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By RON EHMKE
News Contributing Reviewer
3/8/2002

{{{His name is Prince (again). And he is funky - and jazzy, and bluesy, and just about anything else he wants to be.
Free from record-label politics and determined to run his own show from now on, the enigmatic artist whose eccentricities have generated more headlines than his music for the past decade continues his campaign to forge a new relationship between audience and performer.}}}

The possibilities of that partnership were in full display at Shea's on Thursday night. Part avant-garde theater, part old-fashioned house party, the steeply priced shindig (the cheap seats started at fifty bucks) was, by just about any standard, extraordinary.

It began with a blast: several blasts, in fact, emanating from John Blackwell's drum kit behind a closed curtain, which most of the crowd surely assumed was a last-minute sound check. A row of punishing white lights shone directly into the audience's eyes, all but forcing them to turn their heads toward the back of the theater - where sax legend Maceo Parker and trombonist Greg Boyer were already making their way through the crowded aisle onto the stage.

The curtain lifted to reveal Prince delivering some of the mostly indecipherable computer-speak which opens his latest album, "The Rainbow Children," while his band grooved behind him.

"If you came to hear "Purple Rain,' you've come to the wrong house," the star announced.

Indeed, the biggest hit of the evening's first hour came not from his own mile-long repertoire but from the Ohio Players, as a note-perfect cover of "Love Rollercoaster" worked its way into one of the catchiest workouts from "Rainbow Children", "1 + 1 + 1 is 3." The second hour included "Strange Relationship," a 15-year-old pop masterpiece whose lack of chart success evidently bugs him to this day.

Other than that recognizable if slightly obscure oldie, the set - or at least the hour and a half I caught before a press deadline cruelly whisked me away - consisted primarily of new material from "Children," solo-laden jazz instrumentals, a bit of blues, and a diverse selection of tributes to other artists, from Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" to the Delfonics' "La-La Means I Love You."

It's safe to say most of us didn't miss the familiar stuff, because what we witnessed - and felt - instead was a master musician (two, if you count Maceo; six, if you include the entire ensemble, whose contributions far exceeded those of mere hired help) at the peak of his game, playing in the truest sense of the word.

By the time I left, we'd been treated to video footage of frying eggs, a randomly selected audience member had been offered refreshments by the star and the ushers had been recruited to dance to a Sly and the Family Stone cover.

Now, that's what I call a party.

It sounds wild! I wish I could have been there. It's all I dream about. And you? What do you dream about?

Apollonia

And this guy only saw HALF of the concert...lol...

"If you came to hear "Purple Rain,' you've come to the wrong house," the star announced.

Yep ! good idea

Ron

Ehmke said:

OKAY, who's gonna be the first to bitch that their NPGMC membership includes Prince buying them drinks at the show???

You know it's coming, damn bums...

:::LURK:::

CalhounSq said:

i can see it now....

flash forward 3 weeks:
"I read a report about a woman being served refreshments onstage during a show and this is the ONLY reason I joined the NPGMC. So now you're trying to tell me that I can't go onstage and get refreshments from Prince, in other words I paid $100 FOR NOTHING!!!!! Well I demand a refund right this minute...."

I guarantee this prophecy will come true

I was at that concert, third row, right center and I was amazed by Prince’s versatility as a composer and a musician. I wasn’t disappointed at all that he played mostly new music. His style, which encompassed bi pop, bug band and fusion, was incredible. He even played a sort of heavy metal piece prior to his long encore and I loved his rendition of Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice” Did anyone else catch that?

despite his declaration at the beginning of the show, he actually did play purple rain during the piano medley, and not just a tiny snippet either. he cleverly wove the lyrics "we all wanna reach out for something new...it's not 1984 anymore, but 2002..."without missing a beat and "u say u wanna leader, but u can't seem to make up your mind, i think u better open up your bible, and let it guide u..." i will b posting my entire experience w/ began at 500pm at the will call window, thru the soundcheck, the show itself, and the aftershow(w/ rocked!)that ended sometime after 230 am! what a nite!!!

hey kate, i got it, but i was looking for it, otherwise i might not have...

can't wait 2 feel da funk n LA!

Peace y'all,

I have two words for the Buffalo show: AWE and SOME!
Hadn't seen Prince in action since 1986-87ish. NPG Music Club was worth every penny when - at the soundcheck - he called two groups of us up ON STAGE to sing the chorus to "Last December''.
I never expected something like that. Mad FUN!
When we first walked in, about 40-50 of us, the band was kickin' with Larry Graham holding court on the bass like no tomorrow.
At one point, Prince laughed and said, "Larry, don't sweat yourself out of that suit.'' Funny.
I can't begin to talk about the set list. Don't know if I can remember it all. I wish someone who set it to memory or pen could list it for us.
In any event, that poor reporter who had to leave to meet his paper's deadline, missed an incredible second half, especially the encore, which was about an hour by my guess. For the most part, Prince played old jams on the piano - satisfying those who came to here the old stuff after already delivering the new.
Suffice it to say, we got it all.
(I hope he sings the Abraham Lincoln song at all shows. That was beautiful and bold at the same time.)
Whew!

Peace

I bet the reporters were kicked outa the show just in time for prince to begin preaching. Dont wanna loose ticked sales or get bad reviews..!! Sorry to say all u npg music club members r getting mind fucked.

gemini319 said:

The show reports sound just like I've been waiting for for years, that's cool, but this:
"u say u wanna leader, but u can't seem to make up your mind, i think u better open up your bible, and let it guide u..."

pleassse...

Did anyone manage to smuggle in a camera?

ADORA said:

The only way you can get mind screwed here is if you don't believe enough in yourself. Me I know who I am and I know who I believe in so therefore there's no way a musician can screw with my mind.

Much Love,
LoLinex

ADORA, as the comment above says I am sure most members of the club are adult enough to draw there own conclusions from Princes performance.

If you want to see a "mind fuck" look no further than the sunday school drivel in your own profile.

In other words shut the fuck up.

KELLYANNE, what did you think of the show?

i hope he comes to Europe soon, it sounds like just what we have been waiting for.

If anyone has a recording from this show please contact me :

roaldbakker@hotmail.com

Wow! It sounds truly amazing! This reports/reviews r just geting better and better. The musician Prince is now back for sure.
If anyone got a recording of any of the "one nite alone" shows, please contact me.
Peace!