thebanishedone said:

You're just getting the memo?

The one positive thing I will say about his live shows now is that his setlists are getting A LOT better. Much more varied and not so damn "hit"-heavy, though I'd wish he'd stop saying he's got so many hits because a lot of them weren't "hits", per se. LOL! He ignores his better material such as Erotic City, Head, Feel U Up, and others. Those grooves can be played without using actual profanity, so he should still do them.

WetDream said:

Hell.YES.

thebanishedone said:

He's a musician and entertainer. Guitarist is a subset. Improtant, yes, but still a subset.

But playing guitar is what he does the best so why not continue more into that direction
he was fooling without guitar for 2 decades now let him play some

Holy smokes, the "Dreamer" performance at Monaco! drop dead bad-assery

Yeah, he is better than ever, I go to a lot of concerts and i cant think of ANYONE in his league based on his 09 live recordings.

That live "Dreamer" should be dispatched asap to alt-rock radio and it will surely be played.

violetblues said:

That .....and a few others on that set.

I agree. The last couple of shows have really blown me away. When I go back and listen to some of the standards from the 80's they pale in comparison. Certainly he is not as visually active, but his vocals, the band, and the overall arrangements are as good if not better than ever.

We are truly blessed to be witnessing this from a guy now in his 50's.
I really don't feel that my joy and wonder for Prince is nostalgia, it is about right now.

2funkE said:

-----
I listened to a few cuts today from the last two shows and I agree dude is on fire right now.

he's swapped the horns for cocktail jazz; i'm not sure whats worse.

i wish it was him playing the piano i.e. lovesexy / ONA

jethrouk said:

It sound like you have not listened to Monaco, if this is cocktail jazz, I'm going for cocktails every night.

Prince is better now then when he was in his 20's. If you watch all those early first fame performances he was so hyped he actually would slightly freeze and not know how to harness the energy.

Now.. he is relaxed and just brings it!

Prince from 1979 - 1985 he was kinda in shock not at his best best. To much talent he couldnt bring it.

1986 - 1990 - He totaly grew up and didnt freeze.

1990 - 2009 - Totally relaxed and in the pocket

Prince is always great.
he was amazing in his 20's,untouchable,very raw,
very dirty
i would never replace that period and he also played
a lot of guitar in the early days.

Whenever my interest in Prince starts to wane, and i think his best days are over, i happen across something as incredible great as the first Monaco show, absolutely fantastic. This is no cocktail jazz, this is freight train coming at you and smacking you on your ass, drink and all.

just because some fans don't have patience to
listen to what they describe as "coctail jazz"
they miss a lot .
IN " coctail jazz" like Madhouse first album
Xpectations N.E.W.S you can easy find some of the
prettiest and funkiest
Prince melodies.
But lot of people don't dig instrumental music
which i respect ,but i wanna say you are missing a lot.

Prince should do only whatever is in his Heart 'cuzz it's the only thing it matters

violetblues said:

thebanishedone said:

i love instrumental music. Lenny by SRV, Moanin by Bakley, countless Jethro tull, Floyd etc...

i just don't dig renato. he just seems to play lots of note runs, with no real melody. thats why i said i miss Pince's playing the piano.

and i wasn't refeering to monaco (as i haven't listened to the downloads yet), i was reffering to montreux and the last LA gig.i was maybe being presumptious thinking that monaco would be the same.

i thought prince was great when I saw him in montreux, his guitar playing was amazing. i just don't like the band, and how they played on the songs.
[Edited 8/27/09 7:33am]

jethrouk said:

---
Whatever dude all these gigs rock and I never heard people screaming like that at some cocktail jazz show.

laurarichardson said:

Neither have I.....

I do NOT want to hear cutlery getting clanked on dinnerplates as Purple Rain starts, absolutley horrible to hear that.

but that's my only complaint.

Graycap23 said:

and how people were "screaming" here on the org when the setlists were known and finally heard

Marrk said:

they were only getting ready 2 chuck it at prince's head 4 doing that song again

L4OATheOriginal said:

Must admit i skipped it.

Marrk said:

unless he does a version on the xylophone, nothing more xciting about this song anymore ..just retire it already damn!!

L4OATheOriginal said:

Both the current performances of Prince as the older ones are great. The only thing I regret is that each tour that follows the publication of an album seems to end up as a greatest hits show.

I understand that for both commercial as personal reasons, he wants to play certain hits, but the tours lack a defined personality.

Not that Planet Earth was an album I particularly liked all that much, I was very curious to the live interpretation of the songs. Only, the just surfaced here and there in the setlist and got drowned in the avalanche of hits.

The Live experience (for Gold), the ONA tour, had a very particular atmosphere and are much loved by the hardcore fans.

That he doesn't want to aim for that small inner circle on every occasion I can still understand, but I do hope we'll still see full fletched concept-album-tour.

zobilamouche said:

PREACH THAT SHIT!!

Graycap23 said:

huh. haven't seen him live recently. last time i saw him was 7/7/07 at the target center and the acoustics were not good. but, i do think he's growing hugely as a musician

XxAxX said:

Prince is the Best of all times so now it's time to take note, look at what he's done....like no other, don't U think it's about time U all get on the boat

No, no... more guitar, but like he used to in the old day's.

Viva "alexa de paris" and more
He needs to put the high notes again, like he is making love with the guitar.

(a fan from 1984 and been to some 50 concerts of him)

zobilamouche said:

I agree, Lovesexy was the last album related tour. I always hated when Prince cut off new songs for medley reasons.

He better play 10 long versions of new songs than 50 hits in a tornado medley