Greetings all,


Here's an awesome review from Pete Tatersal. Enjoy.



Sun Herald, The (Biloxi, MS)
May 3, 2004
Section: LOCAL-FRONT
Edition: TSH
Page: A4


HITS RAIN DOWN ON PRINCE-CRAZED CROWD
PETE TATTERSALL/THE SUN HERALD

BILOXI --- Prince, an icon in American rock 'n' roll for nearly a quarter of a century, played before a sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 Saturday night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

Dressed initially in white, buckskin-fringed pants and a white jacket unbuttoned nearly to his naval, an eternally young-looking Prince took the stage around 8:30 p.m.

"I don't know what you heard, but you're about to have the time of your life," Prince announced.

A versatile performer whose music is a hybrid of rock, funk, and rhythm and blues, Prince has so many classic songs that the only downside of Saturday's show was that he gave short shrift to a handful of them. This took the form of abbreviated medleys of hits such as "Let's Go Crazy," "I Would Die 4 U" and "When Doves Cry."

Instead, the performer seemed to concentrate on songs from his new album, "Musicology."

Those songs are good, but not yet classics.

Prince compensated for the slightly disappointing dearth of classic tunes by performing a rambunctious, jubilant show full of thumping bass, searing guitar and triumphant horns. In an era when many performers seem to rely on lip-syncing and prerecorded tracks, Prince's vocals seemed 100 percent live.

He changed costumes three times, the final of which included a red suit and red, high-heeled shoes.

As an added bonus, each ticket holder also received a CD copy of "Musicology."

The highlight of the show featured Prince taking the stage by himself, sitting on a swiveling stool and performing several stripped-down hits, such as "Raspberry Beret" ("Remember this from high school?" Prince asked) on a purple acoustic guitar.

In a democratic move, the stage was positioned in the center of the Coliseum, meaning that, at various times, every angle of view was a good one.

Prince, ever the consummate professional, demonstrated Saturday that he knows how to work both the stage and a crowd. At one point, about 30 audience members filed on stage to dance and, in several cases, fans lent a hand on a few simple instruments.

The only time Prince was upstaged Saturday, in fact, was by a young boy who appeared to be about 8 years old, and whose footwork on stage sent a wave of raucous cheers through the audience.

"I love you all so much. What a good time. For real, for real, for real," said Prince, before closing the two-hour show with a full version of "Purple Rain."

"Did we have a good time tonight?" asked Prince.

Based on the audience's reaction, the answer was a resounding "Yes."


I wont mind if you cut and paste. Just give a brother credit.

-319



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Copyright (c) 2004 The Sun Herald