Devoted Puppy's review of Prince's 10/10/08 NYC charity concert

This is swiped from another thread. I thought it was such a good summary that I figured it needed its own thread. Enjoy! - Anx



Okay here’s our review from the early charity concert:

We are arrived at the Hotel Gansevoort around 7:15pm. There was a small crowd outside. At about 7:30pm we checked in at the will call outside the hotel and received our wrist bands. We then got in line to go inside. Once we entered the lobby, there were photographs from Randee St. Nicholas’ book about 21 nights displayed on easels.

We were ushered into an elevator to the penthouse level. On the top floor there was a bar and a DJ (DJ Lindsay), she was mostly spinning old school r & b. No Prince songs that I heard. There were seats around the perimeter with little cocktail tables. Each table had a square candle with a on it—they changed colors because they weren’t candles, but had LED lights inside.

To the south of this room was another area that was outdoors with a small pool (4 feet deep) and more seats around the perimeter. There were passed hors d’oeuvres (lobster pastry things, mini-burgers, beef tenderloin, and the only vegetarian option: bruschetta) and cocktails.

A little before nine they opened the doors on the north side of the main bar area—that is where the show would be. This room ran length-wise and the stage was set up on the east end, elevated at least 5 or six feet above the floor. The stage was fairly small—there were three microphones in the front/center, Cora’s drums were to the left (north), and Mr. Hayes keyboard was on the right. At about 9:15pm the entered from the security door just to the right of the stage and walked up the steps to the stage:
Shelby J.
Marva King
Mr. Hayes
Cora
Josh
Prince!

There were no horns at any point during the evening, and honestly I don’t know where they would have stood because it was really tight on stage and in the room.

Ladies, Prince was wearing all black—a black turtleneck sweater, black pants and shoes, and moon wraps on both ears. It looked like he just got a hair cut, it was short and more curly than in recent photos I have seen. He was wearing a huge gold(?), necklace—maybe hammered metal—it had a little bling to it, but I don’t think it was diamond encrusted. It didn’t have a definite shape really, but it was made up oval/circular shapes, hard to describe.

The first thing he said was, “Thanks for showing up” and made a comment about how it had been a strange day (stock market) and that we’d talk about it and feel better. He had the blue Stratocaster to begin. Rsp and I took copious notes about the setlist:

1. A new song! It was hard to make out all of the words, but it sounded like it was about the internet… I wrote it down as “Down Load.” It was kind of a mid-tempo bluesy. A couple little guitar solos.

He then switched to the Hohner for:

2. 1999 including the “don’t worry, I won’t hurt you” intro and the “Mommy, why does everybody have a bomb” lines. The crowd seemed to get into this. He also changed the “sky was all purple” line to “stock market crashin”.

3. I Feel For You: still singing “mainly a spiritual thing”

4. Controversy, including the “People call me rude, I wish we all were nude, I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules” I was not expecting much crowd participation considering it was a richy-rich type of gig, but they surprised me and knew this part of the song. Then he melded than into a jam and guitar solo, at one point pulling out the “I’m so funky I can’t even sleep with myself” line.

5. Housequake!!! Only a few lines—“Tell me who in this house knows about the ‘Quake” I took this as a sign that he was acknowledging Jimmy and I’s winning presence. j/k

6. Controversy (outro)

7. Sexy Dancer/Le Freak. At this point a harmonica player, introduced as Frederick Young, came on stage and did a solo.

8. Miss You (Rolling Stones cover). Prince does a great Mick Jagger voice. Again featuring Frederick Young on harmonica. (I check my watch, it was about 9:45pm at this point.)

After Miss You they didn’t segue directly into another song, and Prince made a little about how when people see him at the airport they don’t yell, “Prince!” they say, “Purple Rain!” The audience thought this was quite funny.

9. Satisfied: very bluesy style, with Frederick Young doing another harmonica solo. Prince made a comment about how he was doing this old school, like “a hound dog wailing” and then went into

10. Begging Woman (or is it Cock-Eyed Woman). As most people in the crowd hadn’t already heard this, they laughed at all the funny lines. There was an organ solo by Mr. Hayes during this as well.

11. Purple Rain with the requisite guitar solo and funk faces. (Time check: 10:10pm)

12. A Love Bizarre the crowd really got into this as well. (Aside: overall the crowd was very responsive and seemed to be into the show, but I wouldn’t say they went completely wild over anything.) At the end, Cora did a great drum solo. I will admit that I have never been much of a fan of this band line up, but they have definitely improved since I last saw them at Nokia. They still aren’t my fave, but at least tonight I actually heard Josh’s bass and Cora’s solo was pretty good. (Still no Sheila E., but then who is? [Wink])

13. What is Hip (Tower of Power cover): Amazing. Harmonica solo, funky guitar playing. Rearranged with no horns, but it really worked.

