OK Here goes...The whole weekend was a whirlwind. I will include some pictures(links) to enhance my story. (Not too much pressure Derek)
We left Newark and arrived in MPLS at 9:30AM got the rental and headed to downtown MPLS to check into The Graves 601 Hotel...( _www.graves601hotel.com_ (http://www.graves601hotel.com/) ) We were strategically placed directly across from The Target Center, 2 blocks from Macy's, and next door to FIRST AVE!! So we went down to The Hard Rock Cafe, also located next to our hotel and sat outside facing First Ave. we realized then that there was already a line formed at First Ave. There were 2 people there with a chair AND a table. There was also a news crew there. _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777007.jpg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777007.jpg) So we quickly ate lunch and got online. This was about 2:30 pm a full 25 hours before the tickets were to go on sale. Janey took the first shift while Utopia and I slept. We got chairs from Target and went in for the long haul. The line continued to lengthen and we kept switching off. Later that night we even got to party at First Ave while some of the folks on line held our spot. We were next to some Chi town folks. I can only remember Arnetria's name. Walking into First Ave for the 1st time was indescribable. It was a full circle moment for me. At the party I got to meet some NPGMC/ Org folks like MoneLove, CDaryl, BluOracle, LadyFingers, CJBabyDaddy amongst others. Met up with some old friends like Peggy, Diana and Rob, Happy and Jovann Angel, Ricco, and the elusive to most, J7. The party was wack and played mostly general 80's music and not just Prince so we left and went to another one(I here that it got better later when Cookie got on the tables)....U7 then took the night shift from 3 to about 9am. We went to the Macy's line because we heard they were handing out red wristbands that would give you priority access to The Macy's show. We got those and headed back to the line where I took the worst shift..9-1PM The sun was brutal...it was AFRICA HOT!!! The cameras continued to come around and local restaurants were offering us food and drink. _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777026.jpg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777026.jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777019.jpg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777019.jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777031.jpg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777031.jpg) We jammed to Prince tunes from someones ipod and around 1:15 I went up to shower and change. We came back down and were let in to First Ave about 45 mins late at 3:45pm...the line was orderly and the transaction smoothe...We then ran up to Macy's where true to Macy's words we were sent straight to the 8th floor to line up in order according to the # on our red priority wristbands. I was # 52. _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777028.jpg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777028.jpg) The ambiance up there was amazing...a long corridor with walls painted purple...black lights lighting up the corridor and mirrors on the wall with 3121 decals on some and perfume bottle decals on some. So at round 4:30 we started to go in and the corridor led us to a big room the size of the sound stage at Paisley Park. The ceilings were just as high and the walls were at PP and were draped in lavender velvet drapes from floor to ceiling. The stage was setup as usual with the addition of Sheila's tambales. They were selling food and there was a full bar. They also gave out for free those sodas that you saw written about...they were pretty good. There was also a lighting above the stage shaped like the Macy's star...had red lights in it. The show started around 5 and here's the setlist: When The Saints Go Marching In 3121 Girls & Boys A Love Bizarre Get On The Boat (funky Guitar solo in the beginning) The Glamorous Life Take Me With U Guitar (A-M-A-Z-I-N-G live) --- Encore--- Crazy (Shelby J) Let's Go Crazy We were done at approximately 5:45 and proceeded down to the fragrance level to view the display. Here it is: _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777035. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777035. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777036. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777036. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777037. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777037. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777038. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777038. jpg) _http://img.photobu cket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777039.jpg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777039. jpg) Macy's should be commended on the great job that they did to roll out his perfume and provide The Ultimate Prince Experience for us. It was superbly done. Then we were on our way to First Ave to get back in line for the actual Aftershow. We had one person stay in line while we went up to shower and change for the Target Show. Around 8:15 we were rushing to get through our regimen when we got a call saying that the opening act (The Time) was being cancelled and that the doors would now open at 9:30! We were disappointed but had more time to get ready. At this point I looked out of the window and saw a multitude of people outside in the street waiting for the doors to open...Here's a visual: _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777044. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777044. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777045. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777045. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777046. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777046. