The aftershow (still waiting for a review from those of U who attended the regular show at the Rivera ...I was on my home from work, when on the radio the DJ announced "Prince will be playing an afteshow at the Metro Theater on the north-side of Chicago at 12:00 a.m. 2nite" I thought I was hearing things..he's playing the Rivera 2nite! Then the DJ proceeds to say "Folks do not come 2 line-up before 9:00 p.m....U will not b aloud 2 do so". I then realized that yes, their talking aftershow!!!



I made the necessary phones calls (and was so sorry that I didn't get a chance to post this information 2 the list) went home changed into something warm and headed to the Metro. Before we reached the Metro, we tortured ourselves by driving past the Rivera and notice that the line of people was still not being let in (how long did U guys stand out there?) and it was around 9:00 p.m.! Upon reaching the Metro, we met our own line of people waiting outside of the club!!! The line wasn't that long so we were very hopeful to gain entrance inside Around 9:30 or so, Metro security came down the line 2 check ID's and to issue arm bands (made us think that we were to b let soon, not!) After standing (and keeping warm by meeting and greeting new princely friends...hey, Kathy...Carmen..Jim...Javier!) until around 11:55 p.m., we were finally let into the club.



Once inside, it was time to mark your spot and b prepared to stand/sit in that stop until the performance begun! After watching the stage hands/sound crew set up the equipment (which included Prince's purple-cloth covered keyboards and Habibi) for what seem likes days, members from Macy Grey's band (who had performed earlier last nite at the Aragon Ballroom) ascended the stage. Macy appeared and then finally Prince. A few people started taking pictures (and of course Aaron snatched any cameras he saw) which I felt caused Prince to stayed away from the front of the stage whenever he could. The set started with Macy's rendition of "Sexy MF" ("oh, yeah we aren't suppose to curse but this nite is special"), which was cool but I would preferred to hear the NPG band play the song. Even a censored version! Anyway, this was the scenario the vast part of the evening. Macy singing, Prince on guitar and sometimes keyboard and the NPG sorta hovering nearby waiting for Prince's cue to take over the instruments. Macy also performed a "Forever In My Life" and then one of her own tunes. In between the very extended versions of these songs was lot of alibiing between Prince and Macy. At one point Prince and Macy are seated in front on the drum set, Macy just singing "Baby...baby...baby..over and over again...after awhile she goes..."well, this was Prince's idea!". Prince made some comment about "If I did drugs, this would sound good". There was also a pretty well know rapper on stage (just can't remember his name!) who did a number with Kim doing the lead...now that was nice!



Although, I was enjoying myself (I was lucky enough, or should I say blessed enough to have all of the taller folk let me in front of them until I was front and center of the stage) watching Prince play up close and personal but I didn't TRULY enjoy myself until Macy's band left and the NPG took over. If was iffy at times that Prince was really going to perform, he would take his overcoat off..put it back on...disappear from the stage all during the show, so when he finally strapped on his guitar (coat off), I know it was on. He surged into a bluesy rendition of "The Ride" raising the temperature of the place a few notches. When he went from "The Ride" to the "Santana Medley", I was wondering just how long we would be there! Unfortunately, that was it....Prince disappeared this time and didn't return. Checked our watches, it was 3:30 a.m., just didn't seem like we had been there THAT long! The NPG performance was short but sweet...real glad that I had made it! Prince was wearing his what I'm calling the updated Lovesexy gear of black pants with a red strip on the outside legs of the pants, red boots and a black top with red trimming. The front had a opening exposing his chest...and hair has really grown!