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Prince - Honorary Degree Ceremony at Ted Mann Hall, University of Minnesota (26 Sept 2018)

Honoring Prince Honoring Prince Program Of Events Performance Medley: 1999 / I Wanna Be Your Lover / Controversy / Let’s Work Welcome Remarks: Michael Kim, Director of The School of Music Remarks: Elliott Powell- Asst Professor, Dept of American Studies Performance Medley: Little Red Corvette / Nothing Compares 2 U Remarks: John J Coleman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Presentation of The Candidate: Eric W Kaler, President of The University of Minnesota Conferral of Degree: Darrin Rosha, University of Minnesota Regent Acceptance Speech: Tyka Nelson Performance Medley: I Would Die 4 U / Baby I’m a Star Closing Remarks: John J Coleman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Performance: Purple Rain (Tyka Nelson on vocals) Read More Prince The two big shows on this date will be the Prince Tribute Concert (featuring Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan) at Xcel Energy Center and Sia at Target Center. … New Power Generation Shelby J, Liv Warfield, and Elisa (Fiorello) Dease doing a short set each, backed by all-female band 3rd Eye Girl and the well-dressed 11pc. New Power Generation horns. ..…

There’s a new doctor in the house – and he’s purple and funky…!

Prior to Prince’s untimely death in 2016, the University of Minnesota had been preparing to present him with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, the University’s highest honor. This was an idea presented to him while he was still alive, and his purported response was one word back, “Cool”.

The honorary degree was presented recently at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on the university campus, recognizing distinctive achievement that has materially added to knowledge, and is in recognition of Prince’s remarkable talent, enduring influence in music, and his role in shaping the city of Minneapolis.

The Chamber Strings from the University Symphony Orchestra and their own Jazz Ensemble I (both under the direction of Dean Sorenson) were joined on stage The Minneapolis Funk All Stars led by Family/F-Deluxe singer/bassist St. Paul Peterson. Joining him was guitarist Jellybean Johnson (Family/The Time); keyboardist Tommy Barbarella (NPG), drummer Kirk Johnson (NPG) and vocalist Cameron Kinghorn.

The evening began with a four-song Prince medley with songs culled from the early 80’s, inducing an immediate celebratory spirit which brought the crowd up on their feet, clapping and singing along. Nelson family members were in attendance including Omar and half-sister Sharon, along with university dignitaries, and the lucky fans that managed to RSVP before the public access quickly closed after reaching capacity.

Director of the School of Music Michael Kim next welcomed everyone to the evening, and made introductory remarks, including his own personal connection to the night’s subject. Asst. Professor Elliott Powell then made the case for Prince and his music being an instrument of social change, reflecting timely issues in songs like ‘Baltimore’, ‘Controversy’, and ’The United States of Division’.

The band fired up again for a faithful ‘Little Red Corvette’ and St. Paul took center stage for one of his favorites to sing- ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, a song made most famous by Sinead O’Connor, but one first given by Prince to The Family to record.

Dean of The College of Liberal Arts John Coleman made his remarks, followed by The University of Minnesota’s President, Eric W. Kaler, who presided over the presentation of the candidate (with sister Tyka Nelson accepting on Prince’s behalf) and the conferral of the degree ceremony, along with University Regent Darrin Rosha.

The band then resumed for a Purple Rain-era two-fer of ‘I Would Die 4 U / Baby I’m a Star’ as video images and captioned song lyrics filled the video screen behind the musicians. Coleman returned briefly with closing remarks, then (somewhat surprisingly) Tyka Nelson retook to the stage, full of emotion from the evening, to sing the closing number, ‘Purple Rain’, pointing to the sky as Johnson cut loose with the song’s signature guitar solo.

Though Prince never did attend college, he did play at the University (at Northrop Auditorium in 2000 for the first Celebration event) and from the night’s comments, seemed open to receiving this highly prestigious honor from the university- they apparently first offered up the idea in the early ‘90’s, only to have him change his name to that unpronounceable symbol shortly after, which in part, tabled the idea until it was resurrected just a few years ago.

