My wife and I literally just walked back into our hotel room from the Dallas concert at American Airlines Center, and HOLY &*(!@## did Dallas show love to Prince tonight! The crowd was on its feet the entire time aside from the brief periods when Prince left the stage, and even rose to their feet during band solos in Prince's absence.

The show started around 8:15 or so. We all received the Musicology CD when we entered the arena -- ushers were handing them out before the security check. NPG Retail was there, but not with much that you can't already get online at the club. The only music for sale was the Aladdin DVD, NEWS and the Days Of Wild Single, along with Rhonda Smith's album.

The show opened like other shows -- Alicia Keys' HOF induction speech. The band entered from our side of the arena (we were positioned on the floor, section 15 row F, basically facing John Blackwell's back. We couldn't see how Prince entered, but he appeared onstage as the band launched into "Musicology." The crowd went crazy. Prince was wearing a red and white suit with the mismatched tails, then donned a white had for a couple songs following, including Let's Go Crazy and Controversy. He moved all around the stage all night long, so the idea of there being "no bad seats" is virtually true. He wore his light-up heels during the first part of the show, and showed a playful amount of his old dirty self with bumps and grinds during Controversy and Insatiable. He also played "Life O The Party" and brought Erikah Badu on stage for an extended jam, including probably 20-25 people from the crowd who stayed onstage for "Kiss." He played "Let's Work" and "DMSR"...nearly full versions.

The first break in the show had Prince returning in a while top with polka dots and white pants and boots.

He played the acoustic set, which was awesome because I was worried he wouldn't after reading reviews of the last show. He took center stage dressed in black with a black acoustic guitar, accompanied by Mike Scott, and played Little Red Corvette, Sometimes It Snows In April, the "Twins In My Bed" song, including the joke about "Is that your breath or mine / I had the regular chips / You had them other kind," which got a huge reaction from the crowd. He also played "On the Couch" and "7" including an enormous audience sing-along.

He got up, the band had returned and they started "Purple Rain." Prince took the microphone and sang the first few words, and there was horrible feedback. Prince stopped singing, looked around, and said, "I knew I forgot something!" He looked back and his purple symbol guitar was delivered to him. He basically started the whole song over and sang every verse, jamming at the end with an extended solo.

Sorry -- can't remember the entire set list, but it was overalll very similar to what the other shows have been. He announced during Purple Rain that he was going to come back to Dallas in June. Don't know if that's made it onto NPGMC.com yet.

Overall, a great show with lots of hits with some obscure tracks for casual fans like "Shh." The one song noticably absent after reading other reviews was "Raspberry Beret," which he didn't sing.

We hung around after the show and ran into John Blackwell, who came back out as usual to gather some stuff off the stage. He spoke to some of the crowd and handed out about 10 or 15 unused drumsticks from the night. My wife made it to the front of the crowd and, despite her exceedingly cute "Baby's First Prince Concert" shirt, she didn't get one. Oh well.

We bought our tickets for the San Antonio show (June 9) this morning, so John, keep an extra set of sticks handy.

Oh, and the show ended right around 10:45, so it was about a 2 hour 20 minute show, give or take a bit.


[This message was edited Fri Apr 2 21:41:42 2004 by Doozer]
[This message was edited Fri Apr 2 21:42:24 2004 by Doozer]

awesome thanks for letting us know, i was wonderin how you all were doin there in dallas, you rock

Well, I can't take credit for Dallas rocking since we drove up from San Antonio. But, I was glad to help Dallas out!

Doozer said:

cool now, go spend some time with that lovely wife, and tell her im sorry she didnt get sticks from him, maybe you have one you can give her ?

nakedpianoplayer said:

Heh heh...well, she's 5 months pregnant so I had my drum solo a while ago.

Doozer said:

awesome comeback !! much love to both of you, congrats on the lil one

Thanks! I was a little worried that my first child would get blown out of the womb by the funk.

Doozer said:

nawwwww, its good for em

Ur recap was right on point. The highlight of the show 4 me was Erykah Badu on stage singing "Southern Gurl" 2 "Life O' The Party" beat. P seemed 2 be really in2 the show. The only thing that spoiled the show 4 me was the 50 year old black lady that sat next 2 me who's deotarant ran out about 15 minutes in2 the show. Man, nothing spoils Purple Rain more than a underarm funk!

very good review.... one thing that wasn't mentioned (I think) was the lady that kissed Prince while he was singing KISS. It was funny to see how fast security will remove you from the stage.
It was a great show and I am looking forward to going again in June. The best part about it is I am already scheduled off, so I will be there!!!! Plus on the way home I was jamming to my free cd of Musicology!

Musicology101 said:

I forgot to say that either her kiss or her breath knocked him on the ground. He laughed it off as if it was supposed to happen.

Doozer said:

emmer. effer. phx will end up being the only show on the tour without the acoustic set.

Great review! I'm glad to hear it was a great Show. I don't know if I can wait for August for him to come to Houston.

And also, you Dallasites are going to have to come to Houston just like some Houstonians drove up to Dallas to "help" you guys out.

The Dallas show was a phenomenal show...I was on my feet the entire time...Sorry to whoever was sitting behind me...

I bought tickets pre-sale and of course understand that my seats weren't guaranteed to be front row but after speaking with people who were in the general vicinity we determined that the seats were rationed out in alphabetical order...

