Out of the three shows i've seen I rank it second. (Ahead of Jam of the year and behind musicology.)

The show was awesome! I was centre stage, five rows from the stage and got a really good view of Prince

I thought it was fucking brilliant. I really, really enjoyed it.

I really prefer this kind of show to a hits show. I think he pulled out some great album tracks, like Strange Relationship, Other Side Of The Pillow.

It also turned me on to TRC, before the show I really wasn't diggin' it, but afterwards, I couldn't get enough of the album.

luv4u said:

Yeah that was I liked about it, the smaller venue. I almost missed it all together. The announced here in town not even two weeks before the show came to town.

Prince's voice sounded amazing on the ONA tour, imho. Less dancing = better voice? Anyway, it's still the best sounding Prince concert.

Still, the acoustic section in the Musicology tour gives it a slight edge for me.

NouveauDance said:

Same here nouveau, it really got me into TRC. Before it, I think I listened to it once straight through.

heckaslammin said:

It was in a smaller venue, yep 2 weeks before the ONA show tix went on sale.

And Maceo coming down the aisle playing the sax rocked!

Universaluv said:

But one of the ONA shows i attended (london 2nd night i believe) their was an acoustic section

EXCELLENT,EXCELLENT,Excellent. I LOVED the SLIDE PRESENTATION also...

I enjoyed listening to TRC live.

i loved this tour..i think you either loved it or hated it. 2 me it was funky i loved the fact it wasnt main stream and Prince just ripped it up! the work and the everlasting now LIVE?! DAMN!

2

In retrospect one of my all time favorite Prince tours.

Unfortunately I missed most of the one I was able to go to. Cursed bank card, and devilish traffic an unhealth mix. But from what I was able to experience the intimacy of the whole experience made it worthwhile.

Sly said:

The third and final night (Saturday) had the acoustic (guitar) section.

I attended all three nights in London (including the three soundchecks) and one aftershow.

The size of venue and attention paid to sound quality made the concerts very memorable.

Each concert, although following a basic format, was a different experience.

Prince wasn't repeating the same lines each night that he might wheel out at each different venue - he varied the setlist reasonably significantly, and he threw in a considerable number of surprises including the acoustic guitar set on the final night.

He didn't play one note of 'Purple Rain' and I didn't miss it.

The band was tight.

I agree with what was said above - his voice was in very good shape.

The intimacy of the venues meant that his playfulness and humour, as well as his musical range and skill - and band leadership, were extremely well projected and received.

Overall, he proved that he could wow an audience (which attracted a fair few newbies who perhaps expected the hits) using his varied repertoire, musicianship, stagecraft and showmanship, and without even relying on pyrotechnics, splits, and humping the mic stand. For me (and I appreciate it will be different for each person), it was wonderful to be part of the best performances I'd personally witnessed him put in since seeng him in the 80s.

.

Sly said:

Heck if I'd seen that london show then maybe I change my vote. Granted I saw about 5 different musicology concerts to one ONA show, so my opinion is probably a little skewed.

Now if you count the ONA aftershow I saw as part of the show, then it's not even a close question. Nothing like being three feet away from a Prince and Erykah Badu duet.

Universaluv said:

I've not attended one Musicology show, so my viewpoint is totally skewed in that sense.




The Red Jacket show.

(I've also been three feet away from Prince and Erykah performing together. She was simply stunning.)

.

ONA tour by a mile. Simply prince at his raw best.

I saw 6 Musicology shows (Washington DC and Boston) and the three London ONA shows (I was also at the New Marquee aftershow, but we blagged our way into the VIP area and couldn't actually see the stage ).

I'd say that ONA was a much better tour for all the reasons Langebleu stated, plus I actually enjoyed the tension of the queuing system (I appreciate that I may be the only one who did!), and the soundcheck experience was a first for me.

Plus I met my friend OneMoJam on the last night of the Hammersmith gig, as well as living the dream that was Prince inviting me on stage!

Yeah, the ONA tour was a special one...

Musicology had its moments, though. I don't know how people Wembley Arena holds, but the Boston venue was HUGE! I think that's the biggest indoor venue I've ever seen him at. The old Wembley Stadium was big, but the atmosphere was crap - that was the worst Prince show I ever attended...but I digress. Hearing so many people singing his songs, watching him work that stage, hearing the new version of SOTT (my highlight of the show) made the trip worthwhile. Ending up on stage again wasn't bad either .

