Hot Thing (Prince @Manchester, Phones4U Arena)
I think the best way to summarise my experience of the Prince gig on Friday night last week was in a conversation I had today:
'How was the Prince concert?'
'Awesome. Just blinkin’ brilliant. I never thought I’d end up fancying the pants off a 55 year-old guy with a weird fashion sense. But he was so hot!'
And that pretty much sums it up.
Me, not so much a Prince fan before I attended the gig, spotted that tickets were still available a couple of days before the concert. After mentioning the fact in passing to my other half who saw Prince in concert 21 years ago, he jumped at the chance to see him again.
And I was so glad we did.
We got front row seats (a couple of blocks back) so had a great view. There was simply a curtain in front of the stage which flashed red, then BAM, dropped, and there was the one and only Prince. Everyone went crazy. Literally, I’m serious - he opened with Let’s Go Crazy.
This guy can play the guitar. He can frikkin’ play the guitar. Numbering 33 in the Rolling Stones’ top 100 - I was in awe of this guy. He OWNED that guitar.
It was clear from the outset that everything and everyone in the place was merely supplementary to Prince. 3RDEYEGIRL were fab, the lead guitarist in particular a super talent. There were not many big screens, three in fact on the main stage, which gave a more intimate feel. It took the focus away from the glitz and glamour and made you just focus on the music. And the man. The man who owned that music in every way, shape and form he wanted to take it.
When the lights dimmed and a slower rendition of The Beautiful Ones kicked off, it was mesmerizing. It was just smoke, light and Prince. Give or take 23,000 fans paying homage to this musical genius.
Just when you think it can’t get any better, Prince flings out his arms and the opening bars of 1999 kick in. The place erupted. I’m there, peeking at my other half who is DANCING (a mere miracle in itself) and then everyone is just lost in the moment. Everyone is rocking out!
At the end, when we don’t think it can get any better, the final song, Purple Rain, begins. It was so moving. Partly, I’m sad because I can’t believe that two and a half hours have passed, but partly, I’m sad because this amazing sound has only just come into my life.
Everyone I have spoken to who went to that gig, and everyone who has seen Prince before all want to go again. It’s a simple fact. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Prince in concert.
Follow me @JWilbyPalmer
'How was the Prince concert?'
'Awesome. Just blinkin’ brilliant. I never thought I’d end up fancying the pants off a 55 year-old guy with a weird fashion sense. But he was so hot!'
And that pretty much sums it up.
Me, not so much a Prince fan before I attended the gig, spotted that tickets were still available a couple of days before the concert. After mentioning the fact in passing to my other half who saw Prince in concert 21 years ago, he jumped at the chance to see him again.
And I was so glad we did.
We got front row seats (a couple of blocks back) so had a great view. There was simply a curtain in front of the stage which flashed red, then BAM, dropped, and there was the one and only Prince. Everyone went crazy. Literally, I’m serious - he opened with Let’s Go Crazy.
This guy can play the guitar. He can frikkin’ play the guitar. Numbering 33 in the Rolling Stones’ top 100 - I was in awe of this guy. He OWNED that guitar.
It was clear from the outset that everything and everyone in the place was merely supplementary to Prince. 3RDEYEGIRL were fab, the lead guitarist in particular a super talent. There were not many big screens, three in fact on the main stage, which gave a more intimate feel. It took the focus away from the glitz and glamour and made you just focus on the music. And the man. The man who owned that music in every way, shape and form he wanted to take it.
'I got a whole lotta people here who can testify nobody can do it like Prince do…'
- Prince, Manchester, 16th May 2014
- Prince, Manchester, 16th May 2014
When the lights dimmed and a slower rendition of The Beautiful Ones kicked off, it was mesmerizing. It was just smoke, light and Prince. Give or take 23,000 fans paying homage to this musical genius.
Just when you think it can’t get any better, Prince flings out his arms and the opening bars of 1999 kick in. The place erupted. I’m there, peeking at my other half who is DANCING (a mere miracle in itself) and then everyone is just lost in the moment. Everyone is rocking out!
At the end, when we don’t think it can get any better, the final song, Purple Rain, begins. It was so moving. Partly, I’m sad because I can’t believe that two and a half hours have passed, but partly, I’m sad because this amazing sound has only just come into my life.
Everyone I have spoken to who went to that gig, and everyone who has seen Prince before all want to go again. It’s a simple fact. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Prince in concert.
Follow me @JWilbyPalmer
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