While there was some air of somberness that he would not be present, the evening was overall more celebratory and joyful in spirit and everyone in attendance, was undoubtedly happy to have been present to witness Prince receiving his Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

Minneapolis Funk All Stars

Tyka Degree

John Coleman

Michael Kim

Elliott Powell

Cameron Kinghorn

Jellybean with Jazz Ensemble

Tommy Barbarella

Jellybean Johnson

Kirk Johnson

Honoring Prince

Tyka with St. Paul Peterson

Honoring Prince at Mann Hall, University of Minnesota (26 Sep 2018)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

New Power Generation at First Avenue and Intercontinental Hotel, Minneapolis (13 and 14 Sept 2018)

NPG at First Ave First Avenue Setlist (09/13) New Power Generation Sexy M.F. Love 2 the 9's The Max Arrogance Cream Sign “☮” the Times U Got The Look Tommy Barbarella piano solo > (incl Anastasia, When 2R in Love, How Come U Don’t You Call Me Anymore) with Apollo Jane Nothing Compares 2 U Diamonds and Pearls Money Don't Matter 2Night Willing and Able Deuce & a Quarter / Call the Law Daddy Pop 7 (acoustic) Love... Thy Will Be Done 2gether Jughead with Cobi I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man Live 4 Love D.M.S.R. Get Wild The Good Life The Morning Papers The Cross Gett Off 1999 Purple Rain Kiss The Sacrifice of Victor -- Encore -- Funkify (new song) with Cobi The Ride Peach Alphabet St. Intercontinental Hotel Setlist (09/14) New Power Generation Sexy M.F. Love 2 the 9's Cream Sign “☮” the Times U Got The Look Nothing Compares 2U 7 Willing and Able Money Don't Matter 2 Night Deuce & a Quarter / Call the Law Daddy Pop Love... Thy Will Be Done I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man Take Me with U Raspberry Beret The Good Life D.M.S.R. The Cross Gett Off 1999 Let’s Go Crazy Purple Rain Funkify Kiss Alphabet St. Read More New Power Generation Shelby J, Liv Warfield, and Elisa (Fiorello) Dease doing a short set each, backed by all-female band 3rd Eye Girl and the well-dressed 11pc. New Power Generation horns. ..… Mayte Prince’s first wife Mayte, reprised the sword and bellydance performance that first caught Prince’s eye years ago, leading appropriately into ‘7’, which also found The Twinz dancing about the stage with her. ..… Cobi Cobi, a Grand Marais, MN native who was once in the Boston indie-pop band Gentleman Hall opened the day’s entertainment on this front stage …

“Love is there if you'd just open up to it. If you'd just believe, your whole world would change” - Prince, ‘New Power Generation’

Fans still mourn the loss of local legend Prince, some two years later, but the mood was all celebration and joy as his noteworthy band of the 1990’s, The New Power Generation filled the Mainroom at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis for a nearly three-hour long musical tribute to their departed bandleader.

In this, their first area appearance since a brief and frigid set outside for February’s Super Bowl LII festivities and two intimate jazz club nights that weekend, the band has become more fine-tuned, honed by an abroad spring/summer tour of Europe, Australia, and Japan. 

While the band can have a rotating lineup depending on schedules, the core members (Morris Hayes- MD/keys; Tony Mosley- guitar/vocals; Damon Dickson- percussion/vocals; Tommy Barbarella- keyboards; Levi Seacer Jr.- guitar and Sonny Thompson- bass) were all present for this special show.

Also joining on for the evening (which sold tickets at a purple-friendly price of $31.21 and beamed worldwide as a PPV webcast) were recent Prince musical collaborator Keith Anderson (sax) and the Hornheadz horn section, Mint Condition guitarist Homer O'Dell, Los Angeles-based, Minnesota raised blues/soul singer-guitarist Cobi, and dancer (and Prince’s first ex-wife) Mayte Garcia.

The newest band addition is official lead singer MacKenzie - an LA-based singer from a small town in Virginia, who was discovered by the NPG’s manager and Mr. Hayes, via the Jammcard app that networks professional musicians. MacKenzie (somewhat ironically, the tallest band member on stage) to his credit, does not try to imitate Prince, but interprets the songs in his own way (sometimes more Terrance Trent Darby-esque), while keeping them authentic and familiar to the fans.

