NinaB said:

I think I heard Brenda give a shout out 2 Roy, wonder if he was doing the lighting again. Made me also wonder if any other of the old crew were involved.

Yes I was listening 2 the show and she said he was doing the lights for the show

Identity said:

Pgeishirt said:

Identity said:

Wow these are obviously professional photos. Beautiful. Thanks for posting. The pic of Lisa is a prize winner.

http://www.startribune.com/prince-s-revolution-turns-the-party-up-in-its-second-first-ave-tribute-show/392244021/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting on the Friday night show, explaining that although the set list was the same, there were new guests, such as Brenda Bennett, Maya Rudolph, and Questlove.

Review and photos: The Revolution and guests honor Prince at second show

The Revolution perform the second of three reunion shows at First Avenue. September 2, 2016. (All photos by Emmet Kowler for MPR)

.

If you live in Minnesota, you might get excited about seeing celebrities. The state is incredible — and more people should visit — but it’s so rare to see someone like Stevie Wonder in town that when he shows up, telling your friends is automatic. This weekend, then, when Minnesota became the celebrity figure in and of itself, it was fun to watch. Of course, what brought in people from all over the world was the three-day run of reunion shows by the Revolution, Prince’s band from 1979-86 and his co-stars in Purple Rain.

.

Since Prince’s passing, as Andrea Swensson noted in her review of Thursday’s show, closure has been hard to come by. Acceptance isn’t easy when your favorite artist is gone — and as we’ve heard from many people, Prince was even more than an artist for many. He was a hero; a game-changer; an inspiration. For the many fans who haven’t found peace since April, these shows are helping in leaps and bounds.

.

The Revolution stuck to the first night’s set list, again bringing on early Prince players André Cymone (in a fantastic, feathered red hat) and Dez Dickerson to perform with them. New York City’s Bilal nailed “The Beautiful Ones,” slaying hearts with those lingering calls of “baby” and the earthshaking, anguished screams. Wendy and Lisa’s stripped-down “Sometimes It Snows In April” will go down as one of the most tender songs they’ve ever played.

.

Most people talking about these shows will make this caveat, I imagine, but it’s still got to be said; no one will ever play Prince’s music like Prince. Those squeals and roars from his guitar and his voice — they’ll never be made again. But at the Revolution’s show, what honestly counted was the heartfelt, tremendous effort by everyone who honored their former leader.

I found myself most absorbed during the instrumental sections — the long “Purple Rain” intro, BrownMark and André’s bass-slapping jam after André asked, “Y’all want to hear a little double bass?” Sometimes, when I shut my eyes, I could picture Prince about to grab the mic.

But the Maya Rudolph appearance! Fans had posted pictures with her earlier outside of First Avenue, and she danced in the owner’s box for a good part of the show. The actress is a huge Prince fan, and she started an artist-approved cover band called Princess with Gretchen Lieberum. So when Wendy bellowed, “Is Maya Rudolph in the house? Princess! Now!” it felt amazing to see Rudolph and Lieberum run onto the stage. They sang every word to “Baby I’m A Star,” bursting into the most contagious dance moves with off-the-charts energy. Behind them, the band grinned.

Questlove also stopped in town to DJ dance parties on Friday and Saturday, and there was one more surprise guest: when Apollonia came out to talk to the crowd this time, she brought Brenda Bennett (of Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6) with her. Bennett met Prince on December 9, 1980, she said — “the day after John Lennon was shot.” The murder broke her heart. But little did she know that Prince would also become an icon, “not just for me, but for you, and for the world.” She said, “What he did, he did out of love.”

Wendy also shared a couple of stories, like the one about her first show with Prince. “When I joined the band, I was 18 years old,” she said. “Are you nervous?” Prince asked. “Hell yeah,” she answered, heart racing. But just before they went out on stage, Prince told her to count out the measures in half-time. “You’ll play behind the beat,” he said, and Wendy said that was the best rhythm guitar advice she’s ever gotten.

.

