Melbourne - February 16 - 6:30 pm Show 1 http://prince.org/msg/12/421844

Melbourne - February 16 - 10:00 pm Show 2 http://prince.org/msg/12/421846

Melbourne - February 17 - 6:30 pm Show 1 http://prince.org/msg/12/421847

Melbourne - February 17 - 10:00 pm Show 2 http://prince.org/msg/12/421848

Sydney - February 20 - 6:30 pm Show 1 http://prince.org/msg/12/421852

Sydney - February 20 - 10:00 pm Show 2 http://prince.org/msg/12/421853

Sydney - February 21 - 6:30 pm Show 1 http://prince.org/msg/12/421849

Sydney - February 21 - 10:00 pm Show 2 http://prince.org/msg/12/421850

Auckland, NZ - February 24 - 6:30pm Show 1 http://prince.org/msg/12/421854

Auckland, NZ - February 24 - 10:00pm Show 2 http://prince.org/msg/12/421855

Perth - February 25 - 8:00 pm http://prince.org/msg/12/421857

Guys, I purchased two additional tickets for the 10PM show (Choir seats aka behind the stage) at the Opera House and seeing the photos of the Melbourne show has me slightly worried with the whole screen backdrop behind Prince.

Does that mean my view will be completely obscured by the screen? I really hope he forgoes that screen if that's the case. I saw there was mention on the Opera House site that certain sections had an obstructed view but I believe that didn't apply to the choir section.

If the view is obscured, I won't hear the end of it

I really wish he'd drop that string pad that comes in when he holds down the keys.

I've just come home from the Wednesday 17th 6.30 pm Melbourne show. Sorry if this is the wrong thread, but there's no "right" one yet for this show.

I wouldn't claim to be able to give a set list - there's too much of the back catalogue I honestly have yet to catch up with; and besides that, he overwhelms me every time I see him. Who can think when you're having pure pleasure injected into your cerebral cortex?

He had a psychedelic kaleidoscope effect on the full wall behind him throughout as background; there was no A-V screen, but I didn't feel that was any loss. There were about a dozen or twenty candles on stage in groups of three around him.

He mentioned Denise again tonight, but didn't say much. Spoke about the song he was intro-ing as one he'd written for her. He mentioned her stage name, Vanity, and later said that "vanity" can be dangerous. A cryptic remark; that's as I remember it. (Please note: I didn't sense any criticism of Vanity herself in this remark; that wasn't what he meant, and I wouldn't want anyone to get that impression.)

One highlight for me was the last verse and the chorus of "A Case of You". YESSS!!!! Not the full song, but to hear as much of it as he did was wonderful. And what a "Prince" song he made of it!

"Waiting in Vain" by Bob Marley was also covered.

Unchain My Heart! Who expected that at a Prince concert? Not me, but it was there.

Predictably (that's not intended as criticism) it was the big hits that had the crowd excited, but he raised the roof with them!

Little Red Corvette.

Raspberry Beret.

Kiss - that had to be the most energetic number (which is really saying something) between artist and audience of the night.

He ended Raspberry Beret with "shave and a haircut, two bits".

My guest identified another bit of borrowing - I'm hopeless at spotting that - in one number (sorry, forget which) - the "Peanuts" tv specials "Charlie Brown" theme. You know that piece? He worked it into one number and (my guest said) he repeated it again later (I'd say in the same song; I knew I'd heard it before when he played it but couldn't quite say where.)

Nothing compares 2 U. I've heard him sing this before, in 2003, but it left an even deeper impression here. I'd say the venue suited him better; this is the first tour he's played the State Theatre in; and the earlier two tours I've seen him at were both at Rod Laver. Although Rod Laver was specifically designed with the intention of being able to serve as a concert venue (it's primarily a tennis stadium) I wouldn't mind betting the State Theatre is acoustically superior. It's smaller and I'd say that helps.

And you'll hear more about this, I'm sure, but you heard it here first (maybe): there was an intruder on stage!! Female, who ran from the side on to the stage, and was bear-hugged by one security staffer, and then by a second one, who got her off stage without incident, and certainly without any physical contact by her with Prince.

There was less patter in the entire show than I expected; such remarks as he did make tended to be half-sung asides within the songs. He had several quips about the woman who ran on to stage; he said "wait till after the show" and something else about he'll pay her the money he owed her later. (That's what I heard; maybe others heard differently.)

He touched hands with many of the front row on two separate occasions.

One of the great spontaneous moments was when he asked the audience to clap along with one specific number, and the audience en masse started clapping on every beat. He stopped at once at the piano, and walked to centre stage - all good humoured - and said no, no, that's not it. "It's 2 and 4." This was the most relaxed I've seen him in three concerts over 12 or 13 years; this was Prince the man with warmth, good humour, charm and charisma. (Can U tell I'm a fan?)

What a voice! To think he'd be doing it all again in two hours' time. There was no holding back; and the high notes and screams were off the chart for a man in his fifties.

What a piano player!! He's a genius!!! There's no other word for it.