The “evening with” set began as it only could, with the 1990 namesake song of the band that Prince used for the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack, followed quickly behind by the still-scandalous ‘Sexy M.F.’, with its profanity-laden chorus that a later Jehovah’s Witness Prince, would all but disown.

Mayte would emerge for ‘Love 2 the 9’s’ and ‘The Max’, first fully veiled and covered, but quickly discarding that to reveal her familiar interpretive moves while MCs Tony M and Damon Dickson kept things throwback and “funky fresh for the 90s”. Original NPG background vocalist DuJuan Blackshire joined in for ‘Sign “☮” the Times’, one of a handful of somewhat surprising pre-NPG era songs that the band would cover during the evening.

The band took a restful breath as Tommy Barbarella’s piano medley led into a couple of duets between MacKenzie and wife Apollo Jane, a formidable singer in her own right. Tony M and Dickson took center stage for their turn on ‘Deuce and a Quarter/Call the Law’, a medley from the NPG’s own 1993 album and ‘Daddy Pop’ originally done a year earlier for Prince’s ‘Diamonds and Pearls’.

Mayte re-joined the group during an acoustic ‘7’, lithely slinking about as the song’s verses progressed, balancing a sabre on her head and body, and ‘Love Thy Will Be Done’, a song Prince gave to Martika for her second album, was a fine showcase of MacKenzie’s soul and gospel tinged vocals.

Like a breath of musical fresh air, Los Angeles-based (but Grand Marais, MN raised) singer-songwriter Cobi then jumped on stage for the first two of four well-chosen songs, re-energizing the crowd with his rock-n-roll version of ‘I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man’ and showcasing his blues growl and guitar abilities on 1991’s ‘Live 4 Love’.

Bassist Sonny T. would his take his turn on lead vocals for the NPG’s ‘The Good Life’, a reminder that Prince considered him his biggest bass influence, working with him first on an early Lewis Connection track in the mid-70s. “We’re so glad to be back home tonight to pay homage, honor, and respect to the Purple One” MacKenzie told the crowd before the band struck the first chords of his favorite song of the catalog, 1987’s ‘The Cross’.

It was admittedly a little strange to see this configuration play pre-NPG hits like ‘1999’, ‘Purple Rain’, and ‘Kiss’ though playing them originally in concert tours from 1990-1996, gives them as much of a right as any, to feature these iconic songs in their setlist, and the crowd enjoyed the celebratory versions.

The end of the show deviated slightly from the setlist, with the new ‘Funkify’ beginning the encore and perhaps the first sign of a new album to come. 

Cobi then returned for the most blues-laden track of the evening, ‘The Ride’- an old school 12-bar number perfectly catered to Cobi’s wheelhouse and a nice showcase for his guitar work, followed by a group jam on ‘Peach’ before everything came to a close with Lovesexy’s ‘Alphabet Street’.

The next evening found most of the band still in town, playing a second-floor ballroom as part of the airport-connected InterContinental Hotel Grand Opening. 

Missing Barbarella, Mayte, and the horn section (except for Anderson), the band still powered through a hundred-minute set of favorites, reprising much of the previous night, but adding in ’Let’s Go Crazy’ towards the end which kept the mostly middle-age and corporate crowd on the parquet dancefloor with their complimentary champagne, cheering on the band.

MacKenzie jumped down into the crowd a couple times and the ballroom atmosphere was more intimate and loose than any perceived pressure of the webcast the night before, and the mix of hotel guests, sponsors, and business dressed invitees all danced along to the songs everyone knew so well.

Twenty five years later, The New Power Generation has returned, to celebrate and honor their lost bandleader, and to (re)introduce that period of Prince’s music to a new generation. 

Whether or not they still “want to change the world” with possible new music forthcoming, is yet to be seen, but all the purple faithful will undoubtedly be watching, singing, and dancing along, and answering their call to “come join is on the floor”.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

First Avenue Poster (1)

First Avenue Poster (2)

First Avenue Setlist

Intercontinental Hotel Setlist

NPG (09/13)

New Power Generation (with Mayte) at First Avenue, Minneapolis (13 Sept 2018)

MacKenzie (09/13)

Cobi (09/13)

Mayte (09/13)

MacKenzie with Apollo Jane (09/13)

NPG with Sonny T (09/13)

New Power Generation at First Avenue, Minneapolis (13 Sept 2018)

Tony Mosely (09/13)

Morris Hayes and Hornheadz (09/13)

NPG (09/13)

Levi Seacer Jr (09/13)

NPG at Intercontinental Hotel (09/14)

New Power Generation at Intercontinental Hotel, Minneapolis (14 Sept 2018)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: September 12 to September 13, 2018

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 12 to September 13, 2018.

