Surely the best of the year. Here's an approximation of a setlist:



2:25AM -P comes out, starts drum loop (almost the ONLY loop of the night). After a LONG rhythm guitar into on Habbibi with audience chants of "go go go go!", they go into:



*The Daisy Chain-I wasn't a fan of the video version, but live it kicks ass pretty hard. DVS kinda effed it up with the "white girl givin it up" chant, but it came together in the end.


*Raspberry Beret-P goes to the side of the stage and grabs the +Hohner Telecaster+! (Think Computer Blue in Purple Rain).I've gotta say, it sounded fresher than it has in YEARS. The band was great, and P fleshed out all the chords and fills on guitar instead of the keys as in the typical arrangement of the song. Superb. I hated it on Rave Un2, but this was incredible.


*Controversy-Beginning with the unmistakable rhythm riff, played on the Hohner, just like the record. Excellent version. I can't say enough about John Blackwell. And after the jazz seque JUST like on the original Hit and Run tour, they do


*Mutiny-P didn't sing, he just walked around the stage dancing and making faces at the band. Sick as hell.

*Cream-Prince on the Hohner filling everything out nicely. It sounds very good with the current configuration of the band. He also played an extremely effective but minimalist guitar solo.


*P goes back to the piano and establishes a very pretty chord pattern which closely resembled "Five Women". He then lets Kip take over the keys, straps on the Hohner, and proceeds to play the most incredible guitar solo we've seen in a LONG time. He really put himself out there in a way that's rarely seen in live settings. We were changed.

*Long jam over an almost Latin beat with P on keys. Everyone turns in incredible solos. The most non descript part of the night, but still well worthwhile.


*Villanova Junction-P starts on the piano, then pulls up a woman from the side to play his part and then picks up Habbibi and plays another incredible solo. Time stopping. The aforementioned woman solos on the piano, and they finish it off.


*Housequake-Blackwell drops into the intro perfectly. P picks up the key part and they're off. No singing, but DVS shows up to do a triple timed rap. It doesn't matter though, because it's Housequake and it's the shit.


*Sexy Dancer. More rapping from DVS, which still doesn't hurt things too severely, because underneath the band is playing SPOT ON and P duplicates the key solo note for note. Very live.


*The Beautiful Ones instrumental. Very very good, and once again fresh in a way that it hasn't been for quite some time. Almost epic.


*And they close with Nothing Compares 2 U. P takes a mic and just sits on the stage and croons. Perfect singing and the band is right behind him. Nice finale.



They also stabbed at Darling Nikki and Little Red Corvette somewhere in there, but thankfully only in passing. As soon as the crown gave the "ahhh!" of recognition, he moved on to something else.



So in summary:
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Daisy Chain
Raspberry Beret
Controversy
Mutiny
Cream
Five Women
Latin jam
Villanova Junction
Housequake
Sexy Dancer
The Beautiful Ones
Nothing Compares 2 U
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Looking at the setlist it appears almost cabaret, but I assure you the older material was renewed with a spirited vitality that has been missing for a long time. The band is incredible and P seems like a new man. Don't miss this show when it comes to town y'all.