Quite simply he is playing from the heart. He is playing what he wants and not what he thinks the fans want.

I miss the water-spurting phalus guitar that Prince used to jack off and spray the front rows with...

This is true. On top of that, he's got possibly the best band of his career, a killer setlist, lots of songs to choose from since the Celebration, etc. He's giving fans a very personal side with the soundchecks. And at the actual shows, he's gotten rid of the gimmicks, props and choreography in favor of solid musicianship.

TRON said:

Nah, at the actual shows, he's gotten rid of the gimmicks, props and choreography in favor of HIS TIME & HIS BANK ACCOUNT
It's less work & less money to spend, get real.

Anyone who saw Prince in 86,87 & 88 (like me) knows how much the ONA tour (& band) sucks actually.

ChimChimBadass said:

Dig that 1.86-88 was Happening Fo Sure!

Not 4 nothing, as greatful as I am 2 B C'ing these performances now, I damn sure do miss the PROPS AND CHOREOGRAPHY AND THE GIMMICKS!!
The dancing...man ...
Prince can get down man, I miss C'ing that! And whats wrong with props? It's supposed 2B a show dammit!
And you mean 2tell me that when he was playing B 4 that he wasnt playing from the heart then? I thought that regardless of whatever, Prince was ALWAYS playing from the heart because he IS his music!
Shiiit I say, keep it up with the JAM sessions & afterpartys &such but dont B afraid to bust out a dance move, Prince baby.

ChimChimBadass said:

Wrong. This tour doesn't "suck" comparatively to any tour he's done. But I do realize there has to be SOMETHING to complain about.

ChimChimBadass said:

I saw LoveSexy 88. Loved that show. I don't think you can compare it to the current tour, cos Prince is in such a different place now.

I think his band now is as solid as any he's had before.

My only beef is the ticket prices. He's charging JanetJackson prices and playing a BarBand style show.

At least he could give up some kick ass lighting or something for the price he's charging these days...

Either way it's a hell of alot better than the medley-shows he'd been stuck on for years...

ChimChimBadass said:

ChimChim, you are breaking my heart with this!! ONA is lovely!

TRON said:

Prince wouldn't be where he is nowadays if it wasn't for the gimmicks, props and choreography. Most of us wouldn't be here if he was just a brilliant musician.

This tour is alright, a lot better than the H'nR crap which was the absolute worst tour he's ever done. The band's decent, but still being carried by the compositions if you know what I mean. I'm sure the next tour will be the best ever and the one after that as well. Guess it's part of the fandumb.

Because Prince's album The Rainbow Children is such a Great album and Prince is so Exciting onstage. Watching him make the songs Come Alive and actually Breath Life into them is Alternately Mesmerizing and Simultaneously Orgasmic. Prince has Never looked better or Sounded better. Everyone is in for a Real Treat.

ChimChimBadass said:

That mayby why Prince sayed in mpls last sommer

I LOVE U 2 - but not the BAND

I look forward 2 see the gig in Norway the 21st.
Then I can judge for myself -

ChimChimBadass said:

I've GOT to cosign on this one!! I've been saying this for a few years now!! He's been saying a lot lately that his new tours are more stripped down and focuses more on music and not gimmicks when in reality he just doesn't feel like paying for an elaborate set all by himself (no record company's help)! And it's less things to learn when it's just music and not music AND choreography! He's starting to get lazy in his old age.

And, compare this current band to the SOTT/Lovesexy band, and you'd see just how limited the NPG really are (though the best incarnation of it since 93-95)!!