Read more: Minneapolis Music Guide.

White Denim 2018 Tour Read More White Denim In contrast to the lyrics-thing, White Denim are more like crazy pyschedelic, garagey, experimental rock 'n roll - with minimal lyrics. Whatever singer James Petralli .…

WHITE DENIM
+ Rotem
Turf Club
Thu 09/13/2018 (7pm/$18)
turfclub.net

It’s hard to believe that the last time we saw White Denim, it was Nov 2009, nearly a decade ago.

The Austin, Texas group is back, headlining the Turf Club this Thursday, September 13th.

Show up early to check out New York City’s Rotem, the first name for gifted guitarist Rotem Sivan. PopMatters said his music is “trippy” and “funky”.

Rotem’s last album Antidote charted on Billboard jazz at #16 and on iTunes as #1 on the jazz charts and top 100 album on all iTunes music.

All dates with White Demin:

09/11/18 - Fubar / St. Louis, MO
09/12/18 - House of Blues / Chicago, IL
09/13/18 - Turf Club / Saint Paul, MN
09/14/18 - The Rave Bar / Milwaukee, WI
09/15/18 - HI-FI Indianapolis / Indianapolis, IN
09/17/18 - Musica / Akron, OH
09/18/18 - Horseshoe Tavern / Toronto, ON
09/19/18 - The Blind Pig / Ann Arbor, MI
09/20/18 - Skully's / Columbus, OH
09/21/18 - Zanzabar / Louisville, KY
09/22/18 - Exit/In / Nashville, TN
10/5/18 - Saturn / Birmingham AL
10/6/18 - Barley's Tap Room / Knoxville, TN
10/7/18 - Strange Matter / Richmond VA
10/9/18 - Brighton Music Hall / Boston MA
10/11/18 - Brooklyn Bowl / NYC
10/12/18 - Brooklyn Bowl / NYC
10/13/18 - Underground Arts / Philadelphia / PA
10/14/18 - U Street Music Hall / Washington DC
10/16/18 - The Mothlight / Asheville, NC
10/17/18 - Vinyl / Atlanta, GA
10/18/18 - Proud Larry's / Oxford. MS
10/19/18 - One Eyed Jacks / New Orleans, LA
10/20/18 - White Oak Music Hall / Houston, TX

Bruno Mars at Xcel Energy Center Black Uhuru: As The World Turns Jay Rock 2018 Tour Nothing 2018 Tour Dates NPG at First Ave Read More Nothing Nothing and Whirr recently recorded two new songs with producer Will Yip. The Yip songs will be on a split 12", which will come with a full-length Whirr/Nothing 'In The Studio' documentary DVD. ..… Why Khaliq Local talents Why Khaliq and Mic Q.A will be headlining the 7th Street Entry this Monday, September 10th. ..… New Power Generation Shelby J, Liv Warfield, and Elisa (Fiorello) Dease doing a short set each, backed by all-female band 3rd Eye Girl and the well-dressed 11pc. New Power Generation horns. ..… Mayte Prince’s first wife Mayte, reprised the sword and bellydance performance that first caught Prince’s eye years ago, leading appropriately into ‘7’, which also found The Twinz dancing about the stage with her. ..… Cobi Cobi, a Grand Marais, MN native who was once in the Boston indie-pop band Gentleman Hall opened the day’s entertainment on this front stage …

Other shows in the area:

BRUNO MARS
Xcel Energy Center
Tue 09/11/2018 (7pm/$59.50)
Wed 09/12/2018 (7pm/$59.50)
armorymn.com

Bruno Mars is playing a double-night at the Xcel Energy Center this September 11-12. Tour dates:

