http://www.princerecordin...reux-2013/

2009


2013

I like both shows.

In terms of sheer guitar playing... 2009 has a fantastic set of tunes like When The Lights Go Down and others where he totally nails the vibe. Funky, melodic, but also biting with energy. 2013 is fun to listen to, but to me his playing was SO inspired in 2009 during those shows

[Edited 5/25/18 20:13pm]

luv4u said:

http://www.princerecordin...reux-2013/

2009


2013

I like both shows.

The second picture is not from Montreux. It was taken at the Paradiso gig in Amsterdam 2013.

https://twitter.com/housequake/status/680717354620289024

[Edited 5/25/18 20:17pm]

ludwig said:

luv4u said:

http://www.princerecordin...reux-2013/

2009


2013

I like both shows.

The second picture is not from Montreux. It was taken at the Paradiso gig in Amsterdam 2013.

https://twitter.com/house...4620289024

[Edited 5/25/18 20:17pm]

Fixed! The 2nd prioro pic is what showed up for the 2013 show

luv4u said:

Fixed! The 2nd prioro pic is what showed up for the 2013 show

Well, now you've posted a pic from one of the two shows where he didn't play guitar at all. He rocked the guitar only at show #3.

TrevorAyer said:

2013 is far more interesting ... I cannot listen to renato ... he ruins everything

When he made "Baby I'm A Star" into some quasi-jazzy improv I was done.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrevorAyer said:

2013 is far more interesting ... I cannot listen to renato ... he ruins everything

When he made "Baby I'm A Star" into some quasi-jazzy improv I was done.

I liked the interaction between Prince and Renato while playing In A Large Room With No Light. But I understand why people dislike Renato.

The first time he caught my attention was in 1994 and I wasn´t even aware that it was him. I was at a Sheila E. concert where she played with Eric Leeds and Renato, and years later I mentioned that show to Eric and Renato at the Celebration 2002 and asked them about the great arrangements, and Eric and Renato laughed and said it was all Renato´s work. Little did I know that Renato was even there back then, because he had very long hair and looked so different.

Anway....a decade later he was in Prince´s band. And while I initially liked what he brought to the table, his very long solos would at some point be a tad too much.

But, all in all, I think he was a great addition to the NPG ....if it wasn´t for those neverending solos.

Philly76 said:

I enjoy both. The performances in 2009 had several fiery and impassioned solos,whereas the ones in '13 seemed more laid back but I think there were some impressive moments throughout.He also showcased Donna a bit. I enjoy the performance of Cause & Effect the most and I think his solo on the intro was quite amazing.Also love his playing on When Were Dancing.

[Edited 5/26/18 7:40am]

I like both, but 2009 was far better than 2013. 2013 was more Vegas Prince than pure Prince. It's like Prince felt challenged to do something different in 2009 and he did. Whereas in 2013 he did do different, however, it was more Vegas showy styled.

KoolEaze said:

TrivialPursuit said:

When he made "Baby I'm A Star" into some quasi-jazzy improv I was done.

I liked the interaction between Prince and Renato while playing In A Large Room With No Light. But I understand why people dislike Renato.

The first time he caught my attention was in 1994 and I wasn´t even aware that it was him. I was at a Sheila E. concert where she played with Eric Leeds and Renato, and years later I mentioned that show to Eric and Renato at the Celebration 2002 and asked them about the great arrangements, and Eric and Renato laughed and said it was all Renato´s work. Little did I know that Renato was even there back then, because he had very long hair and looked so different.

Anway....a decade later he was in Prince´s band. And while I initially liked what he brought to the table, his very long solos would at some point be a tad too much.

But, all in all, I think he was a great addition to the NPG ....if it wasn´t for those neverending solos.

Yeah, Prince started going through some weird jazz phase, and it just bored me to death. N.E.W.S., Xpectation (which actually isn't too bad), a lot of The Rainbow Children, etc. I just didn't like it in some of the music, especially a banger like "Baby I'm A Star". I think that was the Musicology Tour that they did that. If they did "She Spoke 2 Me", I can see it happening. Or even a cool arrangement of "Something In The Water". But BIAS? No thanks.

The 2009 Montruex shows are my favourite pro-shot concerts from Prince, and his guitar playing is probably the chief reason (the setlist and calibre of the general musicianship is also outstanding). It's totally inspired playing from beginning to end. There are way too many highlights to mention, but I'll mention a few anyway: all of When Eye Lay My Hands on U, the off-the-wall soloing on Empty Room, the various interplay between Prince and Renato, especially the sinister sounding stuff on She Spoke to Me and In a Large Room with No Light, and lastly when he scats along to the notes on All the Critics ('I aren't about to argue with B.B King!'). The latter has got to be one of the most impressive things I've ever seen him do, and quite possibly, my absolute favourite live Prince moment. I absolutely adore it.

Montruex 2013 suffers in comparison. It's still great in my opinion, but it can't stand up to what I consider the benchmark of Prince's live performance. It's got some wonderful moments to, like the incendinary metallic solo on Play that Funky Music (is that solo a Prince composition, and if so, why on earth didn't he stick it on a studio track somewhere?) and the beautiful, subdued solo on When We're Dancing Close and Slow.

