{{{Monday, April 22, 2002
http://www.calendarlive.c...91,00.html
POP MUSIC REVIEW
Past or Present, Prince Near Perfect
By NATALIE NICHOLS, Special to The Times

"If you're looking to get your 'Purple Rain' on in here, you've come to the wrong party," Prince told his Kodak Theatre audience Friday during a concert largely emphasizing his current jazz-flavored album, "The Rainbow Children."
Yeah, right.
By the end of the sexy 'n' satisfying, almost three-hour show, the first of two consecutive nights, the veteran performer and his stellar quintet definitely hadn't played as many hits as at his 2001 Hollywood Palladium appearance. But he did do "Purple Rain," while bathed in lavender light, no less. Not that the crowd of mostly die-hard fans would have complained if he didn't. And why should they? }}}
In recent years, Prince has devoted himself to his followers and all but shut out the outside world. But where once that seemed the result of his having lost the plot, on Friday the perfectly executed new material, along with everything else, made his self-marginalization more a real shame for pop. For he hasn't lost a step artistically and still has things to teach.
In a streamlined presentation, sans last year's backing vocalists and dancer, he sang beautifully and poured on the funky-to-bluesy, hard-to-delicate, Hendrix-esque guitar solos and intricate, expressive keyboard work. Even the esoteric religious mythology that made "Rainbow" so cumbersome was thankfully overshadowed by the innovative, often heavy and slightly distorted soul-jazz-funk.
Wearing a hot-pink suit, Prince soaked up the love, joyously leading the band through on-a-dime changes, playfully interacting with fans, and commenting on such concerns as slavery, radio consolidation and racial profiling. And when he did offer such favorites as "Raspberry Beret" and "When You Were Mine," they were full renditions, rather than the snippets heard in previous performances. Which made those moments even sweeter.

Copyright 2002 Los Angeles Times

just like i remember him in new york april 9th. THE MAN !

MAYBE ITS CUZ I COME FROM EAST L.A. ...

LIVE 4 PRINCE AND PRINCE WILL LIVE 4 U!

He wore a RED suit! Hot Pink...sheesh.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

None the less he was beautiful! You know I am 26 years old and was very young when Prince came into my life "purple rain" ( I wanted to be his Appalonia so badly since I look like the girl)I have always admired his funky and signiture style. I am like most people an aspiring artist, and seeing him on the 19th left me speachless. I was in awe of his purple greatness. I have always loved his music but seeing him that night (even as high as I was in the theatre) left me feeling so.. I cant even explain there are no words. He has inspired me though and I know that I need to think seriously about what direction my music will take. and for sure there will be no 4 letter words. Becasue I respect that Prince has found that it was never cool to use those in the first place. I will remember 4-19-02 always. One day I hope that I will be so priveleged to work with such a talented artist. He has truly influenced me and I hope that he knows that even though his music isnt on the radio now it is still in out hearts.