Ladies and Gentlemen, The Revolution!

This is a post that is two months overdue but it is finally here.  Back on May 15th, I had the privilege of attending a very special concert at the Mercury Ballroom in Louisville, Kentucky.  What band was playing that night? None other than The Revolution. That's right, Prince's former band was performing and there was not a chance in hell that I was not going to be there.  Not only was I there, I was at the very front of the stage rocking along with all the deep purple concord jams that I grew up with.  From the opening drum beat of Computer Blue that kicked off the show, The Revolution took us on a whirlwind tour of the soundtrack of my life. America was next followed by Mountains from Parade.  Next up was Automatic which led to Take Me With U.  Then special guest Stokley Williams (from Mint Condition) came out to take over lead vocalist duties on Uptown and D.M.S.R..

The then unreleased Our Destiny with Wendy and Lisa on lead vocals was next and this segued straight into Brownmark leading on the then unreleased Roadhouse Garden. Both of these songs have since been released on the Remastered Deluxe Edition of Purple Rain.  Stokley came back out as the band jumped into Raspberry Beret which was more of a crowd sing-a-long.  Next up was an extremely funky Erotic City with some slinky guitar work by Wendy.  I mean baby girl was playing that thing and I guarantee if Prince would have been there, he would have definitely been making one of his funk faces! Keeping that funk groove going, the band slid right into Let's Work with Stokley sharing vocal duties with Wendy. After a rousing version of 1999, which had the entire place rocking and chanting "PARTY!" at the top of our lungs, Wendy took to the mic for a brief monologue.  She spoke about Paisley Park and the time of Around the World in a Day and how it was a great time for Prince as a lyricist. She spoke about what Paisley Park meant and how much the song meant to him and the band and asked the crowd to sing along with them so that Prince could hear us.  And boy did we ever get loud because we let everyone know that "Paisley Park is in your heart!"

The Revolution went old school next with Controversy which segued into Mutiny rather nicely.  Then came one of the most heart-stopping, gut-wrenching moments of the night.  The band left the stage except for Wendy and Lisa and Wendy spoke about the day that Prince died.  And then she spoke about going through songs that they (Wendy & Lisa) had done with Prince and they came across Sometimes It Snows In April. They realized that they had recorded that song on 4/21/85 and that Prince had died on 4/21/16. So they said they had to play it for him.  They then performed Sometimes It Snows In April with Wendy on guitar and Lisa on piano and I cried like a baby.  I think we all did.

After a short break, the band reappeared and those familiar organ chords began playing before those famous words of "Dearly beloved..." were spoken and the band launched into Let's Go Crazy. Delirious and Kiss were next  followed by When Doves Cry.  Then we heard that familiar guitar chord from Wendy and the crowd lost their minds as Purple Rain was played.  Wendy played an amazing solo at the end that would have made Prince proud and then they were gone. But they weren't through with us as they came back out once more for I Would Die 4 U and then finally Baby, I'm A Star! After that, they took a bow and then left the stage for good.

I grabbed some swag at the merch table but my fav stuff is the autographed poster from the band, the setlist from the show and a guitar pick from Wendy! I went to celebrate Prince's music and it ended up being a very healing night.  I also met some new Prince friends and can't wait to see them again!

So there you have it folks! It was an awesome experience and if you have a chance to see them, go see The Revolution. They put on one hell of a show and you will not regret it.  If nothing else, go see them for the healing aspect and to honor the music of Prince! Until next time, peace & be wild!

Please welcome The Revolution!

Another Purple Gift?

Prince & 3rdEyeGirl just delivered another little treat for all the good little purple boys & girls over on Soundcloud.  Back on May 2nd, Paisley Park was opened to the masses for a Dance Rally 4 Peace.  

According to the Prince Vault, after a DJ set from DJ Dudley D, Prince & 3EG took the stage and performed the following set list:

• Chaos and Disorder
• Dreamer
• Crimson and Clover
• Guitar
• Plectrumelectrum
• The Whole of the Moon

Now, fresh off the soundboard live stream of part of the Rally 4 Peace concert in Baltimore, we have been given an edited soundboard of the Paisley Park performance from May 2nd.  I say edited since Crimson and Clover is left off the recording.  But even without C&C, we still have 41 minutes of Prince & 3EG jamming out.  This performance of Dreamer is out of this world and, for me at least, it brings back memories of People Without (from Small Club) and The War.  So head over here and listen (or grab) this gem while you can.  After all, we all know that Prince giveth and he taketh away.

!!!!!!!!!CrANK iT: https://t.co/YMqOFN4gWy !!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YVOnsAWHMt

— Prince3EG (@Prince3EG) May 13, 2015

So do as they say and go crank it here!!!!!!! 

Finally beloved we meet at last!!! (Reposted)

As some of you know, I managed to score tickets to the fourth and final show of Prince & 3rdEyeGirl's US 2015 Hit 'N' Run debut in Louisville.  The Louisville Palace was the sight and I must say that it was an amazing venue.  Having seen Prince several times, including aftershows, this had that personable, aftershow feel and it turned out to be everything I thought it would be. Now the show was on March 15th but I have intentionally waited to write my review.  I didn't want to write it immediately after the show when I was still on that "purple high" so now seemed like a good time. 

