Prince - Hit & Run Tour 2000 - Nashville 11/25/00



Here's my review...take it or leave it.



This was my fourth Prince concert...my first was the Love 4 One Another Charity tour back in '97. And though not as bad as that show in Birmingham (the organization of the entire event was terrible), this show has to rank third. I was going in expecting a lot more...



First...to all the fucko's who can't get there by showtime...quit blaming Prince for starting late when your alcoholic asses are standing 20 deep in line for liquor and then running to the pisser to relieve yourself of the shit you just drank. Buy a fucking clue. At 8:00 the arena was less than half full. Prince is off the hook on this one.



However...there are definately faults...on to the show...



He started off with "Uptown" as usual. He didn't look extremely enthused at this point. He was wearing all black with a "NPG" scarf around his neck. He was playing the "Dirty Mind" era guitar. I actually think this is a cool opening number, but it was clear from the beginning that this night was a sound nightmare. I'm not sure if it was because I was sitting in the fifth row in front of the speakers or what, but the mix SUCKED. I couldn't hear Prince's vocals for well over half the night. He would say something to the crowd and the people around me wouldn't respond because we couldn't understand him.



Apparently Prince was pissed as well...he left the stage numerous times. And it wasn't always to change clothes. Once I could see him chewing ass on the side of the stage and another time he ran down the stairs on the side of the stage and into the wrong dressing area before his goons turned him around in the right direction.



"Uptown" led into "Controversy" and the set list was pretty much the same as the other shows with some GLARING exceptions...no "If I Was Your Girlfriend" or "She's Always In My Hair" or "When Will Be Paid" or "Santana Medley." And these were the songs I was most looking forward to. Instead we get "Cream" and "Diamonds and Pearls." Whoopee. And to top it all off...he didn't play "Alphabet Street" which he almost always does when he's in Tennessee. Also...they played the first verse of "When Doves Cry"...but Prince didn't sing a note. He wasn't even on stage.



The arrangements on most of the first few songs sounded almost identical....and most sounded exactly like they did on the JOTY shows. I thought the ballads slowed the show down too much...and again...the arrangements sounded identical...it was like Prince was just singing different lyrics over the same beat.



Overall a poor peformance I thought. I really missed the "piano" portion from the JOTY shows. It was really cool just having Prince playing by himself at the piano. I felt the JOTY shows had a better "sequence" than this show. They started at a fever pitch...which led to the piano portion...which led to the ballad portion...which led to the encores. This show just seemed kind of all over the place. I realize this is a "hit and run" show...but it just lef something to be desired in my opinion.



It wasn't all bad...highlights included:



The first appearance on stage by Prince - few things can equal the excitement of his entrances...



"Let's Go Crazy" - the arrangement and energy were really cool. Almost a "hard rock" feel. Nice.



"Housequake" - still the funkiest



"Purple Rain" - I know he has to be tired of this song, but it's great live. His speech here was really cool as well...not too preachy. He talked about the election and the fact that if we can't do what we want when we want that we are all slaves and should write on our faces and change our names as well. Also he said that no Democrat or Republican can lead us now...our only leader will always be God.



Blackwell - the brother can flat out hit the skins. He's almost too loud. I hate to say it, but he's as powerful, if not more, than Michael B. Now if Prince will only keep him around instead of pointing out his "screw ups" on his official website.



Well...I guess that's it. I seriously doubt I'll go to another show until the official "tour" begins. This is just too much of the same old thing.



Peace,



Matthew



One note...why do so many people feel that it's necessary to smoke pot at a concert? I'm no square...and far from it...but as soon as the lights went down at least 3 people around me and my girlfriend lit a joint. Sad.