10 years after blowing me away with "soft and wet" Prince came around 2 my neighborhood. LoveSexy '88.

Here's the review.

Prince reigns 'LoveSexy' in Ames
Dateline - 11/21/88 (Russell Karns - Des Moines Register)

4 nearly a year thousands of Iowa rock fans have waited 4 their Prince 2 come. Prince Roger Nelson, better known as Prince, finally brought his extravagant "LoveSexy" rock show 2 Hilton Coliseum Monday night. Approximately 5,000 (myself included) who bought tickets for a show last January (the SOTT tour) that was canceled held on2 them, hoping that the prince of rock would reschedule.

Monday, their dream came true and Prince lived up2 his reputation as the most unpredictable, flashy, and talented musician of the 80's.

Per4ming in the round, Prince was like a radiant star at the center if the universe 4 10,707 fans who came 2C his royal highness of rock pound out a show that almost defies description.

Using myriad kaleidoscopic lights shimmering off a smoke filled stage that appeared 2 float among the clouds, Prince swept away the barriers of restraint that may have kept many rock stars from reaching the plateau he has.

Adding 2 the visual treat was a stage that used rising platforms and an elevated white '67 Thunderbird that brought Prince on stage.

Prince's hot 8 piece band featured 2 talents almost as sexy as himself. Percussionist Sheila E. laid down some exotic rhythms to fuel the fire, and dancer/vocalist Cat provided some of the most erotic dancing allowed in a public place. the interplay btween them and Prince set the tone 4 a very sexy evening of rock.

Prince's music was sometimes spirited, sometimes violent, yet always sexy, and he used his lean, lithe body 2 accent the delivery. Prince turned the audience in2 a panting collection of sweat-drenched subjects, loyal 2 his every move and sound.

With a voice that turns songs in2 emotional pieces of artistry, Prince sings from his soul and touches the souls of those who listen. "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain" were moments of magic that brought a new height 2 what rock is capable of - making us think and feel, helping us find our way through the complicated pattern of life.

Prince can also reach deep w/in himself 2 pull out pure pieces of funky rock 'n' roll that celebrate the joys of just having a good time, xperiencing the reality of our own sexuality.

"Let's Go Crazy" and "1999" were turned in2 raw, powerful numbers that can bring out the beast in our breasts, dancing around the flame on stage that is Prince.

4 Prince and his fans, Monday nights concert was a triumphant declaration of rock 'n' roll, and all the passionate feelings that go with it.

He returned in 2 Ames Ia in 2004 - Musicology . Moline IL - Jam of the Year '97. Cedar Rapids Ia - Jam of the Year 98 (had 1st 2 tickets sold).

Come back, come back, this little freek wants grind, grind, grind.

I was there in Oakland a couple weeks before this review. An amazing experience, to be sure. Too bad that Prince looked at the US part of this tour as a failure. It was a failure only in terms of money, as far as I'm concerned -- and whatever it was that came between him and Sheila, causing them to barely talk to each other for a decade. Other than that, the tour was practically life-changing for most who attended -- no matter if the coliseums were sold out or not.

sheila e suffered when a tendon in one leg/knee wore out completely after the lovesexy tour. she literally fell on the floor while talking on the phone one day. She had to lay off the kickdrums for a long time, and still lays off of them for the most part it seems.

Snap - thnx fer the additional post...apprec8 it...my review was 2 yella 2 post...

best. tour. ever.

Denver 11/03/88

I saw the Lovesexy Tour in Oakland on Friday,November 11,1988.Best concert I've ever been to!

great show in Rotterdam, August '88.....only to see him at the Small Club aftershow a day later!!!!

a titch off-topic here: when the hell is prince gonna play in des moines, fer fuck's sake?!!! every time he's come to iowa, he's played in either cedar rapids or ames. i remember when i first became a fan feeling kinna disappointed because he'd never played in dm and at the time i felt that i'd never be able to see 'im because i couldn't afford to drive all the way up to ames or wherever.

it'd be nice for the cat to do a show in des moines for once. folks dig 'im down there, too.

abierman said:

You saw the Small Club aftershow???!!!

I saw this tour twice at The Sports Arena here in L.A. It was great. I thought the crowd though was oddly reserved. Just a weird vibe. I've never felt that at a P concert EVER before or since here in L.A.

EmancipationLover said:

don't hate me!

abierman said:

Admit it now! You've been the one bootlegging that shit!

EmancipationLover said:

really, I was only 17.....didn't even know what a bootleg was, got my hands on it 5 years later!

I've been a fan for over 20 years and I've never seen this show...so um, just sayin'

orgnote me someone...

Please!

People who got to witness this tour have no idea how blessed they are!

the Lovesexy era hair .....my favorite

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

of all the shows I've seen, LoveSexy was the best! Fullblown, pompous & pretentious, yet very credible!

how I long for those days, eventhough I know it'll never return....
[Edited 5/25/06 16:46pm]

I just missed this tour. Became a collector and hardcore fan in '89.

Supa said:

Finally... Something Supa and I agree on. Lovesexy Live Cincinnati 9/22/88. Best live show I have and will ever see. Best Prince era, from top to bottom... The man was at the center of the musical universe.

abierman said:

Sure you did.... of course you were there in Paradiso in 81 too right...? Along with 65000 other lucky people....

MartyMcFly said:

idiot, what do you know? And no, I wasn't at the Paradiso-show in '81.....were you?

abierman said:

No I wasn't... but I'm not claiming that I was either....

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I thought you were in Minnesota?

DavidEye said:

You actually fell for that?

DavidEye said:

i am here in minnesota, but still, it'd be nice if he'd do a show in my hometown for once.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

This was the first time I saw Prince live in concert, at the LA Sports Arena in 1988. It definitely changed the way I perceived what a live concert was. It was more than just a concert. The way he ended up describing things as "experiences" a few years later was how I viewed the Lovesexy tour. More like "The LoveSexy Experience."

TheBigBang said:

wow. never thought of that.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

i was gonna be snarky, and say, "oh yes, believe me I know," which I think I do, but it also made me stop and think for a minute. I certainly didn't realize at the time what a big deal it was. definitely a case of, "i wish i knew then what i know now."

you always make me THINK!

I was hungry for this show...I had been growing in obsessiveness since 1999, but had missed the Purple Rain tour, so this was my first chance, and Prince delivered. It was sketchy getting there, since it was my mom's birthday and 5 days before the show my parents intercepted mail from the correction's office indicating my driver's license would be 'nullified' starting the day of the show. The drama, knowing that confiscating those tickets would be the perfect punishment!

Thankfully, that didn't happen. It was like nothing I'd seen before in an arena...it was the best sounding 'Big' show I'd seen; first time i'd seen a show 'in the round'; and Prince just seemed to break all the rules (like demaning the house lights be turned on, for example). Great memory.

DavidEye said:[quote]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Damn, get off yer butt and raise praise IF he comes 2 Iowa. I'll swing around yer place and we'll pik ya up fer the show. Were comin' from Cedar Rapids. (dateline msnbc alert....for adults (18 & over - we wants 2 know ya) only. Please see http://www.missingkids.com/. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.