MightBQueen said:

OK, you asked. My parents (and later I) moved around a bit. So I have lived in the following Nebraska towns:

Coleridge
Laurel
Ogallala
Mullen
Norfolk
Wayne
Omaha

The above referenced "Jump" story took place in Ogallala. My favorite town in the world. I spend the 8th grad there and had a wondeful time.

krebsne said:

Well, you seem to have a good attitude about it. I guess you are right that he often holds the microphone out the audience and has them sing too. So I guess you just sang one of those parts. It is funny when he has people do that, but I wish he would sing more. Oh well, I guess he gets bored and just wants to mix it up a bit.

RupertZ said:[quote]

krebsne said:

Speaking as a musician myself let me tell you- its very flattering and pleasing when the audience knows the words to your song, trust me! Granted Prince is used to it by now, but I bet it still touches him sometimes. Especially when its not one of the huge hits!

I've seen a video of Queen live in South America somewhere. They go into LOVE OF MY LIFE w/ just Freddy and Brian on acoustic. The crowd, who aren't even native English speakers begin singing every word!! Freddy is visibly moved and stops singing and literally directs the 200,000 people (it was one of those gargantuan soccer stadiums down there) as one huge choir. Pretty soon Brian quits playing too and just sits there in awe. I mean on video it was incredible- imagine being there!

And have you noticed how the crowd really digs in on some songs and belts them out? 7 was like that in Ames last night. He started it acoustic and we all started belting and he was visibly surprised and pleased that everyone joined in (without being asked) with so much fervor.

So yeah, some of it (him letting the crowd sing) is probably trite showmanship. But I think some of it is also a genuine exchange between him and the audience.

That and he's getting older- probably doesn't hurt him to save his voice a bit. When I went to the soundcheck at the KC ONA show he hardly ever sang full voice (during the soundcheck of course- he sang his guts out at the actual show). He was clearly saving his pipes during the soundcheck.

ok, the show was awesome and all that, but about you singing with prince...

I saw you "white man dancing" on stage and thought to myself, "that's why they shouldn't let white guys like us on stage". Then he held the mic to you to sing in KISS and I thought "OH NO, DON'T"...and you knocked it dead, GREAT JOB!!!! it made up for the dancing 10 fold, you definitely belonged up there after that.

My seat were great four rows up from the ramp right of where you sung, level with the stage. I felt sorry for the floor people, it sounds like you couldn't see anything
[This message was edited Fri Apr 9 11:51:06 2004 by raj725]

raj725 said:

Thanks!! That made me laugh, in a good way. I honestly had no idea that I couldn't dance... but hey, at least I can sing!

Where I come from straight men just don't dance. I however don't care what I look like so I just go for it. I had no idea I was so terrible but oh well! I've been dancing like this for years and actually enjoying myself!!

God gives us all different gifts!

Although he kind of went overboard on Prince!!

I came from Minneapolis for this show and let me tell you what I thought about Omaha - First off - Thanks Richard for sending me and my girlfriend to a restaurant in the friggin' ghetto. I'll be sure to not ask for suggestions from you on anything in Omaha. We left California Taco and headed to the Qwest Center to pick up our tickets. We were section S4 Row 1 seats 1 & 2. I have seen Prince over 20 times and have never been in the front row so I was pumped! Props to the music club for my seats! Membership does have its privileges!

We then proceeded to the Hilton hotel which is connected to the Qwest center for some drinks and dinner. The food there was excellent! The entire bar area was filled with people that were going to the Prince show.

When we got to our seats we were right in front of Rhonda! That was a treat in itself. We never got a wristband to show we were in the front row so maybe they did things different on our side. When the show started all of Omaha were on their feet! But I don't think anybody in Omaha can keep a beat as no one around us was dancing or clapping or doing anything besides standing there. The rest of the night was pretty much the same. People just standing there looking up at the stage being dull and boring. Prince usually plays to the energy he's getting from his fans and Omaha wasn't giving off any.

And as far as Richard singing to 'Kiss'..... I think he may have been dreaming. I never saw Prince put his mic in anyone's face and have them sing. I did see Prince throw his mic out into the crowd about 3 rows behind us towards the end of the show. Are you sure you weren't dreaming that you were singing with Prince?

I still had a great time even though no one else really seemed to be into the show. I left Omaha that night and don't plan on returning! Prince probably won't be returning either. Omaha sucks!

way2funky said:

Woah! Dogging on my town, eh?

way2funky said:

Cali Taco is adjacent to some low income housing. But its not really a ghetto. There is a major research hospital and trauma center 2 blocks away and doctors and staff from the hospital (St. Joseph's) eat there all the time. Mutual of Omaha insurance also has major facilities right up the street. It is totally safe. In fact that night it was full of students from Creighton University and it was hard for us to find a table!! You must not have come in because I was in there w/ my fiancee and some orger's from KC eating. We would have loved to have met you. Cali taco has the best tacos in town and I ALWAYS go there before big shows to eat. Its just my tradition. I put out an open invite to anyone who wanted to share that. I'm sorry if (by driving by the outside) you decided it was not good enough for you.

