http://www.mercurynews.co...964944.htm


Posted on Mon, Feb. 16, 2004

Prince performance pleases the adventurous

FANS PARTY, BUT SOLD-OUT FILLMORE SHOW SKIMPS ON HITS

By Marian Liu

Mercury News


Watching Prince live is one of those ``must-do's'' in life.

It's alongside bungee jumping or sky diving -- life just isn't as complete without seeing the purple eminence
perform in concert. But like the other adventures, it comes with risks. Prince concerts always do.

``So many hits, so little time,'' Prince said during his more than two hour, sold-out performance at the Fillmore in
San Francisco that started around 12:45 a.m. Sunday. But for the 46-year-old star, who's put out 25 albums, the night seemed less
about the hits and more about the music.

Hard-core fans seemed to understand the difference, but others may not have comprehended Prince's need to perform some of
his lesser known songs, such as ``The Love We Make,'' ``Musicology'' and a piano rendition of the ballad ``Adore.''

It was disappointing to some that Prince did not sing many of his classics from albums like ``Dirty Mind'' or ``Purple Rain.''
He did sing ``Controversy'' and ``DMSR (Dance, Music, Sex, Romance),'' but when paying $99 or more per ticket, it was tough
to sit through covers like Black Street's ``No Diggity,'' the Commodores' ``Brick House,'' and one of Prince's favorites,
the Ohio Players' ``Love Rollercoaster,'' among others.

It felt more like an after-party for his fans, where many were invited on stage -- from the scantily clad females to the men in suits.
A few times, he asked for the house lights to be on, so he could see his fans, and pointed the microphone out to let them sing.

The now deeply religious Prince said at one point, ``You can still be cool and love God,'' which could explain the omission of
some of the more risqué songs from early in his career. But he and his band -- the New Power Generation -- still had fun:
Alto-saxophonist Candy Dulfer, along with keyboardists Rad and Chance, had singing and performance solos. At one point,
Prince romped on stage, wiggled and jiggled as if he were performing in ``Riverdance,'' and slapped Chance (he's as big as Ruben Studdard)
on the rear with a towel.

One of the better surprises was saxophonist Maceo Parker -- celebrating his 61st birthday.

Ever the showman, Prince didn't let the entertainment get in the way of the music.

First donning a purple and red blazer, then a black one baring just a touch of chest hair, he enticed without
baring it all as he's nearly done in the past with his lyrics and actions.

No matter, the fans were hungry for Prince. Tickets for both Saturday and Sunday shows had sold out in minutes.
Even many of Prince's longtime fans -- members of the New Power Generation club -- missed out. They were left to beg on Craig's List,
offering as much as $600 a ticket, a 42-inch plasma television, personal chef services and a United Airlines ticket. And because of
Prince's stringent anti-scalping policy, which forces fans to pick up tickets at the venue's will-call window, devout followers
were forced to meet buyers at the ticket windows.

``Every time, he gives an awesome show,'' said one of his biggest fans, Bobby Thomas, 34, who manages
Dream Factory, the Bay Area's Prince fan club. Despite it being his 47th time seeing his idol perform live,
Thomas acted like it was his first -- wearing a chrome-colored vinyl cape that swept the ground, purple velvet pants, and
Prince-symbol belt and necklace.

The general admission audience pushed and pulled its way to the stage throughout the concert. Each time
Prince ended the show, it stomped, screamed and clapped for him to perform an encore. `
`The show was banging,'' said keyboardist Chance after the show. ``The vibe was a big ball of energy.''

There were even rumors of P. Diddy and Suge Knight -- mortal enemies -- sitting together in the
same booth watching the show. Doubtful, but when it comes to Prince, anything seems possible.


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Contact Marian Liu at mliu@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-2740.

Good but not great due more to the material than the lack of a great performance. It's time he cuts the cover songs like "Brick House" and "Pass The Peas". I understand it could get old playing "Purple Rain" and "Kiss" all the time but P has so much music, it seems a waste to play cover songs.

Makes sense as far as most people expect an artist to do their hits. But if you haven't figured out by this point in his career that Prince doesn't always do "hits" And who the hell expects anything from "Dirty Mind" anymore? I think he was way more popular in the mainstream AFTER "Purple Rain".

I doubt anyone comes to a Prince concert thinkin "Damn I hope he plays Brick House". Playing the same 20 songs can get old but when you have released as many albums as Prince has, you hardly have to venture outside your own material to stay fresh.

Sounds like another shit-show.

intha916 said:

Agreed. Really kills the momentum of the show for me when he goes into someone else's stuff.

a cape?prince symbol belt.....

quote] There were even rumors of P. Diddy and Suge Knight -- mortal enemies -- sitting together in the
same booth watching the show. Doubtful, but when it comes to Prince, anything seems possible.
quote]

Doubtful because Suge Knight has his butt in a jail cell once again!

The critic sounds like the typical MTV gum chewer, who only see's importance in what is played on the radio.

A concert is a venue to have a good time. As long as prince plays well, that's all you should expect.

EvilWhiteMale, why believe what that bitch said?

EvilWhiteMale said:

definitely NOT!

Yup, I saw Poop Daddy there....I hope he wasn't taking notes or anything.