Overall, I'd say that Musicology was fun, but ONA showed perfectly everything I love about Prince - his musical ability, his onstage presence and the way he involves the audience.

Max

Absolutely brillant tour ! As good as his great tours back in the day. Quite frankly I did not expect such a tour anymore. His musical ability was shown perfectly. The structure of the show as well was top notch. The band was amazing. Absolutely .

BeautifulFrance said:

The Celebration 2002, the TRC album and the ONA tour made me believe in Prince again....he seemed kind of lost between late 1996 until the middle of 2001.
No surprise when you consider all the ups and downs and tragedies he had to go through. With that in mind, the late 90´s were still OK, but TRC and ONA showed a revitalized and strengthened Prince at the top of his game.

What an amazing tour.

langebleu said:[quote]

Sly said:

Very well put! I also think that the soundchecks and especially the aftershows make this tour real special. Bataclan and Nighttown are beyond incredible.

Its the only time ive seen him live, so maybe my judgement is somewhat clouded, but i absolutely loved this tour. Ive got 4-5 Musicology shows and they dont come close to this tour for me. I hope from now on he bases all his shows around the songs from his latest album. Few people have such an extensive back catalogue to delve into, he doesnt just need to keep playing purple rain or lets go crazy or little red corvette. I really dislike the greatest hits style shows he does.

My other favourite tour shows are Lovesexy and the Nude tour (despite it being pitifully short).

langebleu said:

That says it for me.

I only attended the Friday and Saturday shows but they were two of the best live experiences I've ever had. Unbelievable!

It was fantastic! I had the best seats ever for a Prince concert. I loved every minute of it.

I was at the 2 shows he did in Rotterdam and it was Great and it was the first time i saw him from so close I think 20 meters or so..

The thing I also remember is at the first show, I think before the soundcheck, but maybe I'm wrong, the DJ turned up the Bass so loud...
Personaly I liked it!
Does anyone else who was there remember that?

I went to both ONA and Musicology. I really enjoyed them both. I do like the hits when he changes them up and sounds great doing them. The ONA show was cool. Especially since the USA and the EURO tour were completely different sets.

He played Empty Room several time.....OMG. How cool was that!
I have a few friends that went to the 2002 cele. and said it was f*cking awesome to see the accoustic set live. Unbelievable and would have paid just to see that. What rare songs were brought out during that show like
Elephants & Flowers, Something in the water, All the critics,..etc, very rare stuff not heard in 20 years.

Vry cool shows and different and I enjoyed them both. I do miss the dancing on ONA but you are right about the amazing music. Everyone was right on cue and it was incredible.... Thanks for the memories!

*shudder* I still get goosebumps eveytime I think of that tour

Since it's the 1st time I saw Prince, I think thats way it's so special to me. I can't get over how the audience felt like they were family and how amazing Prince and NPG sounded! The entire show was flawless and like a neverending fairytale of musicland. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, stunned and still didnt want it to end. And it didn't, the afterparty was even better I relive that night over and over again.

bso2001 said:

I've been at the second show in Rotterdam, somewhere in the back But even there you experienced the fun the man had playing. It was a lot better then some of the tours he did before (let's say, after Nude)

The ONA tour was brilliant!!!

The band, the whole atmosphere, Prince in top form, interesting sets... What else do you want?

Too bad I missed the aftershow...

I was interviwed by a guy from radio asking me about my opinion on the show. He asked: "Did you miss some of the old hits?" My answer: "It's not a museum here, it's a concert." He: "So you don't mind him changing?" Me: "If I want to see a 40+ person still trying to make some show with eroticism, I could go and watch Madonna." The guy smiled, and my replies were aired next morning on the radio.

But, like Langebleu, I haven't seen a Musicology show (no European leg...), so I can't compare. Just to judge from the concept, ONA might be more my thing.

ona tour was great. hands down the best prince tour i've ever been to. i can do without the hits. its the jamming, musicianship, attitude, style, and sex that does it all for me. hits, schmits...just fucking tear the roof off the joint and i'm happy. that said, the song selection was phenomenal for ona. i honestly had no idea what was coming next...great, great tour!