I took the two hour drive up I-65 to Louisville while jamming out to purple music.  I had made a few playlists to listen to on the way.  One was just a bunch of classic Prince tunes that I enjoy while the other was sort of my version of what Plectrum Electrum and Art Official Age would be as a single project (with a few other cuts not on the albums thrown in).  I had heard about line troubles getting in the night before so I tried to get there early.  I managed to make it to the Louisville Palace shortly after the beginning of the first show.  I guessed parking was going to be a problem but was able to easily find a spot in a parking garage directly across the street from the Palace.  After walking across the street, I talked to one of the security guards and he told me where the line would be. It turns out I was third in line.  There was a married couple in front of me and during conversation, it turns out that the wife and I went to high school together.  She was two years ahead of me and I hadn't seen her since '85 but here we were.  Small world, huh? Me and my fellow purple family members patiently stood in line and swapped stories about shows we had seen until finally it was time for us to enter.  Since the first show wasn't over yet, after you entered, you were ushered into the bar area which was sequestered from the main lobby. After two more encores, the first show finally ended and we waited for security to push the crowd out.  Finally we were allowed to enter the lobby and I immediately made my way to the merchandise table. They had vinyl for both albums and the usual shirts.  The one shirt I actually wanted was already sold out so I settled on the black tour shirt with the picture below on it. Then I was off to find my seat.

Seat located and now to wait.   I didn't have to wait too long though.  Out of the darkness and from behind the purple rain influenced curtain, we heard Hannah's voice.  She welcomed us all to Louisville and thanked us for coming to the show.  Then she gave us the phone warning, telling us not to use our phones for any pictures or videos.  She said, "Trust me, technology can not capture what you are about to witness on this stage tonight!" Then she was gone. 

You could feel the tension building in the crowd and then we heard it, "Dearly beloved....." and the crowd lost their minds.  From those opening lines all the way through the Frankenstein addition and back to the ending solo, Prince let us all know that it was gonna be one hell of ride.  Next was Take Me With U followed by U Got The Look.  Prince was all over the stage and was really interacting with the crowd.  After rocking out, it was time to cool down a little as we were lead into Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.  That of course could only lead into Cool.  Louisville are you hot? NO! Do you know why? Cuz you COOL!!!! He brought a few folks up to dance on stage as he danced around the stage cuing the crowd and band. But when he yelled somebody dance with me and busted his dance moves, the crowd went nuts.  Then, after leaving the stage, Prince reappeared on the piano for a crowd singalong of Diamonds and Pearls before launching in to the full version of The Beautiful Ones.  This was followed by When Doves Cry (which I thought would be a snippet leading to the sampler set) and I was shocked it was the full version.  Prince asked, "How many of you remember the 80s?" which caused a huge response but not nearly as loud as when he asked, "How many of you were born in the 80s?" All of this lead to Controversy followed by 1999.  I was actually shocked about how many people were just standing around by this time.  When P asked, "Louisville, what do you wanna do?" As most of us die-hard fans were yelling, "PARTY!!!!!" there were plenty of people just standing there.  Next was the slowed down Little Red Corvette with the call and response of slow down.  Prince then delivered a heart felt and emotional Nothing Compares 2 U before saying "Thank you, Kentucky!! Goodnight!!"

After a couple of minutes, the crowd responded to the shadows on the stage and we heard Prince ask, "What should we play? How about Scandalous? Insatiable? I know, I know, how about Adore?"  Each question got a louder response but then he said, "I wrote all these songs and you know what? I play what I want, how I want and when I want! Hit me Hannah!" as Hannah cued the guitar loop for Kiss.  He played it much like most recent performances (U don't have to watch Real Housewives) to include the dancing breakdown after the normal end of the song.  And then he was gone again.

When he appeared again, he had his guitar with him and he said how much he loved that guitar before rocking out on Guitar.  That was quickly followed up by Plectrum Electrum and then Pretzelbodylogic.  Both songs allowed the band to rock out with Prince featuring Donna and Ida on solos throughout.  Finally it was Hannah's turn with Stratus and a breathtaking drum solo as she was left alone on stage.  I don't know how long it was but it seemed easily five minutes. I tweeted out that she rocked the solo so hard that she broke three of MY ribs.  Then she was gone too. The band appeared one last time and the show ended with Purple Rain.  Like Nothing Compares 2 U, this seemed very heart felt and his solos were screaming.  I've seen him perform this song live ten other times but this seemed the most emotional since I saw him on the Purple Rain Tour.  

And then it was over.  The lights were up.  The stage was being broken down and we sat. Dumbfounded.  Exhausted.  Emotionally spent.  Overdosed on purple music.  As most of you know, I had lost my faith in Prince after my experience on the opening night of Welcome 2 Chicago.  Well, now that faith has been renewed. Rekindled.  Once again, I had witnessed the greatest performer of our time and I had just experienced one of those "I was there" moments.  Now, like all purple junkies, all I can do is wait for my next purple fix.  Hopefully it comes soon.

Note:  Only the pics of the Palace are my photos.  The others were taken from Twitter and all credit should go to the original photographers.  Unfortunately, I don't remember who to credit.  Sorry.

This post originally appeared on my other blog, Are Friends Electric?