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777047. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777047. jpg) So we waited for the doors to open which they did at about 8:45 and then we made our way to the center. We went in and the concert began at about 9:30 I do not have a set list as I left the concert early to go back to the First Ave. line. We were seated in Sec. 104 Row D which was the farthest away I have been at a Prince concert. Here is a pic: (they did not search bags) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777051. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777051. jpg) Prince opened w/ Purple Rain coming out w/ Wendy accompanying him on guitar...it as great to see her. Highlights of the show were the piano solos where he did: Do Me Baby, I Wanna Be Your Lover, and Little Red Corvette! It was nice...he was still energetic and pumped dancing and running all over the stage, slapping fans hands and everything. So it was back to the line at First Ave where the staff said that they would not open the doors until the equipment from the Target Center was setup onstage. Well they grew a conscience and felt sorry for us in the humidity and let us in while the equipment had just arrived and was being setup. We also saw a Prince-less soundcheck and got to groove to DJ Rashida's mix on disc. I had my spot in the front row to the left right behind the lyric sheets. I saw 2 cases of lyric sheets AND saw the setlist for the night. The band came on first and then Prince came out from stage left with the best outfit that I have seen in a long time. He had on a black jacket with silver buttons alternating large and small along the bottom of the jacket and around the collar. The jacket was open up enough to see chest hair :-) He had on a black headband tied in the back Karate Kid style and had on Versace bug eyed glasses. The setlist is as follows: 1. 3121 (japanese fans and robes included) 2. Girls & Boys 3. Feel 4 U 4. Controversy 5. "Cock Eyed Woman" (funny as hell) 6. Satisfied 7. Down by the Riverside (instrumental featuring horn section) 8. Gotta Broken Heart Again 9. Love Is a Losing Game (Amy Winehouse song sung by Shelby J) 10. Love Changes (Motherââ¬â¢s Finest song, by Shelby again) 11. Thank You (the Sly Stone classic w/ Larry Graham on bass) 12. Hair (a Chaka Khan/Larry Graham oldie can also be found on Chaka's Come 2 My House CD put out by NPG Records) 13. Sing a Simple Song (more Sly) 14. Everyday People (Sly again) 15. Alphabet Street At which point they all marched off stage and then we all applauded for an encore and Prince came back and said ââ¬ÅThe authorities say we gotta go, We always listen to the authorities. I promise Iââ¬â¢ll be back.ââ¬Â He kissed his hands to us and left. Rumor has it that Prince had permission to play until 6AM as long as alcohol stopped being served at 2 or 3 AM. It wasn't stopped...Oh well...it was still a beautiful night for this Prince fan. NPNYers present were Patricia, Tonia, Janey, and Utopia7...I know there were others but I did not meet them. Show yourselves! The next day we went to walk around downtown and came across this familiar scene: _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777068. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777068. jpg) We also made a trip up to Chanhassen to see Paisley Park and there was a news van there. We thought that there was going to be a party or something there but there wasn't... :-( _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777092. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777092. jpg) The next night we wound up at Bunkers to watch Mambo Combo...AMAZING band!!! Jellybean Johnson sat with us when he wasn't onstage and chatted...funny guy. A certain somebody known to all was also ejected from the bar by Jellybean after she got into it with him...HILARIOUS. Present also were Takumi (Prince's old guitar tech- he grew his hair long again), Wendy, Bobby Z(they left b4 we got there), Alexander O'Neal!! I got to go up to him and tell how much I loved his ballads growing up. He grabbed me to get a picture with me. He was so cool...I asked him if he would be singing that night and he said "I'm gonna get up there just for you! He sang and made my night! Here is a pic of me, Jellybean, and a girl from Chicago that I met at First Ave. also a pic of the band performing. _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777094. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777094. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777095. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777095. jpg) The next day we went to Uptown and ate lunch and walked around. The Uptown area is more commercial now then it used to be from what I understand. Here are pics of it and a Calhoun Square sign _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777098. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777098. jpg) _http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777099. j pg_ (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/SexySoul/MPLS%20777/PrinceMPLS777099. jpg) So ends our saga and now we must wait until the next Princely adventure. Hope this was informative! -Portia In a message dated 7/8/2007 8:51:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Found the following article. The man did his thing. http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=268176>1=7702 Can't wait for the reports from those fortunate enough to attend. Be Well Always Viv. <Moderator: Me too, Portia said she would try to send something so I hope she does -Derek> ************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NewPowerNewYork Mailing List website: Www.NPNY.Org ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe? Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], in body place npny ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions/Help?: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
