Prince residency in Chicago

[crunchee]

So far, just basic information:

http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2012/08/31/prince-to-play-welcome-2-chicago-residency-at-the-united-center/

[gorch]

No matter what, Prince is a genius.

[rj2858]

No matter what, Prince is a genius.

blah, blah, blah.....

[MCChris]

I'm sure the tix will be way out of my budget, but I'd love to get wind of some unannounced after-hours activity at a smaller venue.

[BruceM]

I'm sure the tix will be way out of my budget

My last high-priced concert ticket was for Prince at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, 10 years or so ago. I think I paid $75. Was it worth it? Probably not, considering that I've seen other phenomenal acts for much much less. But, the man is still one of the most musically creative, entertaining and energetic performers I've ever seen. I also saw him play in 1983, during the 1999 tour. Great stuff!

[Bobby Marshall]

Now I know what I want to do this month. Thanks.

[JohnnyB]

Looks like tickets range from $49.50 to $162.50. Not so bad considering where concert tix prices have been going. Nothing at $200, let alone $400.

[Rodan]

I'm sure the tix will be way out of my budget, but I'd love to get wind of some unannounced after-hours activity at a smaller venue.

D'ya think he might do a players stop at Legends? Hard pressed to think of any other likely venues with real cred'...

[MCChris]

D'ya think he might do a players stop at Legends? Hard pressed to think of any other likely venues with real cred'...

Double Door and Metro come immediately to mind.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Not to derail. I never really followed the guy though I have heard some of his guitar licks and was impressed. But is he still thinking he is both male and female or has that gone away?

[hikarateboy]

I've seen prince twice at surprise shows here in Minneapolis in the 80's and I wasn't a fan before the first one but afterward I couldn't argue with the genius take ever.

I have never seen anything like it and havent since. He is the real mcoy. If you get a chance check it out, Smaller the venue the better. His bands are high performance machines and he is shift the gears and drives flat out. His performance with the all stars doing guitar gently weeps gives you a glimpse. into 2% of what he does. Recommended and not just because he is from here.

...is he still thinking he is both male and female or has that gone away?

Never dwelled on or thought that but honestly who cares? All that really matters to me is the music

[Disturber]

...is he still thinking he is both male and female or has that gone away?

Is that really of any importance in the 21st century? Let every man & woman be what ever they want to be. It's a free society. Love for every one.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Did not mean anything by it guys. I just never heard anyone say they were both sexes before and wondered what that meant. People change their sex if they don't like the one they came with. Some make a big deal about it and some don't. I'm not aware of him changing anything. I didn't know if that was just a shtick of his and has come and gone or if it's a lifestyle or what. I just remember it being on the news quite a while ago. I looked him up on Utube yesterday when this thread appeared and really liked his jams when he was soloing. The only thing I've seen him in prior to yesterday was Purple Rain 30 years ago which I didn't really care for. But I figured if somebody on here was a real Prince fan they could fill me in on what he means by that. Surly after he made the statement someone would have done an interview and asked him to clarify what it means to be neither sex or both sexes. So there must be more than just me who would be curious. At the time I thought he must be using it as a publicity deal and honestly I hadn't heard his name brought up since then until I read this thread. And since that was the only thing I heard from Prince since Purple Rain, it's what popped into my head. Just curious, no condemnation meant by it.

[Disturber]

Personally I've taken all of this as a great and funny publicity stunt. David Bowie did it in the early 70s and it's been done loads of time after that. Shocking the media with:

1) Your strange personal sex preferensese - that you cut both ways, are gay, or just plain weird, always gives great media attention.

or:

2) Talk about satan, religion, jesus etc in a negative way (negative for those who is religious that is), always gives great media attention.

Just two ways of getting WW coverage of you as an artist. (Just look at Marilyn Manson on the religious part).

When it comes to Prince all I know is that he has written some of the greatest, dirtiest and meanest lyrics about sex ever written. Not just one song but too many to mention.

He's just got a great dirty mouth, and I love it, ha ha.

He also had the pleassure of dating, and probably had sex with, more beautiful women than most other men. I have never heard anything about him having dated another man, so I am pretty confident he is a 100% straight guy. With a Very Dirty Mind (pun intended).