Later, while talking about Purple Rain, she said that she’d had to film at First Avenue in the winter. Since she and Lisa lived in California, she told us, “Prince called us on the phone, and he said, ‘Make sure you get up three hours early and turn your car on.’” The crowd laughed. “‘Just leave your heat on. Don’t drive downtown unless the car’s been on three hours.’ I thought he was insane.” But he was right, and when she left town on Christmas Eve, the windchill was something like -70 degrees. When she arrived back in Los Angeles, she revelled, “it was 70 above.”

.

Minnesota was Prince’s home; warm, cold, or freezing, the state was where he chose to be. This weekend, thousands of others chose to be here for a party to remember, hopefully falling in love with some of the same places and people Prince did. As Paisley Park opens for tours on October 6, Prince’s legacy will continue to bring fans here. I can’t wait to keep seeing his legacy unfold.

Cecilia Johnson is a Local Current staff writer. Photographer Emmet Kowler works with lights all day and takes photos after dark. See more of his work at Interface Magazine.

So I'm finally having a minute to post about this show....

I have to say it was fcking AMAZING.

The set list is already been gone into in the reviews you'll read online.

I had booked my flights before they added the third show so I didnt get to see Thursdays first show. I was there Friday & Saturday nights for the 2nd & Last shows.

The opening set by Questlove was pretty much the funkiest and most perfect Prince DJ set I have ever heard. Sat was great too but my pick for best opening set is Fri nights. I mean it was flawlessly curated. I have begged via message to release his sets from the wekend - they really must be heard - but he set the tone flawlessly for the show -

Wendy. Fcking WENDYYYYYYYYYYY. MY GOD how difficult to attempt to bring this all off - I think she did an incredible job as band leader and mistress of ceremonies - I'm not reviewing the show technically because we already know what a killer band they are - we already know what stellar musicians they are I wont be comparing them to their younger selves as none of us are our younger selves either.

We were there to grieve and find closure and express our pain and love for our fallen hero. Wendy could not have done this better. When she picked up Ps guitar - I lost my shit. When she palyed it was with such heart and such love and she channeled all of the feleing inthe room and it was reflected back to us in the music.

Lisa, Fink, Bobby, Dez, Andre --- everyone was on fire, and filled with varying bouts of emotion throughout - at some point you could see them remembering their own younger selves and rembering their palces on the stage with Prince - it's like riding a bike - you dont forget...you could also see each of them at different points in the night grappeling with what we were all grappleing with: He's not coming out.

So ...that. That was hard. REALLY REALLY HARD. I had one of the most strange emotional experiences I've ever had where I was all at the same time: sobbing uncontollably laughing screaming singing and dancing and it was when Bilal brought Prince from the heavens - those screams were like salvation and moved all of us through a place we didnt know existed...Bilal is the ONLY person who can sing Prince and not impersonate Prince. This moment was so cathartic so powerful and so perfect that it moved me to acceptance. Prince came through those screams and told us to let go of our sadness - he is fine now and it all came through the Revolution and Bilal at that moment.

Outside of a Prince experience - this was the second most pwerful concert experience I have ever been privy too. I felt Prince hoping for our happiness ....

The Revolution is GREAT. Their chemistry and fondess for each other is comforting and genuine and I can't love Badass Wendy enough. She did Princes solos justice without disturbing our memories. Simply stunning.

Me & my husband flew from Costa Rica - and it was worth every penny to see them this way - in this place. This band is not to be fcked with...they are still dangerously good. There were some messy spots but like I said it wasnt what we were there for...sound issues and what not - no matter THIS was the show of a lifetime. It was a fitting way to say goodbye.

more - when I add my review on the third show in the other thread.

terrig said:

So I'm finally having a minute to post about this show....

I have to say it was fcking AMAZING.

The set list is already been gone into in the reviews you'll read online.

I had booked my flights before they added the third show so I didnt get to see Thursdays first show. I was there Friday & Saturday nights for the 2nd & Last shows.

The opening set by Questlove was pretty much the funkiest and most perfect Prince DJ set I have ever heard. Sat was great too but my pick for best opening set is Fri nights. I mean it was flawlessly curated. I have begged via message to release his sets from the wekend - they really must be heard - but he set the tone flawlessly for the show -

Wendy. Fcking WENDYYYYYYYYYYY. MY GOD how difficult to attempt to bring this all off - I think she did an incredible job as band leader and mistress of ceremonies - I'm not reviewing the show technically because we already know what a killer band they are - we already know what stellar musicians they are I wont be comparing them to their younger selves as none of us are our younger selves either.