The montruex shows are really fantastic. The 2009 shows and the Third Eye Girl set from 2013 need to be released!

kewlschool said:

jdcxc said:

I must admit I have not seen alot of the 2013 shows, but what I have seen, I enjoyed, but 2009 was in a league all its own! I have watched it SO many times, all the songs: When Eye Lay My Hands on U; LRC; She Spoke to Me: the Elvis and Jimi Hendrix covers, etc. and also loved how in "All the Critics love you in Montreaux" he had this playful banter with the audience, the BB King reference and the scatting, and then there is the segue from the brilliant "Empty Room" to "Elixer" ah, just simply mesmerizing!

thisisreece said:

The 2009 Montruex shows are my favourite pro-shot concerts from Prince, and his guitar playing is probably the chief reason (the setlist and calibre of the general musicianship is also outstanding). It's totally inspired playing from beginning to end. There are way too many highlights to mention, but I'll mention a few anyway: all of When Eye Lay My Hands on U, the off-the-wall soloing on Empty Room, the various interplay between Prince and Renato, especially the sinister sounding stuff on She Spoke to Me and In a Large Room with No Light, and lastly when he scats along to the notes on All the Critics ('I aren't about to argue with B.B King!'). The latter has got to be one of the most impressive things I've ever seen him do, and quite possibly, my absolute favourite live Prince moment. I absolutely adore it.

Montruex 2013 suffers in comparison. It's still great in my opinion, but it can't stand up to what I consider the benchmark of Prince's live performance. It's got some wonderful moments to, like the incendinary metallic solo on Play that Funky Music (is that solo a Prince composition, and if so, why on earth didn't he stick it on a studio track somewhere?) and the beautiful, subdued solo on When We're Dancing Close and Slow.

The montruex shows are really fantastic. The 2009 shows and the Third Eye Girl set from 2013 need to be released!

Totally agree !!! To say Prince was on fire is kind of an understatement, he was in an ecstatic flow !!

I was lucky to be there for both 2009 shows - they were short, expenssive but brilliant and absolutely worth the costs. Glad it was filmed pro-shot and shared. Still would buy a dvd if officially releaesd ( are you listening, estate or whoever is in charge ?) Definitely in my top 3 of 13 attended live-shows.

I have listened to the 2013 shows, which I consider great too, but still haven't watched the 3rdeyegirl-show.......

love both shows but i prefer Montreux 2013. He performed Lets go crazy,shes always in my hair,the maxx,the breakdown!,it was just so awesome

I can't think of any component from 2013 that's better than 2009.

2009 has Prince on guitar almost the whole of both shows, with an extremely well thought out set list that runs the stylistic gamut from blues to jazz to hard rock.

2013 has Prince not even touch an instrument for the first two shows, and while he certainly delivers well enough when he finally does, his playing is somewhat limited by the straightforward rock sound of 3rd Eye Girl.

I've always felt 2009 was nothing short of raw, pure enthusiasm, with Prince truly in the moment and having as much fun as the audience, whereas in 2013 there's a strange, muted energy throughout. I don't ever feel like Prince himself considered the 2013 a triumph the way 2009 was, and it's clear in retrospect that not all was well by 2013. Compare the two most praised performances from each show: in 2009, it's the revamped "All the Critics," a fast paced euphoric victory lap that never lets up and has Prince at his funkiest and most charismatic. In 2013, it's "Breakdown," a deeply personal ballad that Prince barely gets through without breaking down a bit towards the end.

For the song selection, performance quality / vibe, musicians, and just because Prince seemed to be in a better place than, 2009 wins without question.

Strengths of 2013

--horn arrangements

--energy (even though P seemed a bit winded and irritable at the end of the third night

--his best version "the Love we Make"

--his fun stripped down version of The Max

--Prince on keys

--his version of Play that FUnky Music

--the gorgeous version of "Close and Slow"

--his opening tribute to the producer of MOntreux (lovely Purple Rain singing)

Weaknesses of 2013...

--first two nights were a bit too busy

--good guitar playing from P during third night but he has better playing in later 3rdyegirl performances

Strengths of2009...

---MOST OF IT...but at times, Renato gets a bit too much time.

Both Nights are aces...but based strictly on musical prowess, 2009 takes the cake.

2009 every day of the week.

If you want to talk about uninspired though, just take a listen to Renato. Prince has always been about that edge that he brings to even tried and tested musical ideas. This is probably why The Revolution is so well loved. It was about the feeling and 'x-factor' over faultless, clinically clean musicianship.

'It's time for jazz to die!'

purplerabbithole said:

thebanishedone said:

U cant have best version of The Love We Make without His Royal Badness on guitar.on 2013 shows Prince fingers barely moved.very weak performance in 2009 he was killing it

The 2009 version of Empty Room is enough to sell me on which show was better. Just incredible. He was on fire for that entire set.