14. Stratus (Billy Cobham cover) including a nice bass solo from Josh. He used his bass crybaby pedal on this and did some interesting rhythmic morphing. Cora fell right into it with him, Funky stuff!

15. Cream

16. U Got the Look

After this Prince left the stage.

17. Angel (Sarah McLachlan) Shelby sang this with Marva and she doing some churchy call and response towards the end. Also featured a harmonica solo by Frederick Young.

Prince returns

18. Nothing Compares 2 U

Even though the crowd milled around and cheered for an encore this was the last song. It ended at about 10:45pm. We hung around for awhile and they were ushered back out in the main bar area so the servers could clean up and prep for the Aftershow. We had another drink in the main bar area before we were asked to go downstairs and line up again (if we were coming back for the Aftershow, which we skipped).

Celebrity sightings throughout the evening:
Randee St. Nicholas
Howard Stern
Dave Chapelle
Anderson Cooper was getting off the elevator just as we got in to go downstairs and leave
Spike Lee

There were probably more, but as I am not really into celebrities, I didn’t notice.

On the way out we were giving a gift bag which included:
Lipstick Queen lipstick
A nice promo brochure for Randee’s 21 nights book
A Versace cut glass ornament

Overall it was a great night. Prince seemed to be in a very jovial mood and the crowd was into in as well. I have to say thanks again to Housequake and Prince for allowing us to be present at the show.

I didn’t go to the Prince Aftershow, but instead I went to hear Days of Wild play at the Bitter End. They always say you never know who might show up and jam with them. Well tonight it was the original drummer from Sly and the Family Stone, Greg Errico! He sat in with them all night and was awesome!! I feel very lucky to have seen Prince and him in the same night!

For those of you jonesing for pics of the 10/10 show, go have a peek at HQ.com:

http://www.housequake.com...genumber=1

Enjoy the view, but DO NOT post the pics here...leave 'em where ya found 'em, folks!

Thanks for the review! It's the next best thing to being there!

Still, I can't believe you looked at your watch. Don't you know that time stands still when Prince performs?

Much love!
[Edited 10/11/08 7:25am]

thanks guys 4 the great report! very cool & cute details

so, do u think the shows were full capacity? cuz according to the ticket agents tix were being sold on the door.. i guess the shows were pretty intimate?!
nice setlists too!
do u think begging woman was as effective without the horns? for me, i know the horns add a lotta humour 2 the song on the indigo cd

glad 2 hear purple rain produced funk faces..love the 'time check' note..got visions of u looking at your watch during purple rain like he was keeping u up!
& people yell out 'purple rain' at the airport?! not sexy MF?..
& thx 4 the vital report on his hair! relieved tht he's keeping it short & smart cuz it suits him

& i'm guessing 'days of wild' are a tribute band? they must've been flattered at the support!
u make it sound like u skipped the aftershow in favour of 'days of wild'!
thts funny, i'm impressed u so blase/unimpressed! lovely! it kinda puts things in2 perspective.

bit shocked tht considering this show was a ?book promo & came at a staggering price, there was no book in the party bag, or book signing come 2 that!
i'd expect a signed book/photo/hug/kiss/lock of hair 4 my $1000!
i wondered how many of those candles were left by the end of the night?
my husband would've had green, red, yellow, purple flashing pockets/balls!
aahhh, sounds like a really amazing night. so happy 4 u all!

My experience:

Well, I won't write another review since it was done already for both shows so here is my personal experience:

I just woke up, what a great 2 shows! I got there early, around 7:00, because I had a ticket for the after show only. I figured I would pick up my ticket and hang around the bustling area of New York's meat packing district and have dinner, check out the Apple Store, etc. It was a beautiful night in NYC and there was some kind of fashion thing going on in the area. All the boutiques were serving wine and had models handing out things. Anyway, there was a check-in table on the street outside the hotel. At 7:00pm, people were still in line for the charity show and she said they didn't have the list for the later show. I started to walk away and another girl who seemed to be in charge asked me if I wanted to go to the charity show. I said I didn't have $1000+. She asked me how much I was willing to spend, I paused and then she said, I can't do less than $500 since it is for charity and the other show was over $1000. Long story short, I couldn't resist, head to the "instant teller so I could get me some cash" and the next thing I knew I was in the penthouse!

Everyone was in the bar area and the pool area. The door into the room where Prince would play was next to the DJ. I was right there when it opened and headed right for the front! Amazing show. I stood with the other orgers and Housequakers in the front left including the contest winners. How great, we were the only ones in the front who seemed to know the words to many of the songs.