I figured a Prince fan could handle a little *color* across the street!

way2funky said:

I think it goes both ways, there. The energy goes back and forth. There were times when it was working and times when it wasn't. But ultimately I think it is a little bit lame to blame the AUDIENCE. They aren't being (well) paid to make it an exciting event. That is the peformer's job.

way2funky said:

Which just shows you how dead on it I was!! Apparently you couldn't tell the difference!!

You were well under the video screens so you couldn't see it there. If you looked the other way or someone dancing on the stage was in between you and us you might not have seen it. In fact, from where you say you were sitting for sure one person was inbetween you and I when I sang. You might now him- he's a skinny motherf*cker with a high voice!!

way2funky said:

That was after the "audience dancing" part and the acoustic encore. In fact it was during PR, wasn't it? And did you also see security come running out and take the mic back? Bummer for that guy! What a souvenir if they had let him keep it!

way2funky said:

It was like a dream but it really happened, brother.

way2funky said:

I'm sorry you had a bad time. I wish you had come in to Cali Taco and met us. I think it would have been a very different evening for you if you had done that. But oh well, what's done is done!

Do you all remember what Prince said on Oprah when she asked him why he lives in Minneapolis? He said (paraphrasing)- "I'll always live in Minneapolis. Its so cold it keeps all the bad people away."

I feel much the same about Omaha. Run it down if you must. Its a great place to live and the fewer people know that the more its just our little secret!!

way2funky said:

Well I've seen him there three times. He seems to like us fine!

I'm entitled to my opinion.



It had nothing to do with the *color* of the people in the neighborhood you dumb ass! It was the fact that Cali Taco looks like the health department should be showing up anytime to close the place down. When I go somewhere new, I prefer to see the *nice* places in town! If you're ever in Minneapolis I know the perfect place for you to eat. The Gay 90's!



I agree. But if the performer is doing his job (and in my opinion he was) than you have to put some blame on the audience. All we saw were people standing around with their hands in their pockets. And most of the Omaha fans didn't know the words to hardly any of the songs. Except for maybe Let's Go Crazy and Purple Rain.


Someone said you were the white boy that couldn't dance on the stage. Where you wearing a red suit with a black tie? Cause if that was you they were right. You can't dance.

way2funky said:

It's friggin' Omaha...what do you expect? They are not going to be hip with an urban sensibility like NY or LA. Although you were in the front row, so I don't know how you could see that many other people anyway unless you turned around and watched people.

But in most every city except Detroit, SF, and a few others, people are mainly going to know the hits....there aren't 12,000 hardcore Prince fans in most cities.

Three times in how long? 20 years?

I'm going to be seeing him 3 nights in a row in June in St. Paul and at the Celebration in 2002 I saw him 7 nights in a row. I'm sure he likes Omaha just fine!

way2funky said:

Yes you are. I'm not taking that away from you.



Really? OK.... I'll take your word for it...



That is funny dude! You know why? I WORK FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT!! So believe me, if there was anything remotely amiss at Cali Taco I'd be all over it. They are a wonderful family place. The guy who opened it inherited the building. Previously it had been a neighborhood pharmacy. When he recieved the building he decided to use his wife (who is from south America I believe)'s recipes to open a nice, quaint restaurant. It was an immediate hit and does brisk business let me tell you!! Its frequently packed with doctors, students, local musicians and actors. Just the place I would like to hang out if I were in Minneapolis. Not some chi-chi place where they charge you $10 for water!!



I guess "nice" is subjective. I measure nice by tastiness of the food and pleasantness of the atmosphere. I don't like overpriced anticeptic upscale places. You clearly did not go in to Cali Taco. You just drove by and made a judgement on the spot. You say it wasn't based upon the *color* of the people in the area, although you called it a "ghetto". How did you judge it then? By the color of the paint on the bricks?

I mean damn! I was sitting inside, checking the door every time someone came in looking for you! I figured you got stuck in traffic when you showed up and just hoped you were alright and didn't get in an accident. If I had known you drove by and turned up your nose at the neighborhood I could have gone down to the venue a lot sooner instead of waiting around for you!!



My favorite place in Minneapolis is Mudslide I think its called. A veggie place. Great burgers!! And I always hit the Wedge too and stock up on good, wholesome organic stuff that's hard to find in Omaha.