09/07, 2018 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
09/8, 2018 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
09/11, 2018 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
09/12, 2018 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
09/15, 2018 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
09/16, 2018 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
09/19, 2018 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
09/20, 2018 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
09/22, 2018 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
09/23, 2018 Toronto, ON** Scotiabank Arena
09/27, 2018 Boston, MA TD Garden
09/28, 2018 Boston, MA TD Garden
10/01, 2018 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
10/02, 2018 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
10/04, 2018 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
10/05, 2018 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
10/07, 2018 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
10/08, 2018 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
10/11, 2018 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
10/12, 2018 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
10/14, 2018 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
10/15, 2018 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
10/23, 2018 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
10/24, 2018 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
10/26, 2018 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
10/27, 2018 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
11/08, 2018 Honolulu, HI Aloha Stadium
11/10, 2018 Honolulu, HI Aloha Stadium
11/11, 2018 Honolulu, HI Aloha Stadium

BLACK UHURU
+ New Primitives
Cedar Cultural Center
Thu 09/13/2018 (Canceled)
thecedar.org

For the first time in 15 years, legendary godfathers of reggae Black Uhuru is back with a new studio album As The World Turns (released 9/07). The group will stop by Minneapolis on September 13th.

UPDATE: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Black Uhuru has been forced to cancel their West Coast and Midwest tour dates until further notice, and will not be performing at The Cedar on Thursday, September 13th. Thank you for your understanding.”

JAY ROCK
+ Trouble, Reason, Why Khaliq
The Cabooze
Thu 09/13/2018 (8pm/$20)
cabooze.com

L.A. rapper Jay Rock will be headlining the Cabooze this Thursday. The tour is in support of his new album Redemption.

Jay Rock Tour Dates:

9/10 - Nashville, TN
9/12 - Lawrence, KS
9/13 - Minneapolis, MN
9/14 - Chicago, IL
9/15 - Detroit, MI
9/16 - Toronto, ON
9/18 - New York, NY
9/19 - Philadelphia, PA
9/21 - Boston, MA
9/24 - Washington, DC
9/25 - Baltimore, MD
9/27 - Charlotte, NC
9/28 - Atlanta, GA
9/29 - New Orleans, LA
10/1 - Austin, TX
10/2 - Houston, TX
10/3 - Dallas, TX
10/5 - Denver, CO
10/7 - Salt Lake City, UT

NOTHING
+ Culture Abuse, Big Bite, Smut
7th St Entry
Thu 09/13/2018 (7pm/$16.50)
first-avenue.com

Hard to google band Nothing is playing the 7th Street Entry on Thursday, September 13th, in support of their new album Dance On The Blacktop.

Three bands to open: Culture Abuse, Big Bite, and Smut

Tour dates:

9/07: Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel
9/08: Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
9/09: Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
9/11: Detroit, MI - The Shelter
9/12: Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
9/13: Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
9/14: Lawrence, KS - Record Bar
9/15: Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
9/18: San Jose, CA - The Ritz
9/19: San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
9/20: Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater
9/22: San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
9/23: Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
9/25: Dallas, TX - Club Dada
9/26: Austin, TX - Mohawk
9/27: Houston, TX - Secret Group
9/29: Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
9/30: Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall
10/05: Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
10/06: Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
10/07: Boston, MA - The Sinclair

NEW POWER GENERATION
First Avenue
Thu 09/13/2018 (7pm/$31.21)
first-avenue.com

You know we love Prince. In celebration of the Purple One’s music the re-united New Power Generation (NPG) is headlining the historic First Avenue this Thursday.

We last saw the 11-piece band in October 2013 and mentioned, “The well-rehearsed band(s) then took to a medley with seamless segues starting with Andy Allo’s ‘People Pleaser’, morphing into the new ‘Ain’t Gonna Miss U When U’re Gone’, and ending with a thumping ‘F.U.N.K.’ Slowing the tempo down for a simmering ‘Dark’, the trademark falsetto had females swooning and lead sax man Marcus Anderson wailing on cue.”

The all-star show features Mayte, Cobi, Dujuan Blackshire, The NPG Hornheads, Keith Anderson (of the NPG Hornz).