We were there to grieve and find closure and express our pain and love for our fallen hero. Wendy could not have done this better. When she picked up Ps guitar - I lost my shit. When she palyed it was with such heart and such love and she channeled all of the feleing inthe room and it was reflected back to us in the music.

Lisa, Fink, Bobby, Dez, Andre --- everyone was on fire, and filled with varying bouts of emotion throughout - at some point you could see them remembering their own younger selves and rembering their palces on the stage with Prince - it's like riding a bike - you dont forget...you could also see each of them at different points in the night grappeling with what we were all grappleing with: He's not coming out.

So ...that. That was hard. REALLY REALLY HARD. I had one of the most strange emotional experiences I've ever had where I was all at the same time: sobbing uncontollably laughing screaming singing and dancing and it was when Bilal brought Prince from the heavens - those screams were like salvation and moved all of us through a place we didnt know existed...Bilal is the ONLY person who can sing Prince and not impersonate Prince. This moment was so cathartic so powerful and so perfect that it moved me to acceptance. Prince came through those screams and told us to let go of our sadness - he is fine now and it all came through the Revolution and Bilal at that moment.

Outside of a Prince experience - this was the second most pwerful concert experience I have ever been privy too. I felt Prince hoping for our happiness ....

The Revolution is GREAT. Their chemistry and fondess for each other is comforting and genuine and I can't love Badass Wendy enough. She did Princes solos justice without disturbing our memories. Simply stunning.

Me & my husband flew from Costa Rica - and it was worth every penny to see them this way - in this place. This band is not to be fcked with...they are still dangerously good. There were some messy spots but like I said it wasnt what we were there for...sound issues and what not - no matter THIS was the show of a lifetime. It was a fitting way to say goodbye.

more - when I add my review on the third show in the other thread.

You gave me chills describing Bilal- thank you for sharing all you shared

terrig said:

So I'm finally having a minute to post about this show....

I have to say it was fcking AMAZING.

The set list is already been gone into in the reviews you'll read online.

I had booked my flights before they added the third show so I didnt get to see Thursdays first show. I was there Friday & Saturday nights for the 2nd & Last shows.

The opening set by Questlove was pretty much the funkiest and most perfect Prince DJ set I have ever heard. Sat was great too but my pick for best opening set is Fri nights. I mean it was flawlessly curated. I have begged via message to release his sets from the wekend - they really must be heard - but he set the tone flawlessly for the show -

Wendy. Fcking WENDYYYYYYYYYYY. MY GOD how difficult to attempt to bring this all off - I think she did an incredible job as band leader and mistress of ceremonies - I'm not reviewing the show technically because we already know what a killer band they are - we already know what stellar musicians they are I wont be comparing them to their younger selves as none of us are our younger selves either.

We were there to grieve and find closure and express our pain and love for our fallen hero. Wendy could not have done this better. When she picked up Ps guitar - I lost my shit. When she palyed it was with such heart and such love and she channeled all of the feleing inthe room and it was reflected back to us in the music.

Lisa, Fink, Bobby, Dez, Andre --- everyone was on fire, and filled with varying bouts of emotion throughout - at some point you could see them remembering their own younger selves and rembering their palces on the stage with Prince - it's like riding a bike - you dont forget...you could also see each of them at different points in the night grappeling with what we were all grappleing with: He's not coming out.

So ...that. That was hard. REALLY REALLY HARD. I had one of the most strange emotional experiences I've ever had where I was all at the same time: sobbing uncontollably laughing screaming singing and dancing and it was when Bilal brought Prince from the heavens - those screams were like salvation and moved all of us through a place we didnt know existed...Bilal is the ONLY person who can sing Prince and not impersonate Prince. This moment was so cathartic so powerful and so perfect that it moved me to acceptance. Prince came through those screams and told us to let go of our sadness - he is fine now and it all came through the Revolution and Bilal at that moment.

Outside of a Prince experience - this was the second most pwerful concert experience I have ever been privy too. I felt Prince hoping for our happiness ....

The Revolution is GREAT. Their chemistry and fondess for each other is comforting and genuine and I can't love Badass Wendy enough. She did Princes solos justice without disturbing our memories. Simply stunning.

