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Posted July 18, 2004 12:30 AM.

Prince reigns supreme in Hartford
'Musicology' tour hits capital city

By DAVID PENCEK
Norwich Bulletin



HARTFORD - Prince encouraged the audience to yell “It ain’t over” at various times of his concert at the Hartford Civic Center,
While he was talking specifically about Saturday evening’s performance pf "Musicology" tour, he may as well have been talking about his career.
After traveling down the road of obscurity during the latter 90s (remember he was once called the Artist Formerly Known As Prince) and into the new millennium, Prince showed the Civic Center crowd that he still knows how to throw a royal party.
For more than two hours, Prince and his band, the New Power Generation, put on a good old-fashioned jam show. They performed material from his latest album, “Musicology,” which all ticket holders were given as they entered the arena, and he took the audience down memory lane with his popular hits from the 80s and early 90s.
Few artists, if any, can work over an audience like Prince, especially in an in-the-round stage setting where he allowed all sections of the Civic Center to get a good look at him. He showed the fancy footwork and moves than made him a star in the 80s.
With all the bass-pumping, horn-blowing music generated by his band, the most powerful part of the concert may have been the acoustic portion of the night when Prince sat alone on stage. He performed acoustic renditions of six songs including “Little Red Corvette,” “Cream” and “Raspberry Beret.” The band rejoined him on stage to perform “Seven.”
The show began with a brief video montage that included Alicia Keys’ speech about Prince at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was perhaps the one negative of the night since it was an over-the-top glorification of Prince.
Prince rose through to the stage dressed in a black jacket and black pants and opened with “Musicology.” He followed that with “Let’s Go Crazy” and then a medley of “I Would Die 4 U,” “When Doves Cry” and “Baby I’m A Star.”
Throughout the night, Prince would go below stage to change outfits while his band more than adequately carried on the party with funk music.
Since part of Prince’s “Musicology” is to make sure past music great aren’t forgotten, he and his band played a few covers including “Whole Lotta Love” and “Soul Man.”
He ended the show with an extended version of “Purple Rain.”
Prince has been defiant to say this year isn’t a comeback for him. Comeback or not, Prince made a statement Saturday that “it ain’t over” for his Purpleness.
dpencek@norwichbulletin.com

If I die today, it will be as a happy woman. The concert was fabulous. I waited 25 years to see him but it was worth the wait.

So far, no bad shows--well, except for Arizona. Nudges KD.

2freaky4church1 said:

What happened in Arizona?

David

DavidSF said:

Prince completely skipped the accoustic set in Phoenix. He was running behind due to a pre-concert interview running late. It just add salt to he wound when almost every review heralds that portion of the show as the highlight. Still was a great show, but I don't blame those who are dissapointed.

2freaky4church1 said:

don't get me started.... and he was not running late do to the interview.... just cause it says that n a magazine does not mean it is true..... there were many technical issues..... grrrrr ..... i am glad i got to see more shows but many others n Phoenix seen only that show and was shorted one of the best parts of the entire show.....

He was sensational! All I can say is that I felt honored to be there.

All I can say is that P tore it up!! he really did!! We all had a blast and the crowd was really well behaved and very much into the show!! we were all having a good time and I think he could feel it!! Best show I have seen all year!! And I went with a broken toe!!

Eye am still at a loss 4 wordz. Eye saw Prince in Hartford, and Monday in NYC at the Garden. Eye'm riding my Purple High as long as possible!! That made my 9th live show, (+ the simulcast at Regal Cinemas which was soooo fun!) Loved in the round, since he came to the corners of the crucafix shaped stage and we got a close look at him! It was so funny how he was "shuttled" to the stage in the black box in Hartford. Eye guess cuz the civic ctr is under reconstruction or something. The band filed in and out, then a large black box was rolled behind the band. People went wild, we knew he was the prized-package!!! Eye loved how he did When Doves Cry, mixing it with Kiss and how he did that stop motion pose dancing during that hard beat!!!

On Sunday, I check my cellphone only to find that someone's left a message of background noise. wtf? So I delete the message....

Today my friend calls me. She attended the CT show and raved about it. (Said she liked it better than the Madonna show she saw a week or so ago!) She goes: "Did you get my message?" Turns out that she'd decided to call me during Prince's encore performance of Purple Rain. That was the "background noise" I heard!

I totally missed the moment! Damn, damn, damn!!!

UptownDeb said:

Awww, man! I was there at the Prince CT show (which I'm still trying to collect myself from) and I was at the Madonna MSG show which was good. Madonna couldn't touch Prince! She never will even come close, or any other performer for that. Prince totally tore Hartford down! I was shocked at the response he got. He got so much love from us up here, that I could see he wuz luvin it! Ya gotta go to the Musicology show! It is not to be missed by anyone, fanz or not. You will be converted at this show! Peace!

eyelikefunkymusic said:

I'm a Prince fan from way back (c.1977). Sorry, I missed his East coast tour. Now, you're going to make me cry.
:-

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!!! PRINCE IS DA MAN FOR SURE!!!! HE IS KING OF THE MODERN DAY LIVE ENTERTAINERS!!! HE TEARS HOUSES DOWN!!!!

UptownDeb said:

Been a fan for years, but just joined this club. The Hartford concert was all this and more. Need to say that I was swept away by His Majesty's graciousness with the audience and the NPG musicians- he gave everyone face-time, allowed solos to be really solos featuring the musical skill and art of each artist, AND the acoustic session was one long, sexy flirtation. Went with all 4 of my daughters - some are new fans, but now fans for life. It will NEVER be over.