After the show, we had to go back down, check-in again and wait in line. Once upstairs, we knew where to stand, this time there were many more fans there and just after we got by the door near the DJ, the security made people getting off the elevator head toward the pool. Then, a couple of minutes before the doors opened, one of the ladies in charge motioned over to me to come over to enter from another door. Well, she remembered me from the first show and thought I was a contest winner so I entered with 2Elijah and her son and went back to mark my territory for the after show. Same spot, front left. Then the others entered and we were ready for an even more amazing show. It was like Groundhog day, Prince style!!!!!

Even the songs he repeated were great because he did them a little different like the long intro to Purple Rain, Cream was more of a solo in the beginning, etc.

WHAT A NIGHT! Nice to meet all the winners and see everyone there, it was a great crowd too.

p.s. amazing view from the rooftop of the hotel!!!!!
[Edited 10/11/08 7:45am]

They were selling tickets for both shows, the room was basically filled, but another 20 or so people could have fit in, especially for the first show.

lottielooloo1968 said:

thanks guys 4 the great report! very cool & cute details

so, do u think the shows were full capacity? cuz according to the ticket agents tix were being sold on the door.. i guess the shows were pretty intimate?!
nice setlists too!
do u think begging woman was as effective without the horns? for me, i know the horns add a lotta humour 2 the song on the indigo cd

glad 2 hear purple rain produced funk faces..love the 'time check' note..got visions of u looking at your watch during purple rain like he was keeping u up!
& people yell out 'purple rain' at the airport?! not sexy MF?..
& thx 4 the vital report on his hair! relieved tht he's keeping it short & smart cuz it suits him

& i'm guessing 'days of wild' are a tribute band? they must've been flattered at the support!
u make it sound like u skipped the aftershow in favour of 'days of wild'!
thts funny, i'm impressed u so blase/unimpressed! lovely! it kinda puts things in2 perspective.

bit shocked tht considering this show was a ?book promo & came at a staggering price, there was no book in the party bag, or book signing come 2 that!
i'd expect a signed book/photo/hug/kiss/lock of hair 4 my $1000!
i wondered how many of those candles were left by the end of the night?
my husband would've had green, red, yellow, purple flashing pockets/balls!
aahhh, sounds like a really amazing night. so happy 4 u all!

ficktyt said:

http://prince.org/msg/15/286132


BARACK OBAMA, FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!! Get used to it HATERS!!

Anxiety said:

For those of you jonesing for pics of the 10/10 show, go have a peek at HQ.com:

http://www.housequake.com...genumber=1

Enjoy the view, but DO NOT post the pics here...leave 'em where ya found 'em, folks!

wow! Do you bring a little note pad or type in your phone during this concert? I would be a little frightened to do so. I wouldn't want to miss a thang!

By the way, nice review....

Take me with you next time!!!!


And the photos are great! He looked great too! I'm kind of digging that necklace

2elijah said:

ficktyt said:

My experience:

Well, I won't write another review since it was done already for both shows so here is my personal experience:

I just woke up, what a great 2 shows! I got there early, around 7:00, because I had a ticket for the after show only. I figured I would pick up my ticket and hang around the bustling area of New York's meat packing district and have dinner, check out the Apple Store, etc. It was a beautiful night in NYC and there was some kind of fashion thing going on in the area. All the boutiques were serving wine and had models handing out things. Anyway, there was a check-in table on the street outside the hotel. At 7:00pm, people were still in line for the charity show and she said they didn't have the list for the later show. I started to walk away and another girl who seemed to be in charge asked me if I wanted to go to the charity show. I said I didn't have $1000+. She asked me how much I was willing to spend, I paused and then she said, I can't do less than $500 since it is for charity and the other show was over $1000. Long story short, I couldn't resist, head to the "instant teller so I could get me some cash" and the next thing I knew I was in the penthouse!

Everyone was in the bar area and the pool area. The door into the room where Prince would play was next to the DJ. I was right there when it opened and headed right for the front! Amazing show. I stood with the other orgers and Housequakers in the front left including the contest winners. How great, we were the only ones in the front who seemed to know the words to many of the songs.

After the show, we had to go back down, check-in again and wait in line. Once upstairs, we knew where to stand, this time there were many more fans there and just after we got by the door near the DJ, the security made people getting off the elevator head toward the pool. Then, a couple of minutes before the doors opened, one of the ladies in charge motioned over to me to come over to enter from another door. Well, she remembered me from the first show and thought I was a contest winner so I entered with 2Elijah and her son and went back to mark my territory for the after show. Same spot, front left. Then the others entered and we were ready for an even more amazing show. It was like Groundhog day, Prince style!!!!!

Even the songs he repeated were great because he did them a little different like the long intro to Purple Rain, Cream was more of a solo in the beginning, etc.

WHAT A NIGHT! Nice to meet all the winners and see everyone there, it was a great crowd too.

p.s. amazing view from the rooftop of the hotel!!!!!
[Edited 10/11/08 7:45am]

Hi Fickyt!