Not a great deal for those of us near the end of the alphabet...

I would feel better if it were random and not simply alphabetical...I may have had a better chance of getting a close seat waiting until the tickets were available to the general public...who knows...anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the show as I do every time I see him...I will not have a voice tomorrow and that's fine with me...

Someone mentioned being near someone who had faulty deodorant...well try sitting in an area where someone keeps passing gas...I thought I was going to pass out at one time...

Great show and I will be in the AA Center in June for his return to Dallas.

We need to plan a get together after the concert or something...

I just got home to Austin from the Dallas Show.

It was Great.

I am from Dallas and just moved here about a year ago.

I was so proud of the fans, it didnt even look at first like it was going to fill up, then it did and they were AWESOME along with Prince and the NPG.
The best audience support, I have seen In Texas. I have been to about 12 shows in Texas
6 in Dallas. I think Prince was extremely pleased with DALLAS.

That lady that kissed Prince, do you think they made here leave the AAC?

Ivy6f92 said:

GOOD LORD!!

The Dallas show for me was good but could've been better for me ! Although I was in section 16 row A ( Front row baby! ) I have to say some things really pissed me off at this show. For one, I know I was sitting in front row, but this front row was to close and I could'nt see Prince most of the time. There was some black box in front of me that was blocking my view. I don't know if it was a speaker or what. I was to busy straining my neck. Second, when my friend and I were about to get onstage to dance, a whole bunch of girls just started to bum rushed us. Third, I notice two drunken girls from stage danceing and kissing each other on stage got back stage passes. Now everybody else from the stage didn't get a back stage pass, but only them two. Now when I arrived at the american airlines center I located my seat and started to talk to the security guys. I Ask them if they could help me and my friend onstage when Prince asks people to come on stage. They told me that when we get on stage we would have to take are pantees off. Now I don't know if It's true or not . It kind of make me wonder what kind of reputaion Prince and the NPG have in the back stage room. Other than that it was a great show!

APOLLONIA112 said:

I guess they are copying George Clinton song:

No Head, No Backstage Pass

APOLLONIA112 said:

interesting

The show was unbelievable but the after party was GHETTO!! HAHAHHA

the seats we received through NPGMC were front row section 15. Which like someone else said was right behind john blackwell. At times you could not see Prince but that was ok becasue the music was pumpin'. We had plenty of room to dance and we did all night long. The sound in the theatre was great too.

On to Vegas!

Also forgot to mention the part during a song breakdown where Prince said "Dallas, I do not believe in lip syncing! I do not believe in sequences! I do not believe in TRL! But I do believe in horns!" He also commented that "every microphone on this stage is on tonight."

As for the seating, I was a little disappointed that, after having our presale tickets bought seconds after they went on sale at the club, my wife and I were in section 15, row F, which was fairly close to the back end of the floor seats behind John Blackwell. During the acoustic set, the drums were blocking our view of Prince most of the time.

Doozer said:

So close to Doozer! SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY...

dearlybeloved said:

Cool! It's been said that the tickets were distributed alphabetically -- our last name starts with "N" -- how 'bout you?

Did you really think the sound was good? I thought it was average at best in the AAC...there were times when Prince was talking to the crowd and I could barely make it out. Maybe it's just my ears!

All this talk about first row sucking is worrying me. I'm surprised Prince hasn't walked around the stage to see how the view is for those with the 'best' seats. I'm not much taller than Prince, so the idea of being right infront of a 6 foot stage, with another few feet of John Blackwell's drum kit piled on top, worries me. I've already bought member tickets for one show, but if he announces another...I might have to buy them through ticketmaster.

Anyway, sounds like a great show. Only 5 months until I see him.

Doozer said:

Hey my first child is proud to say she went to her first Prince concert in utero (sp). I was five months pregnant too.

Congrats on the little one.

The show was nice to listen to. Like many of the others, I didn't see a whole bunch of Prince. However if I bent my head all the way up I got to see him on the big screens. The whole middle stage seems to be a great idea but very hard for ppl sitting on the side to see whats going on.

We had decent seats, but I would of prefered to be in the 100's instead of the floor.

Great show and Great Energy!!!!

Betsy and Cody sorry for missing y'all at the aftershow, but I was feeling very ill. Thank goddness i made it home when I did or I would of been a mess.

Much Love,
LoLinex

Sounds like you all had a great night.Was the show a sellout? Not that it matters but just curious.

Wow, now I'm a little concerned about my tickets being too close to the stage. I'm taking someone that has never seen him before and neither of us are the tallest people in the world. I've read quite a few people say they were behind John Blackwell, so I'm wondering if the "music club" section is located there.

I've enjoyed everyone's recap. Thanks for posting.

Bull said:

I heard before the show that it was a sellout...The only tickts available the day of were through radio stations...

Our seats were on the floor but our row wasn't full...
I'm not very tall and I truly believe that the best seats were and will be in the future the first few rows on the lower tier of any of the arenas...no neck stretching or peering through arms or around heads...for me at least...

I forgot to say that either her kiss or her breath knocked him on the ground. He laughed it off as if it was supposed to happen.

So what did this lady do. Did she kiss Prince on the check and then the security removed her from the stage?