What a man!!!!

Was it a short show? Yes.

Was it a great show? Absolutely.

Worth the money? I got one of the few $200 seats and it would have been a bargain at twice the price.

intheplace2b said:

Guys, I purchased two additional tickets for the 10PM show (Choir seats aka behind the stage) at the Opera House and seeing the photos of the Melbourne show has me slightly worried with the whole screen backdrop behind Prince.

Does that mean my view will be completely obscured by the screen? I really hope he forgoes that screen if that's the case. I saw there was mention on the Opera House site that certain sections had an obstructed view but I believe that didn't apply to the choir section.

If the view is obscured, I won't hear the end of it

I just bought in the Choir section too. It definitley says that some seats in the Choir, Organ Gallery and certain boxes may have partially obscured view on the booking page. I can't see them promoting it as 360 and then deliberately putting a screen in front of a few hundred people. Surely there would be a disruption as people get up to try and peer around it. But I don't go to many sit down concerts so I don't really know.

How's the merch'?

$50 for a t-shirt, I think I saw in a pic. Decent quality?

Posters for sale too?

What else is there? Any HnR2 CDs?

Can anyone tell me what he hsa said about David Bowie at the shows?

Onthe1jb said:

nonamesleft said:

Mong said:

I really wish he'd drop that string pad that comes in when he holds down the keys.

He won't because he's Prince.

I know what you mean though. I wish he would use it less.

He doesn't use it on every song, but I would like to hear less of it.

You have to admit that on some songs it works and it is a part of his sound and on some songs it reminded me of the Purple Rain tour. On those moments it makes me happy.

If he did a guitar tour would you tell him not to use effects?

nonamesleft said:

How's the merch'?

$50 for a t-shirt, I think I saw in a pic. Decent quality?

Posters for sale too?

What else is there? Any HnR2 CDs?

I bought 2 hirts (@$50ea) and two posters (@$15ea). The posters could have been better, but the shirts are pretty great quality!

mynameisnotsusan said:

Onthe1jb said:

Can anyone tell me what he hsa said about David Bowie at the shows?

Didnt mention Bowie at the show i went to.

He didn't say anything about anything at the second show last night. Maybe ten second of direct talking with the audience. Nothing about Vanity, his dad or Bowie.

astone said:

Hey maybe use Twitter & Facebook to get Sydney opera house to go purple for prince. I dk -does one just invent hashtags ? eg #gopurple4prince Eg tweet Sydney opera house @Antonella714: @SydOperaHouse @Prince3EG #gopurple4prince Don't let Melb outdo Sydney https://t.co/6ljdsQPnZt Spread the word

Surely they will do this. They light it up for any other reason! But I did email them about it on Tuesday just in case it slipped their minds

kristar said:

astone said:

Hey maybe use Twitter & Facebook to get Sydney opera house to go purple for prince. I dk -does one just invent hashtags ? eg #gopurple4prince Eg tweet Sydney opera house @Antonella714: @SydOperaHouse @Prince3EG #gopurple4prince Don't let Melb outdo Sydney https://t.co/6ljdsQPnZt Spread the word

Surely they will do this. They light it up for any other reason! But I did email them about it on Tuesday just in case it slipped their minds

I went one step further, I rang them up to ask about best pick up time for the tickets as I am flying in tomorrow and asked them if they will do Purple Sails tomorrow night and not let Melbourne outdo them, of course he would not confirm or deny...............

Pre-concert drinks tomorrow at the Opera Bar?

sarielthrawn said:

Pre-concert drinks tomorrow at the Opera Bar?

I'd be keen. I'm only going to the 10pm show, but happy to meet up before the earlier one.

I am only going to the 10pm show too - pre-drinks sounds good to me too - at the Opera Bar ........

Guess we will recognise everyone by their Arm Candy - hehe

[Edited 2/19/16 3:30am]

I guess I should have organise accommodation before now.....

The prices are almost evil. No poor people can ever see him live again. I would never ever pay 400 bucks to see even God. The most I ever paid was 68 bucks.

sarielthrawn said:

Hi guys in Auckland,

10 pm show - bought a$400 ticket first then thought - bugger it, have to see the man close up and bought vip, so have a spare ticket stalls row V (27). Keen to pass it on even with some loss, so if anyone needs it please contact. I may let in go for under cost.

sfinky1 said:

Hi everyone... Damn I'm excited as hell right now! I'm attending the 10pm show in stalls row E Happy to meet other orders in the flesh tonight either at opera bar or the venue! I'll be wearing a white Adam ant t shirt and purple pants if you see me come up and say hi

Damn, wish I had of seen this last night, I was in Row N and would have said hello. Well maybe next time

Hello! Long time lurker first time poster here Does anyone know whether there have been any after shows on this tour? I went to the Brisbane one in 2012 and it changed my life, and now I am really hoping he does one in my lil hometown of Auckland tomorrow!

We don't even know if he is in NZ yet, but as he is jetting off to Perth for Thursday, its doubtful.