OK- this I can't argue with too much. I have long been frustrated that Omaha does not know the Prince catalog a little more deeply. How do you think I feel? I think I bought the ONLY copy of NPS he sold in this town!!



It was a red shirt w/ black tie, yes. Enough about my dancing already! I never said I could dance! I'm a singer. I'm a guitar player. I'm a songwriter. I never claimed to be Prince or MJ with the moves! I wish!!

But yes, you are right. Apparently I can't dance. But I gave it my best shot!!

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Omaha. But how about a truce, eh? I did my best to show you a good time and take you all the same places I went myself that night. I meant no disrespect!!

RupertZ said


I guess I expected too much out of Omaha. I figured since they don't have much of anything else to do there that they would have been having a better time!

Of course I was turned around at times. I was trying to get people to get their hands out of their pockets. They must have liked them in their pockets though cause I failed. Maybe they were doing something more than just standing with their hands in their pockets.

way2funky said:

Since 1997 and the JOTY tour.



Well come on, man! You live in his hometown fercrissakes!! Of course you get him more. If that's the measure then Prince clearly hates EVERY other town on Earth including LA and Paris because he plays Minneapolis more often. I mean WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ARGUMENT IS THAT?

krebsne said:

Why does me calling an area a 'ghetto' make you assume its because of the color of the people in the neighborhood? I know plenty of areas that are so called 'ghetto' and it's not because of the color of the people that live there. You ever heard of a trailer park? Some people consider those to be ghetto and most of them have white people living there. Don't go trying to turn this into a race thing cause you don't want to go there with me. I was plenty comfortable with the people in the neighborhood. In fact I got gas at the gas station right behind Cali Taco. The restaurant just looked like a dive that is why I didn't want to eat there.

You say you were looking for me to come in. Did you bother to check your cell phone? I called you twice and left you a message the second time telling you I was at the Qwest Center already. So don't try BS'ing me that you were worried and that you were doing me some kind of favor by waiting around for me.




Truce? You say that I didn't want to eat at the place you suggested because of the color of the people in the neighborhood when you don't even know me and you want me to call a truce and you say you didn't mean any disrespect? I have your truce for you right here.


[This message was edited Fri Apr 9 14:48:00 2004 by way2funky]

Hey krebsne, you should thank your lucky stars this NotFunkyEnough yokel didn't have the balls to come inside...Jesus, what an asshole! Just fucking rude. Stay in Minneapolis you fucking yahoo.

theblueangel said:

Who the fuck are you? Didn't have the balls to come inside? That's a laugh. What makes me an asshole? The fact that I tell it like it is?

You're a joke dude!

theblueangel said:

Word BA. Thanks!!

way2funky said:

Hmmm... I suppose this logic makes sense. If you're the kind of person who goes around judging places and calling them "ghettos". I hope you enjoy riding in your car, sealed off from the world, passing judgement on neighborhoods- whatever your wack criteria are for doing so. I don't give a damn what they are.



Whatever, man. Your initial objection was not the restaurant. And you admit you never even went in! You said "Thanks Richard for sending me and my girlfriend to a restaurant in the friggin' ghetto." You were clearly talking about the neighborhood. Only after I called you on your garbage did you suddenly claim it was the restaurant itself you objected to. Nice try. But you were never even in it, so how they hell could you know anything about it? All you saw was that it was not an upscale, urban-sophisto kind of place. And its not and I never said it was. Its an earthy, real, neighborhood joint. The kind of place only a local could take you to. I thought it would be a treat. Everyone else enjoyed it.

But then they came in and actually ordered the food and ate there.



I never said that was my cell phone. That was my home phone number. I got the messages when I got home after the concert. I was at Cali Taco when you called. I don't have a cell.



I wasn't doing you any favors. I was just doing what we polite, midwestern types do. Attempting to accomodate my guests and show some "friends" I had met online a little local color and a good meal before an awesome concert.



If that's the way you want to live your life, man. Go for it. I hope you get some rest tonight and feel better tomorrow.

Here are some lyrics you might want to learn. They are from an "obsure" Prince song that no one in Omaha knows.

Positivity
Have U had U're plus sign today?
Positivity
Do we mark U present?
Or do we mark U late?

I'm done with this. Peace and understanding to all. Much love.
Richard/krebsne

krebsne said:

I lived in Norfolk. :O And survived! Actually had some fun there, believe it or not.

Ogallala's too far west for me... I've only passed through. Lived in Madison, Columbus and Schuyler. All the Bohemian towns.

