Ok, so I’m not sure what happened over night, but Prince and his band were on fire tonight. I wasn’t in the front row like the first Melbourne show, but from the first song you could feel the difference. The band seemed a lot tighter and a lot more energetic than the first night. Don’t get me wrong, the first show was still sensational, but tonight was just something else. Everything was spot on and every move and note they played was seriously electrifying! The set list was the same as the first show, except for the encore. A keyboard was set up at the front of the stage during the first break, and we all knew this meant something special was going to happen! And it sure did. Prince played on the keyboard for approximately 45 minutes with songs like days o wild, adore, the funkiest version of alphabet St, and all the critics love you.
But in true Prince Style, they weren’t just sung as he wrote them. He played on words and actions the whole time. Alphabet St was amazing. The band was playing pure hard funk for a lot of that time and Prince blended his songs in so well, it once again displayed his musicianship. I was so glad I actually got to hear alphabet St played live! During this first encore, there were some great quotes that came from Prince while the band was funking away. Things like “Don’t ever come to this building for another show unless they serve it up like this” and whilst playing the keyboard “No computers here, this is real funk music baby”, “Mother Mary gave birth to a child, she named him Prince”, “Im so funky, that…. Sometimes I could just sleep with myself!”. The man has ego and attitude, but he can pull it off.
Prince had the crowd ‘by the balls’ or ‘in the cup of his hand’ all night and had the ability to manipulate us whatever way he likes with his songs, moves and quotes.
This encore was just mind blowing. The people I was with who also came to the first show, were just lost for words, thinking “did someone put something into Prince’s drink” because the man was actually going off tap. The stand out solos in DMSR and in controversy indicated once again how good the show was going to be. He was feeding off the crowd so much, and little things like these solos got the crowd going even more, which in turn clearly had an effect on Prince.
It was like he had a point to prove tonight, there was no messing around. If you have been following the statements he has made before the tour, something that sticks out in his interviews is when he states that the show has no gimmicks and no pre-recorded music. He has a stab at sample culture that “was cool at first but has now gotten out of hand…. I can’t believe how many bad musicians there are out there”
Prince did not want to finish playing. Prince told the 20 people who got to meet him before the show to expect something big from tonight’s show, and he surly lived up to his word. The second encore was Purple Rain, which was a great end to the show and as per usual, Prince’s guitar solo just blew the crowd away.

Once the show had finished it was time to cruise on down to the Metro for the after show. I still hadn’t had enough of Prince. We get to the metro and find a nice spot on the dance floor. Much like the Bennett’s lane gig, this was something I’ve only read and heard so much about and dreamt of seeing. Listening to quality funk tunes whilst waiting for Prince was good to keep up the anticipation, but when the man walked out with his band at about 2:00am, it didn’t matter how tired people were, it was like we had all been giving a sudden energy boost. Jumping and clapping and screaming, I couldn’t believe what I had witnessed. It started with musicology, and the jam just kept on going and going. A funky version of Brickhouse went off and then something that bought the house down…PEACH. The main riff kicked in and that was it, the place absolutely lost it! Like hearing alphabet St, I was so happy to hear that song. Not only that, but they way they played it was sensational. It was funked/souled up to the max and after this I think I had officially lost my voice. The energy that was coming of the dance floor after this tune would have been enough to light up a city.
Just like at the show, what Prince says we do. “Put your hands in the air” and the hands go up… “Wave your hands like this” and all hands go up move the same way as his does. I was discussing what I had witnessed with others, and we were all basically lost for words. Prince teased the crowd by walking off stage several times and then coming back to play… every time he walked off the crowd chanted “OOHHH EEE OOO… OHHH” just like at the concert. We were not going to let him go!
The only description I could come up with was that it was almost like stepping back 25 years into a jazz/blues/funk club and hearing some of the most amazing music ever. This band was simply phenomenal. There wasn’t one thing wrong with the performance and if they didn’t walk of stage, I’m sure me and every other Prince fan would still be there jumping up and down trying to sing along without a voice. Before Prince walked off, he asked who was going to Sydney… myself and a few others all put our hands up proudly. So its 5:30am, I think its time for bed. After seeing Prince play 5 times in the last 3 days, I’m quite content at the moment. I can safely say that nothing is ever going to top this experience.

thanks for the review - sounds like a great 5 days !!

OMG - They say the first time aint the greatest, well if I had the chance to all it again - I would change a GOD DAMN THING!

After VIP for Oct 21 gig I thought nothing could top this... then I had cattle tickets (4 rows from the very back and to the side of the stage) for Oct 22 and the concert was even betta (despite those around me who would even sit during Everlasting Now -JUMP N DOWN)

Highlights of the night were jams during DSMR and Controversy that just WENT OFF. Prince was in his element and crowd clearly had wound him up into a frenzy that he just could not contain...

Until the encore the set list was the same set, then as soon as saw the stagecrew wheel a piano front and centre (no piano solo for Oct 21) I knew this night would B something different.

Just like on ONA he started the piano solo with Adore then mixed in a range of songs (which un4tunately I am unable to recall right now - except a down and dirty All the Critics love U in Melbourne and Days of Wild.)

The onstage ticket holders were dancing bootee off and Prince just kept challenging NPG to keep up the funk. He was at his best.

I am sure those who have had the unique pleasure of seeing perform many of the hits over the years in the US and Europe will probably get a greater spread of tracks, and I sense that after the 1st gig in Melbourne he realised that he has a great following in Australia that will appreciate more than his 1980's collection of hits (which incidentally he still didn't do Thieves, How come U dont call me, Do me baby, Anastasia... OMG there is still so much I would want 2 hear)

If the Oct 22 gig is anything 2 go by I would suggest that Sydney will also rock and the last gigs in every city should be a highlight. I get a sense from last night that Prince and crowd knew this was his last show here (and mayb there wont B another for another 11 yrs) so we gotta get funky and rock this house. WE DID... for 2-and-a-half hours

Come back soon!

Agreed absolutely. Prince is like James Brown, only better, he can play instruments, and how!
The Wednesday show was the best performance I have ever seen, and heard...
You can see my post here, the greatest concert of all time, or, Rod Laver is the best venue in Australia.
Also, the Alphabet Street work-out on the keyboard was the bomb!
We are soo damn lucky, and we must lobby to have the Man visit these shores again soon...
Melbourne people are party people y'all!
Not just the critics, the people love you in Mel-boing!
[This message was edited Sat Oct 25 2:43:56 PDT 2003 by davidmelbourne]
[This message was edited Sat Oct 25 2:44:41 PDT 2003 by davidmelbourne]

Thank you very much you all for your reports