All I can say to the guy is:

a) I wish I had 10% of your talent as a musician and performer and songwriter.

b ) I wish I had 10% of all the sexy women you have dated.

That would make me a totally happy guy

Over and out!

[Ting Ho Dung]

Thanks Disturber. Can you give me some song titles to look up? Like I said, I know nothing about this guy except Purple Rain and he may be asexual. I saw an interview on utube yesterday that he held a concert where the ticket prices were only $25 bucks. He said it was because of Live Nation. I thought that was very cool of him. Any idea what the ticket prices will be this tour? Who knows, maybe I'll become a Prince fan 30 years after Purple Rain.

[MCChris]

This is not a tour. He's doing a series of dates in Chicago only AFAIK.

If you appreciate musicianship and an adventurous spirit, you can't not be a Prince fan. If you're put off by provocative image and music that isn't RAWK, then he might not be for you.

[JohnnyB]

This is not a tour. He's doing a series of dates in Chicago only AFAIK.

Right. There's a reason he calls it a residency--it's an extended engagement, not a tour.

Speaking of his largesse, I don't know his policy these days, but in the '80s he'd buy up rows and rows of front center concert seats and give'em away to underprivileged kids. Yet he was taking heat for not wanting to be in the "We Are The World" video. For all his flamboyance, he doesn't wear his generosity on his sleeve.

If you appreciate musicianship and an adventurous spirit, you can't not be a Prince fan. If you're put off by provocative image and music that isn't RAWK, then he might not be for you.

Speaking of talent, who else has been on the covers of Guitar Player, Bass Player, and Keyboard Player simultaneously?

Oh, and I hear that he writes some songs too.

[alantig]

Thanks Disturber. Can you give me some song titles to look up? Like I said, I know nothing about this guy except Purple Rain and he may be asexual. I saw an interview on utube yesterday that he held a concert where the ticket prices were only $25 bucks. He said it was because of Live Nation. I thought that was very cool of him. Any idea what the ticket prices will be this tour? Who knows, maybe I'll become a Prince fan 30 years after Purple Rain.

There are a couple greatest hits packages, but I'd recommend some version of "The Hits/B-Sides". It was released as two single discs ("The Hits 1", "The Hits 2", I believe) and a three-disc set with a disc of B-sides. The three-disc set might not be the best way to dive in for someone new, at least at the list price, but if you can find it used, it's probably worth it.

Highlights for me from that set, among others, are "7", "Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette", "Raspberry Beret", "When Doves Cry", "1999", "Head", "Peach", "U Got The Look" and "Sexy MF".

Haven't gotten deep into his catalog outside of that, but some tracks elsewhere I'd recommend are "Take Me With You" from "Purple Rain" and "Holy River" and "Face Down" from "Emancipation.

Not all SFW.

Alan

[hikarateboy]

Its about as mainstream as he gets but I always had a soft spot for "I could never take the place of your man" (saw the replacements do it once VERY drunk) and "When you were mine" (covered maybe even better by mitch ryder)

[sirDaniel]

after moving to MN in the early 80s, and living though the 80s (albeit..barely), I have become a fan. my roomys wife was one of his personal assistants during his PURPLE RAIN era. He was quite dominant.

And actually, who could have ever pulled off that epic superbowl moment playing PR in the rain. No event coordinator in the world could have dreamed of that. LGBTI? what does it matter, and who will ever know for sure.

[jisham]

Prince rules. All one needs to do is listen to his solo in this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zByqXu6nGYA

[jisham]

And this one....his mastery on guitar is epic IMO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDai2tk-eSE

[cynic]

One of the most complete packages in the history of popular music...some would say he's even better than Taylor Swift

[rj2858]

And this one....his mastery on guitar is epic IMO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDai2tk-eSE

Really channeling his inner Carlos Santana on that first tune with Sheila E. isn't he?

Edited to add; You'll have to decide for yourself if that's a good thing

[MCChris]

Meh. Everyone knows pentatonic wankery pales in comparison to schooled modal noodling.