Chaki Meets Prince. Review 4/19/02

3rd time seeing Prince. 1st time witnessing a soundcheck. Got in line for the NPGMC club members at about 1:30pm on hollywood blvd. There was about 100 peeps already in line. People of all ages and races. I expected there to be some real P geeks in their handmade Purple Rain clothes, etc but everyone in the line was totally cool, easygoing and into music. No bullshit. Just a line of straight up music lovers.. all with big grins on their faces. When you know you're hours away from seeing P you can't help but get all giddy. I switched off sitting in the shade and standing in line. It was a beautiful spring day and LA was funkin in full force. Seriously it was great, radios playing "the hits" and "the b-sides" people dancing right on Hollywood Blvd. The Kodak theatre donated free bottles of water and chips (free stuff at a P concert? whaa?)

At about 3:00 pm they started letting people come into the Theatre in small groups. Then more waiting. A man came around, checked everyones id's to make sure they were in the NPGMC then gave us wristbands and a laminate that says "One Night Alone with Prince tour 2002 npgmc MEMBER"

At 5:00 they started letting people into the venue in small groups. They led us all into a dark tunnel in the Kodak Theatre lobby. It was bizzare. We could hear the band vamping on the groove to "She Loves Me For Me" Then they let us in. As we walked in P was playing on his custom Rhodes and smiling really big.The crowd was so pumped and happy for the soundcheck, Prince noticed immediately. "My, my, an excitable group," he said "You happy? Good. We're gonna have some fun in here tonight," he continued, "cause I got my sleep. I'm all rested up." I stood right in front of him for about 5 seconds and stared. I was in shock. There was only like 300 or so people there i think? It seemed so intimate. He looked right at me and said "move along now" i looked behind me and the first rows were taken. Damn. The first 10 rows were reserved for the club members. General admission... you find your own goddam seat. I got 4th row. Dead center. With an isle in front of me for plenty of dance space. The little guy was so relaxed. Talking to us nonchalantly. He asked if we've heard anything about the shows. When one guy answered "nah ive been avoiding the internet on purpose" P said "good.. i like to start fresh" then mother fucker picked up his hollow body and started playing "Peach"!!! The horns: Candy Dulfer on sax and Greg Boyer on Trom. They were shuffling around their music. John Blackwell is his new drummer. This guy is no joke. Dennis Chambers on speed. New keyboard player, Renato. This guy is on another planet. His style is like Herbie meets Dr Fink meets Lisa meets Wakeman meets Rolph from the muppets. Rhonda on bass man shes just Rhonda. No man can step to her. They played 777 then 'she loves me for me' again because P was teaching some parts to the band still. He then put down his guitar and walked out to the audience. It was a soundcheck after all. He walked to the middle of the theatre and told them to play All Blues. I dont know man. To see the guy at work. It was just amazing. He finished mixing the drums. Himself. Then sat back in the seats and the band started playing "Extraordinary" just sitting there like nothing. His voice was so beautiful. What a song. He asked the dude next to me what time it was. Fuckin Prince standing right there!! AHH! It was 6. He said "i have to go.. these your seats for tonight? Good. I'll see Y'all in about an hour."

The show was outstanding. Riviting. Amazing. I would go into a LotR style song by song review but ill let the setlist speak for itself:
The Rainbow Children
Muse 2 The Pharoh
Xenophobia
A Case Of U
Mellow
1+1+1=3
Love Rollercoaster
The Other Side Of The Pillow
Strange Relationship
Sing A Simple Song
La La La Means I Love U
Didn't Cha Know
When U Were Mine
Avalanche
Family Name
Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
Everlasting Now
Encore... solo Piano Medley
Adore
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Diamonds and Pearls
The Beautiful Ones
Condition Of The Heart
Do Me Baby
Do U Lie
Free
Purple Rain
Sometimes It Snows In April
I Love U But Don't Trust U Anymore
Nothing Compares 2 U
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

second encore... Anna Stesia.

All the old songs had amazing fresh new arrangements. He played full versions. Not no hits medley shit(with the exception of the piano encore). 'Xenophobia' is a new song fron his forthcoming jazz fusion album. Great composition! Remenicent of the urgency and alertness that 1999 makes you feel. 'Didn't Cha Know' is an Erykah Badu song and Avalanche is a new ballad about Aberaham Lincoln being a racist. Just beautifully sung. He was fucking around the whole show. Joking, Talking. One point he was saying that the radio is just one big commercial. He said 'Pass the Cavassier" was an example of liquor companies getting around the anti liquor commercial laws. Before 'How come you dont call me anymore" he was joking around in his Camille voice, "I used to be famous... I used to win awards... Oh lordy I used to be someone." Im as sick of Purple Rain as the next guy but to hear him play it alone.. on piano.. it made such a difference. Really. That Rainbow Children songs were just amazing live. Jerome made a surpise appearance during a drum solo by John Blackwell holding a mirror to Blackwell, Morris Day Style. Another surpise was that he did not change outfits but one time. No flash. No shock value. Just amazing fucking music. The sold out crowd was just going nuts. I've never heard louder applause and screams in my life. This crowd was amazing. When P said "on the one" the audience fucking was on the one! When he said "break it down" EVERYONE broke it down. Sick. "Good night LA i love you so much. I really Really do." It was then announced to the club members that there was an aftershow party at the Club Highlands on the top floor of the complex.

Ok this is when i said to myself "I wish Dan Perry and Ned Ragget were here with me." The show let out at 11:00pm and i headed straight up the stairs to the Highlands nightclub. Waited in line for a few. Showed the doorman my pass, and walked right in. Takumi, P's guitar tech, roadie, personal assitant was on stage fixing Prince's "contraversy" telecaster. The one he used to lick clean. He was going to play. Amazing. This club was about as big as your your local 711. The place was packed yet there was plenty of room. P took the stage at midnight. Man.. i cant remember everything he played. Bambi, Paisley Park, 2 nigs United For west Compton, The Ride...Larry Graham from Sly and the Family Stone came out and jammed some shit, Sheila E came up and sang "A Love Bizzare" and then Sheila got on drums and played Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" !!! P never left the stage. Paula Abdul was in the crowd drunk off her ass. Haly Barry was there too. I didnt drink or smoke one goddamn thing all night. Didnt need to. The man was on fire. Prince is currently displaying the most awesome guitar skills of his entire career. Sparks seemed to fly from his guitar. He made it wail, moan and bark.The crowd was insane. He played till 2:30am. Everyone was chanting "give us more" he said "It's really over y'all, thanks." All this recapping of the sequence of events really cant explain the feeling that was in the room this night. It truly was the best concert ive ever been to. 1 hour of playing at the soundcheck, 3 hour concert, 2 hour aftershow. I told my hippie friend and he said "damn he played for 6 hours. like phil lesh." P kicked my ass friday night. If this tour comes to your town, or even NEAR your town... run, fly, take a bullet train.. just do anything to make sure you dont miss this show.