{{{Tuesday, April 23, 2002
http://u.dailynews.com/mu...prince.asp

The eclectic Prince still reigns supreme as a live performer
By Heather Wood
Entertainment Editor

He's been an '80s pop poster boy, a sexed-up taboo, a James Brown incarnate and an inspiration to some of today's best artists - From Beck and Lenny Kravitz to D'Angelo and Alicia Keys.
So where does a musical mastermind like Prince go after he's explored and improved upon all available mainstream music options?

Back to his roots.

Prince's latest stage show, (which played to sold-out crowds at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre Friday and Saturday), takes a trip back to mid-20th century jazz clubs, where modern music originated.}}}

Under a purple haze, the artist once again going by his given name, performed a nearly three-hour set that showcased his jazz and R&B roots - laced with the usual doses of psychedelic funk.

With a five-piece backing band of always-stellar musicians - sexy saxophonist Candy Dulfer caused a stir of her own - the artist performed a set that drew mainly from ``The Rainbow Children,'' his latest album chock-full of both hand-clapping anthems and seemingly endless jams.

Prince's musical instincts allow him to transition from a drum 'n' bass-heavy ``The Rainbow Children'' to the Gospel-tinged ``Muse 2 the Pharaoh,'' get in a political sonnet about racial profiling, blaze a rockin' guitar solo, and end up right where he started with seamless ease.

Anyone hoping for a ``Little Red Corvette'' encore was quickly disappointed. The 44-year-old musician has both grown up and moved on.

``This ain't 1984,'' he quipped mid-rant, criticizing the way mainstream radio kills listener enjoyment by playing the same song ``over and over and over and over.

``I'll never play that damn `Little Red Corvette' again.''

Prince did take a mini detour back to the past, offering up ``Diamonds and Pearls,'' ``Raspberry Beret'' and ``I Wanna Be Your Lover,'' jams that dared you not to get up and shake it.

The onetime X-rated rocker seems to have changed his tune indefinitely. The purple lights above never once turned red, which may have been a bit disorienting to younger fans hoping to shake their bare midriffs to ``Darling Nikki'' or ``Soft and Wet.''

But the Prince followers who have been with the artist since the beginning (Jimmy Smits, Sheila E., Gabrielle Union, Larry Grahm and Dule Hill among the famous ones in the house) knew the deal: With Prince, you never know what you're gonna get. But it's sure to be tight, funky and out of this world.

Heather Wood can be reached at (562) 499-1254 or by e-mail at heather.wood@presstelegram.com

He said "Damn"?
Better crack open the swear jar! =)

IT'S ALMOST TOO H O T

TO


BE


COOL -


BUT MOST DEFINATELY C O O L.

PRINCE KICKED MY ASS!

I was there for both concerts and both aftershows. Sheila E, Maceo Parker, and Larry Graham showed up and it was a historical triumph for Prince in the heart of Hollywood. If you think he is slipping, you better ask somebody.

I was second row center for both concerts. He has a routine in the early part of the show where he asks someone in the front row to give their seat to someone else. During the Friday night gig, he chose me to come to the front row and take a woman's seat upon taking her up onstage. Cool as hell and I am too old to care about such things.

When he did 1+1+1 is 3 with the interpolation of the Ohio Players' "Love Rollercoaster" I thought the damn roof was going to fall in on us. People freaked out on the old school. It was so funky that you could smell it! Made me get all ugly in the face!

The aftershows were infamous and sure to go down in the Prince bootleg hall of fame. THe guitar work was unreal. The second night, he did a rendition of Baeutiful Strange from the world famous House of Bluess on the Sunset Strip that left me feeling like a dump truck had just run over me.
It proved once again that it is almost a crime that he is not recognized - on a daily basis - a one of the best guitarists alive. Hendrix would have been proud.

It was all there: funk, jazz, rock, and some spirituality thrown in for good measure to give the warm, tingly, freshly ass kicked feeling that you can only get from a Prince concert.

If you missed it, shame on you. Prince is STILL the king...

...cause FACE said so!!!

After 18 or so years of checking out Prince concerts/shows,
I find myself without a bit of criticism of the 4 shows from LA on Fri and Sat. (Not to mention the soundchecks).
There is ususally something to complain about, something I wish I had heard, sucky seats, why'ed he do that, play that, same songs, greatest hit blah,..... nothing.
It was perfect. Everything.

Wait, man I knew that would happen. Here's a suggestion, not a critisism.
I though he could use some backing vocals on Everlasting Now and Family Name. Maybe bring 10 or so NPGMC to the stage. That would be cool. I do like a rythm guitar also, but I don't feel it was really missed.

On the way out the HOB Saturday Aftershow, some English? Girl looks at me and says. "He didn't sing anything!". (Apparently unfamiliar with any of the material and expecting his greatest hits) I was thrown and still vibrating from the show. I said, yeah, wasn't it great?!

yeah i chatted it up it up with the bartender beforehand who'd mentioned he'd never seen him live & pulled a double shift just to be there, after the amazing set i went up & said what did you think expecting him to be in awe & the only thing he could say was " he didn't play any of the old stuff", Good lawd i thought to myself, where was this guy besides behind the bar? That show transcended complaint & I'm still carrying my jaw in the palm of my hand & it's now thurs. I know everyone else is prolly sick of hearing about it so I'll shut it.

BLACKMF said:

I agree with his performance on Beautiful Strange. The guitar work was absolutely unbelievable. This, in my opinion, was the best performance of the night, including the concert. Beautiful Strange was incredibly haunting. Did you see him tearing up that gum? Too funny.

There was a pretty funny part to me when Larry performed. Larry was looking back calling for the horns to blow and they were looking at him with perplexed look like, play what? It was like they were awaiting the green light from Prince.

Peace

BLACKMF a.k.a. Face,
You lie not! The shows were Amazing and Beautiful Strange topped it all off on Saturday night (Sunday morning). It was a pleasure to met you in line, and sit next to you in the second row on Saturday night. Hope to see you at the next show / gathering!!!
Peace,
Bryan