Me & my husband flew from Costa Rica - and it was worth every penny to see them this way - in this place. This band is not to be fcked with...they are still dangerously good. There were some messy spots but like I said it wasnt what we were there for...sound issues and what not - no matter THIS was the show of a lifetime. It was a fitting way to say goodbye.

more - when I add my review on the third show in the other thread.

That is taking your Revolution fandom a bit to far

paulludvig said:

terrig said:

So I'm finally having a minute to post about this show....

I have to say it was fcking AMAZING.

The set list is already been gone into in the reviews you'll read online.

I had booked my flights before they added the third show so I didnt get to see Thursdays first show. I was there Friday & Saturday nights for the 2nd & Last shows.

The opening set by Questlove was pretty much the funkiest and most perfect Prince DJ set I have ever heard. Sat was great too but my pick for best opening set is Fri nights. I mean it was flawlessly curated. I have begged via message to release his sets from the wekend - they really must be heard - but he set the tone flawlessly for the show -

Wendy. Fcking WENDYYYYYYYYYYY. MY GOD how difficult to attempt to bring this all off - I think she did an incredible job as band leader and mistress of ceremonies - I'm not reviewing the show technically because we already know what a killer band they are - we already know what stellar musicians they are I wont be comparing them to their younger selves as none of us are our younger selves either.

We were there to grieve and find closure and express our pain and love for our fallen hero. Wendy could not have done this better. When she picked up Ps guitar - I lost my shit. When she palyed it was with such heart and such love and she channeled all of the feleing inthe room and it was reflected back to us in the music.

Lisa, Fink, Bobby, Dez, Andre --- everyone was on fire, and filled with varying bouts of emotion throughout - at some point you could see them remembering their own younger selves and rembering their palces on the stage with Prince - it's like riding a bike - you dont forget...you could also see each of them at different points in the night grappeling with what we were all grappleing with: He's not coming out.

So ...that. That was hard. REALLY REALLY HARD. I had one of the most strange emotional experiences I've ever had where I was all at the same time: sobbing uncontollably laughing screaming singing and dancing and it was when Bilal brought Prince from the heavens - those screams were like salvation and moved all of us through a place we didnt know existed...Bilal is the ONLY person who can sing Prince and not impersonate Prince. This moment was so cathartic so powerful and so perfect that it moved me to acceptance. Prince came through those screams and told us to let go of our sadness - he is fine now and it all came through the Revolution and Bilal at that moment.

Outside of a Prince experience - this was the second most pwerful concert experience I have ever been privy too. I felt Prince hoping for our happiness ....

The Revolution is GREAT. Their chemistry and fondess for each other is comforting and genuine and I can't love Badass Wendy enough. She did Princes solos justice without disturbing our memories. Simply stunning.

Me & my husband flew from Costa Rica - and it was worth every penny to see them this way - in this place. This band is not to be fcked with...they are still dangerously good. There were some messy spots but like I said it wasnt what we were there for...sound issues and what not - no matter THIS was the show of a lifetime. It was a fitting way to say goodbye.

more - when I add my review on the third show in the other thread.

That is taking your Revolution fandom a bit to far

I think its accurate - is it P no of course it will never be that again.... - but it was perfectly right for this moment I feel tings first - and thats where I'm living rt now with this

Good lord the portraits on this thread are AMAZING.

[img:$uid]http://funkyimg.com/i/2gqbR.jpg[/img:$uid]

From left to right: BrownMark, André Cymone, Susannah Melvoin, Bilal, Bobby Z, Apollonia, and Wendy Melvoin.



Hey folks, check out The Current blog for many great Revolution concert pix like the one shown here.

Man, I really tried to get tix! I would had love to be there and get some autographs, take some pics.

Oh well. Hopefully they will put this on a DVD or at least a CD/Digital album.

:purple:

GhostChick said:

Man, I really tried to get tix! I would had love to be there and get some autographs, take some pics.

Oh well. Hopefully they will put this on a DVD or at least a CD/Digital album.

:purple:

You didn't get to watch some of the performances on Periscope with some of us? If not, too bad. That's was really special, at least for me, because they were live feeds...