Artist aims higher than old hits

03/11/02

John Soeder
Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic

{{{Forget partying like it's 1999.

The Artist Currently Known Again As Prince has changed his tune for the new millennium.}}}

He had his sights set on a higher power when he head lined a sold- out show last night at Playhouse Square's Palace Theatre.

"If you came to get your 'Purple Rain' on tonight, you are so at the wrong party," Prince warned the audience.

The set list drew heavily from his new album, "The Rainbow Children," which could be subtitled "The Gospel According to Prince." The quasi-Biblical effort is filled with references to God, "Banished Ones" and a certain "Sensual Everafter."

Prince, 43, reportedly became a Jehovah's Witness recently. If he appears on your doorstep, pray he brings along his smoking five-piece band.

They certainly made believers out of 2,900 fans at this inspired gig.

The jazzy title track of "The Rainbow Children" got the night off to a fine start. Prince was decked out in black pants, a black shirt and a gray jacket.

During the swinging opening number, he sat down on the edge of the stage and fired off a crackling guitar solo. Then he stepped up to a microphone and proclaimed in a robotic voice: "As prophesied, the wise one and his woman were tempted by the resistor."

Nobody seemed quite sure what he meant. Nobody seemed to mind, either.

"Muse 2 the Pharaoh," "Mellow" and other new songs also went over well, none more so than "1+1+1 Is 3." In the middle of the latter tune - a funky paradise a few exits past "Erotic City" - Prince stopped to scold a woman in the front row who was eating a chocolate sundae instead of dancing.

"Are you with us, dear?" he asked. "All right - we can continue."

Prince breathed new life into a handful of older crowd pleasers, too, including "When You Were Mine," "Take Me with U" and the neo-psychedelic "Raspberry Beret."

Rounding out the concert were several intriguing stabs at material by other artists. Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" made a fine vehicle for Prince's wicked falsetto. He also did right by Sly & the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" and the Delfonics chestnut "La-La Means I Love You."

Prince left many of his own "greatest" hits unplayed. All the same, his greatness came across loud and clear.

How was it for you? E-mail your concert comments to

music@plaind.com.

Contact John Soeder at:

jsoeder@plaind.com, 216-999-4562
http://www.cleveland.com/...425450.xml

Prince Is Really Hitting Em Hard This Time W/ The Funky Fresh New Music... Perhaps The Launch Party in Detroit will play more New Music this time around and Some Rare Oldies that you just don't get to hear on the radio.
Check Out The Events Page for 4/12 Party!

I was wondering how many tickets you can get as an music club member??If you are a member and you have seen a one night alone gig, pleas respond!

RONALD: club members can buy 2 tickets during the show presales (it's totally worth it for the soundcheck, etc). Not sure if the same limit applies at Ticketmaster during the regular sale.

Ronald, club members can purchase 2 tickets, general public can purchase 4 tickets.....that's how it was at the Detroit Opera House and Saginaw.
BTW...u don't need tickets for the show to get into the soundcheck, just be a clubmember

revolution: you ARE supposed to have tickets to the show to get in at soundcheck. Your name will be checked on a list of club members who bought tickets. I think the npgmc will be able to clear up any specifics about this. (besides, it would be mighty hard to go to soundcheck and then leave without seeing the great show!)

it just pisses me off when these dumb fucks always have to start thier articles.. "with name change comments"..

that is 10 years old.. He did it to get out of his contract.. so he could make his own music/money!

why not bring

J Lo
P diddy. Sean Combs, Puff daddy, Diddy
Snoop Doggy Dog, Snoop
Marlin Manson ( tried to change his name but NO one cared)


ALL these people changed their names .. for PR or to get out of contracts..

BUT The Press never bust thier balls..Just write about the music dumb fuck.

Unfortunately there's no statute of limitations on career-killing publicity stunts. Even positive reviews (like this one) are going to begin with name change jokes for the rest of his career, and there's no reason they shouldn't. Stupid moves don't expire.

And if you think no one in the media ever makes fun of P. Diddy, I can only surmise that you've been locked in a windowless room for a number of years.

P. Diddy, that was the most idiotic name change ever. That name sounds like it belongs to a 5 year old. Oh wait, IT DOES!

The name change is one of the reasons he will always be remembered. You should be proud that although others have tried a name change since, none of them have had the impact that Prince did. I can't think of another established name who could force the world to refer to him by an unpronouncable pseudonym and have it stick.