MightBQueen said:

I've had fun almost everywhere I've lived. Certainly everywhere I've lived as an adult. I believe there are no boring places- only boring people. If you have your mind and a piece of paper you can be infinitely entertained. Throw in a guitar or a library and what else do you need? All the rest of the things you find in bigger cities are just gravy after that!!



Schuyler, huh? You almost got out of Norfolk...

When were you there? I was in the Norfolk/Wayne area from fall of 88 to spring of 90 or so. I was the day chef at The Uptown. Ever eat there? Have the eggs libre or the cinnamon toast? Damn I miss that place!!

krebsne said:

You were day chef? I used to eat there ALL the time! I lived in Norfolk a few years after you, though.

Adam & Roz were my pals. Did some articles about the troubles they & the other business people were going through at one time... was writing for Norfolk & Sioux City papers at one time, among others. Haven't been back in a while... not since they up & moved the place to Stanton! Can you believe it? I have to go back sometime, though. Life still takes me through Norfolk now & again.

We'll look ya up next time we're in Omaha. Or better yet, show up at one of your shows!

MightBQueen said:[quote]

krebsne said:

Wow. Small world, eh! Everybody's going UPTOWN!! (Couldn't resist. I am not a strong man!)



They were great. Totally supported my music and were the only employers I ever had in that neck of the woods who didn't make fun of it.

Did you know Ken Smith? He's a good buddy of mine and he waited tables there after I left.



I didn't know that! Is the menu the same? I HAVE to have eggs libre if I get back. Actually I was in Norfolk briefly last year to give a guest lecture at NECC but I didn't have time to stop by. Guess they weren't there anyway!


That would be great! LMK ahead of time if you know you're coming and I'll work up a surprise for you in the set. I have a cool idea...

Where do you live now?

i don't know when we're coming next... might not be until next summer. we're supposed to go to FL this year, for a family reunion...

we'll be back in omaha again though, for sure.

i'm speculating on that surprise!

oh yeah, i'm in the south of france just now. little ways from omaha. my parents are there.

MightBQueen said:

If you give me enough notice it won't be Prince!! But of course I can always pull something out of my purple bag in a pinch!!

MightBQueen said:

Well enjoy-a-vous! [I don't know how to type a bad Pepe LePew accent...]

LMK when you're coming back.

krebsne said:

will do.

HEY KRESBNE!!!!!

Can you help me? I saw on here that you are going to the KC show on May 4th? I have floor section A, seats 7 and 8-if you go to ticketmaster-and look up prince at Kemper arena/seating chart- http://www.ticketmaster.c...tm_home_g1

can you tell me if these seats are in the section you said you were sitting in -at Omaha? I am alittle worried about these seats after reading your post and some others that complained about seating!! Where will you be sitting in KC?

Your story is totally awesome too! I am also a singer-and I hope like hell that I get a chance to get on stage! Lucky you!!!!!

Thanks!!

OnePeach4u
Kansas

onepeach4u said:

onepeach-

I THINK YOU ARE GOLDEN MY FRIEND!! From the looks of things you are RIGHT IN FRONT, in front of RHONDA and the BATPOLE. AWESOME. BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE. That is if the stage is facing the same way it was in Omaha. Fanflippingtastic for you!

On that map my seats would have been in section F I believe. But of course we were closer to the stage than the drawing indicates. I bet you will be, too.

As for getting on stage, again if this is like Omaha then the onstage people will be mostly drawn from sections K,C,D and F. The opposite side of the stage from you.

I don't know where my seats in KC are. They are NPGMC will call tix. I hope I am right beside you! We'll rock out!!

Richard/krebsne

HEY!!

Thank you so much for looking into the seating chart for me! I think my confusion is that the sections that are K, J, F, and G-are all drawn much bigger-wider and deeper than sections A, B,C,D-so I assumed that Prince would play to the larger sections most of the time-and the people in the small sections would get less of his time? But I also saw that the handicapped sections for the floor area are next to section A. Would the people performing be required to face mainly at that area for handicapped persons? I thought it would be odd if they put those seats at the dead back of the stage?

Did Prince pick one side of the stage to play to most of the time. or did he move and play to the other sections through the night? I am thinking this "in the round" may be a little deceptive in nature...was that your experience? It seemed like from your comments that he stayed at one side-all night-with an occasional turning?

I also want to know what your advice is on this concert. I have never been to a major concert in my life, and I am 27! Do you have any ideas, thoughts, whatever-about what to do to make the experience the most it can be? I know sometimes during life's major events we get swept up and don't have time to do things that might have made those experiences more meaningful-then we later think.."oh if I only would have...."


OH and what time, how early do they seat?? The concert is less than a week away!!!!! Hope you get those great seats!!!!! Maybe we will be close!!!!! ROCK ON!!!

Onepeach4u