So I’ve just arrived home from what is most likely to be one of the most amazing gigs I have ever witnessed. Prince and his band, jamming for one hour at Melbourne’s very own Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club.
Rumors started flying early in the day about Prince playing at a venue around town. Once it was known that Bennett’s Lane was the choice, I headed down. I arrived at about 5:30pm to be 3rd in line. Not bad I thought! As I waited and waited, the line got bigger and bigger and more chaotic. We were told several times that it was cancelled and not on. But no one moved. Then we were told if we were not on a list we would not get in. But still no one moved. At around 11pm, Bennetts lane was packed with people and the line extended all the way around to little Lonsdale st.
Somehow at around 11:45pm I ended up inside the small room of the club…. And there it was - Prince’s cloud guitar on a stand waiting to be played along with the rest of the bands gear. The room had about 60 people in it and the vibe was amazing. Everyone knew something special was about to be witnessed. When midnight hit, down the stairs came the horn players (who I must say were amazing – Both from James Brown Band and Parliament funk – Macio Parker and Greg Boyne). They were playing a tune as they came down the stairs. Once the band arrived into position, they all started jamming into a jazz number. Prince got on the guitar and joined them after about a minute, and the crowd went crazy! After about 15 minutes, Prince (wearing sunglasses of course) walked over to his security guard and whispered something in his ear. Next thing you know, Prince is strutting to the back of the room where the bar was, with his security guard leading the way. Prince walked up the bar-girl and asked for a coke. He sat there sipping on his drink and grooving while his band were still jamming at the other end of the room. When he finished, he strutted back to the stage and joined in again.

The second number was a huge funk jam with Prince starting it of on the guitar. This got the whole crowd up and dancing and this is when the real fun started. From here on in, Prince and the band were going off! Each and every member was so finely in-tune with what was happening and what Prince wanted that at his “command” a band member would begin to solo. John Blackwell on drums was unbelievable, and not to mention the solid groove that Rhonda Smith provided on the bass was simply FAT!

To say Prince was in his element was an understatement. He would walk off stage every few minutes and point at band members to take solos and just watch from the side and smile and grooving his neck in approval.

After around the 3rd tune, Prince walked on stage and put his index finger to his mouth to “shhh” the crowd. And we did just that. Then they broke out into a rock/fusion/funk jam.. there’s no way to describe it really other than a Prince type of jam! Prince took a huge rock ballad type solo that was unbelievably moving. For someone who hasn’t made his career as a guitarist, this guy is one MOFO of a player. We all know that, but to see him in this situation was mind boggling and it truly demonstrated his talents.

The only time Prince spoke was when started humming the solo he was playing exactly into the microphone. He then turned the mic around to a member of the crowd in front of his who started singing. Prince liked what he heard and turned it back around for him to continue. Prince laughed and said “Bring 2 more drinks down to the front.” During that song, he managed to break into a funky version ‘when the saints go marching in’ and the crowd began singing along with him.

So the show was almost over and the band started walking back up the stairs led by Prince. The crowd clapping and yelling so loudly, they turned back around came back for one more. Back into another funk number that bought the house down AGAIN! About half way through the song, Prince started clapping his hands in the air and signaled for the crowd to do so too. We all did of course and the band transformed into a latin-funk jam with members all taking solos. When Prince decided to get up and take the lead… did he ever. He was playing that guitar like he was never going to play it again. Facial expressions and all… the man was in his element and absolutely loving every minute of the jam.
Before that, he went into fully funked up version of ‘when the saints go marching in’ The crowd started singing along with him and all. This was all part of the same tune – Prince blending everything in to one big jam!
As the band ended, Prince threw his guitar in the air and let it land wherever it did and walked up the stairs waving to the crowd in appreciation along with the rest of the band.

The most amazing part of this whole experience was the fact that Prince was only 1 metre away from me on a stage 20 cm high. No barriers, no security in front or anything.

Seeing Prince play in this small intimate venue, just jamming pure funk, jazz, blues and soul for and hour is something that will never be forgotten!

Wow, what a wonderful experience for you, and a great review!! Thanks!

WOOOWW! That's all I can say...Can't wait 2 see him in concert!

Just reading this review gave me goosebumps all over! Man, you're so lucky!!!

Oh yes, an aftershow... every Prince fan's wet dream...

Greg Boyer

yeh i know!
i realised that after i wrote it! i was too delusional after that gig! still recovering!