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Prince w/ the NPG, 3rdEyeGirl at Paisley Park, Chanhassen, MN (10/05/13) concert review

Setlist (deviated from the printed version) 1999 Diamonds and Pearls Old Friends 4 Sale People Pleaser > Ain't Gonna Miss U When U're Gone > F.U.N.K. Dark Something in the Water (Does Not Compute) Musicology Love Rollercoaster > Play That Funky Music Extraloveable (reloaded) Purple Rain Breakfast Can Wait Mutiny Encore: It’s Alright Act of God > What Have You Done for Me Lately? > Northside > Which Way Is Up? > Dancing Machine > Partyman Nothing Compares 2 U Cool > Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough> Sir Duke (snippet) Read More Prince Sure, I would love to see Prince live, but for $250 a ticket? I think I'll stay home. On top of the expensive tickets, fans must follow strict rules: no cameras, no cell phones…

“Ain’t no party like a Purple Party!” Prince had the crowd call-and-respond more than once during his 100 min. set at Paisley Park over the weekend. Of all the places in the world he plays, none is more special and more comfortable for him than at his own studio in the western metro suburb of Chanhassen, MN and Saturday night was a ‘Housequake’ indeed.

In typical Prince fashion, the show was announced a mere couple days prior and lines started forming early that morning for a show than would no doubt, run into the wee hours of the night. The big room at Paisley is impressive—an open 12,500 sq. ft. soundstage that held some 1,200 fans with a fine-tuned sound system and full lighting rigs.

All corners filled as the pre-show festivities started just after 10pm, with an hour-plus of music featuring singers Shelby J, Liv Warfield, and Elisa (Fiorello) Dease doing a short set each, backed by all-female band 3rd Eye Girl and the well-dressed 11pc. New Power Generation horns.

The crowd was teased with ‘Days of Wild’, but no Prince appearance, until after 10-year old Brianna Curiel sang her heart out of the appropriately-named cover of Etta James’ ‘At Last’. Prince emerged from the shadows to congratulate her just before midnight then promptly ripped into the set opener, ‘1999’ and followed with the combination punch of ‘Diamond and Pearls’ that immediately whipped the crowd up.

The well-rehearsed band(s) then took to a medley with seamless segues starting with Andy Allo’s ‘People Pleaser’, morphing into the new ‘Ain’t Gonna Miss U When U’re Gone’, and ending with a thumping ‘F.U.N.K.’ Slowing the tempo down for a simmering ‘Dark’, the trademark falsetto had females swooning and lead sax man Marcus Anderson wailing on cue.

A stark ‘Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)' featuring only keyboardist Cassandra O’Neal was stellar then the tempo was brought back up by his ode to “real music played by real musicians” ‘Musicology’ which segued into ‘Love Rollercoaster/Play That Funky Music’. Sadly, that was the only time Prince briefly played guitar during the set, though 3rd Eye guitarist Donna Grantis more than held her own all evening.

After half-teasing the show might be over and flashing his trademark grin, the audience was treated to an emotive ‘Purple Rain’- “This is your song, Minneapolis”, he remarked before Anderson blew his solo with little abandon.

Photo of Setlist

The spirited encore started with a non-stop medley of hits anchored by Shelby J, Prince returning to the stage just as ‘Dancing Machine’ finished and launching into a loose and crowd-participating version of ‘Partyman’ before circling it back again to ‘It’s Alright’. Tempo slowed once more, with Prince doing another voice impression/story to intro ‘Nothing Compares to U’, with duet partner Shelby J. The purple party would wind to a close with a thunderous mash-up of ‘Cool’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Don’t Stop til You Get Enough’, which he mockingly dedicated to concert promoter AEG.

Not as overall impactful as his October 2009 three-hour performance at Paisley, the show seemed more of a vehicle to highlight the introduction of the new horn section and underutilized 3rd Eye Girl’s impressive talents as a result. Of course, we all missed his unparalleled guitar work and from my vantage point, wished his vocals were further up in the mix, but those are minor quibbles. The performance itself was mesmerizing and the rare chance to see the master at work at his own place.

Prince seemed very at-ease to play at home- walking through the crowd banging a tambourine, fist-bumping fans, and telling stories and jokes from the stage. “Should we do this again next weekend?” he asked the crowd – the answer was incredibly obvious.

Prince at Paisley Park, Chanhassen (10/05/13) NOTE: Image above is a screengrab from the live stream

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ 3rdeyegirl.com