You know what? I didn't realize Prince's PA was motioning contest winners to come in through the side door to enter the aftershow area, because I was so busy talking to a friend. My son's friend motioned over to me that they were calling the contest winners over to enter first. I thought that was nice that they let us in first, and you lucked out as well! Purplecam was having a great time as well as Vyssons and Funkteer. It was an awesome experience..it felt like the "Butter" show all over again, but only it was in the Penthouse this time! How cool is Prince? Just too cool right? I loved his shirts he wore throughout the show.

Also, the pool area in the club was awesome! I liked the purple lights up there. At first I thought that was where the band was going to play,but then I saw no equipment set up, and figured it had to be in the other room.

Anyway, it was an awesome night and I was given a gift from one of the staff members. It was a give for the contest winners. It was cool, because as I was leaving the staff member pulled me over and said "I was waiting for you to give you this", and I was surprised. It's made of wax and square, about 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide, with 2 Purple Prince symbols on opposite sides! I love it. Then when I went to the elevator, the security guy said I had to get clearance for it, so I had to walk back over and get the staff member to clear me. What an awesome night. That area where the hotel was, was very busy.
[Edited 10/11/08 8:09am]

ficktyt said:

Yes, the hotel rooftop was great, would love to go back up there and just hang out and have dinner with my wife sometime. What a hopping place in the Meatpacking district. I remember back in the day the only people you would see down there at night were freaks and the only restaurant was the Old Homestead Steakhouse, one of my favorites!

I went to both shows.... ouch in my wallet, but so worth it.
I thoroughly enjoyed both events...

Did Prince said something about 21 nights in New York.... ?

I think I will go bankrupt AND get divorced...

pplrain said:

I went to both shows.... ouch in my wallet, but so worth it.
I thoroughly enjoyed both events...

Did Prince said something about 21 nights in New York.... ?

I think I will go bankrupt AND get divorced...

http://prince.org/msg/15/286132


BARACK OBAMA, FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!! Get used to it HATERS!!

2elijah said:

pplrain said:

I went to both shows.... ouch in my wallet, but so worth it.
I thoroughly enjoyed both events...

Did Prince said something about 21 nights in New York.... ?

I think I will go bankrupt AND get divorced...

You were there? Good for you. When did he say 21 nights in NY? I didn't hear that.

We might have to start a support group like Prince Anonymous if he does 21 nights here because we will all be broke and divorced!

Let's see, $312.10 a show times 21, food, might as well stay at that nice hotel too to make things easy (those mini-hamburgers were great!!!!). Hmmm, about $1000 a night for 21 nights, plus massages for our tired bodies from standing in lines and at the concerts. I think about $30,000 a person should make for a very comfortable 21 nights. (oops, forgot all the aftershows too, make that $35,000)

pplrain said:

I went to both shows.... ouch in my wallet, but so worth it.
I thoroughly enjoyed both events...

Did Prince said something about 21 nights in New York.... ?

I think I will go bankrupt AND get divorced...

Hey ficktyt did you hear it or was I hallucinating...

ficktyt said:

robertes71 said:

Angelic1302 said:

wow! Do you bring a little note pad or type in your phone during this concert? I would be a little frightened to do so. I wouldn't want to miss a thang!

lottielooloo1968 said:

According to Funkteer's post at HQ, the name of the harmonica player is Fred Yonnet, not Frederick Young. Sorry about that! (Anx, maybe you can edit my report?)

Awesome!

wish U were here baby, on me--
Stuck like glue!

Yea, I heard it to, but I think he was just teasing . . . . I think

pplrain said:

Hey ficktyt did you hear it or was I hallucinating...

ficktyt said:

We might have to start a support group like Prince Anonymous if he does 21 nights here because we will all be broke and divorced!

Let's see, $312.10 a show times 21, food, might as well stay at that nice hotel too to make things easy (those mini-hamburgers were great!!!!). Hmmm, about $1000 a night for 21 nights, plus massages for our tired bodies from standing in lines and at the concerts. I think about $30,000 a person should make for a very comfortable 21 nights. (oops, forgot all the aftershows too, make that $35,000)

Thanks

DevotedPuppy @)-}---

&

Anxiety @)-}----

Benjamin Sisko: "Let's hear some chatter!" Worf: "Death to the opposition!"Star Trek: DS9 - “Take Me Out to the Holosuite” Episode7x04 21 October 1998

----{-(@ B1130: “I am WORF!” @)-}----

Very awesome review! Thanks for such a detailed and thorough report. Sounds like an amazing show and glad to hear P was in such a great mood. Peace

Anxiety said:

andymacfunky said:

http://prince.org/msg/7/285284

wish U were here baby, on me--
Stuck like glue!