Prince

Welcome to the Beautiful Experience. Do you like Funk, Rock, Soul, Pop, Metal, Jazz, Blues? Then you must see Prince. Imagine the best artists in each of these genres rolled up into one pint sized purple package.

Innovation, improvisation and reinvention sum up his concerts. What’s more, two shows are never the same. Whether he plays some different songs each night or a different arrangement of the same song, you cannot fail to be impressed. And with 3rdEyeGirl, he has his heaviest, tightest, meanest band ever. These ladies can rock. Big time!

With 3EG, the pace is blistering with the first hour a relentless blast of hits from the past. “Let’s go crazy”, “Take me with you”, “Kiss” and more. After this, you have a mix of hits, covers and gems from the past. Rare highlights from the 2014 gigs so far are “Endorphinemachine”, a mesmerizing “Something in the Water (does not compute)”, “Electric Intercourse” and various iterations of “Purple Rain” – piano and guitar intros and climaxing with the most awesome guitar solos imaginable.

The piano excerpts may excite you or frustrate you. A medley of hits, it is great that he takes the opportunity to play as many songs as possible. However, many are left wanting more than a few lines of “Diamonds or Pearls” or “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”. You will love it or hate it. But you will still be impressed.

The energy and electricity emanating from the crowd as they depart the venue is almost equal to that oozing from the Purple One during the show. On the way to the bus, train, car or metro, you will hear hundreds of people saying “That was the best gig of my life”. And for most of them, it will be.

However, for a lucky few it will be topped by an even more spectacular experience. A Prince aftershow. For those in the know and the dedicated followers, chasing the rumours and speculation of a club gig sometimes pays off. My first was at the Glasgow Garage in 1995. Prince and his band playing for an hour after 0100 on a snowy winter’s night for little more than 500 diehards. But what a night!

The NPG just about managed to fit on the stage, Prince on the form of his life and Mayte stage-diving into the waiting arms of a pumped up Scottish crowd. These shows achieve the impossible. They are even better than a Prince main show. Fast paced and often containing even rarer covers and gems, you may also be honoured with some surprise guests.

After the 21st night at the O2, London in 2007, the final aftershow started with Prince on guitar. The curtain dropped to reveal Amy Winehouse who was in fine form for a wonderful version of “Love is a Losing Game”. Those fortunate enough to attend the Guerrilla gigs in London a couple of months ago will relate to this. To see a legend up close in such small venues is a such a privilege – and will become your gig story to be retold a thousand times to friends, family and complete strangers.

By the time you read this, I will have been to more than 50 Prince gigs. So don’t take my word for it - Google some professional reviews if you doubt my impartiality. Reviews of the 2014 shows consistently conclude that a Prince show is the experience of a lifetime. There is only one downside. It will change your view of previous gigs that you have been to and of all gigs that you will ever go to. As one reviewer said, “there was my life before I seen Prince in concert and my life since I seen Prince in concert”. Enjoy your experience.

I've seen this man perform more times than I can count. First concert was in August of 1983 at First Ave. They were raising money for MDT which was where they were practicing their moves for Purple Rain.

The surprise shows were great. I saw him again in 1984 for his birthday show.

We'd just stand there at the door if it was too late; someone would recognize you as a regular and they'd crack the door open for you.

It was always word of mouth, and if you didn't know someone in the music scene or someone from the north side then forget it. You didn't get in.

Prince was, is, and I suppose always will be an amazing live performer. He can play any instrument he picks up and he'll just kill it. He is great with a band behind him, but alone he is as charismatic as they come.

He doesn't really NEED anyone else to make his performances shine.

If you've never seen him live and you're on the fence about spending the money, just effing do it. You will never ever regret it.

KICK ASS! But that's the norm for Prince. I saw Buddy Guy last week at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and I still can't decide who I like better... or who put on the better performance. I think Prince would agree that Buddy Guy would give him a serious challenge. ;)

Other than that, my fav moments were "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "Kiss"

Such a noble gesture for "Prince" to come to my hometown and play his ass off in honor of Peace. Love this guy and his heart!

Awesome! Simply the best entertainer of his era that is still performing! (RIP Michael) He's still got all of his original and notorious moves - including the splits.

Thank you Prince for allowing me to make a difference to the Black Lives Matter movement and the financial rebuilding of Baltimore City with your NO CURFEW B-more Peace Rally and Concert.
Incredible show! Loved it!

Phenomenal!! Prince and his purple piano at Paisley Park!! It doesn't get better than that! I felt like I was 13 again. I will go back to see Prince play his guitar.