Washington D.C. on March 30 (15 reports)

from Denny

the saturday night show was like a dream! it was SO nice to NOT hear prince hits! he played songs that i have wanted to hear live for a LONG time! newpowersoul living up to FUNKspectations? NO! EXCEEDING ALL FUNKSPECTATIONS!!! this was absolutely the best concert EVER. the soundcheck was unreal...he played alphabet st, extraordinary and beautiful strange. his voice gave me cold chills all over...esp when he first started singing extraordinary. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!!!!!!!

from Bill Hutchcroft

I just want to say, that I'd always heard how great Prince was live, and I finally got to see him 3-30 at the Warner in DC. To say "fantastic and awesome" seem trite somehow....it was such a totally perfect show! The lights, the sound, THAT BAND!!! WOW!!! One of the all time "best live shows" I've ever seen. Thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. I'm adding "The Rainbow Children" to my CD collection immediately!

from Steve Bass

High,

What a performance on Saturday evening in DC! This marked the 9th time I've seen Prince in concert and this was MUSICALLY the best (Lovesexy still holds the "top concert" title for its showmanship, theatrics, and it being my first Prince experience). Much props to Prince, the NPG, and Paisley staff for a nite to remember.

Arrived at the venue at 4:30 to meet Cliff from Columbia, MD who was able to attend in place of my girlfriend. While we eagerly awaited outside, the Warner staff gave us continual conflicting information about where to line up, how to get in, etc. What seemed like forever due to our anticipation was actually not that bad. The box office began to give tickets and laminates about 5:30 and by 5:45 we were inside! The soundcheck allowed us to see the band work. Prince and NPG (with Larry Graham) worked on "Alphabet Street" and "The Jam." Prince made a few comments to the NPGMC members about "trouble tonight". He joked that he might put on a wig and sit in the crowd. Prince worried that members in front couldn't really hear well Friday night. He gave props to Maceo and encouraged us to check his band out. After allowing a lady in the front row to pick out the incense for the evening (and joking that it was a bad choice), he asked if we missed "Kiss." He replied he didn't miss it nor "Little Red Corvette." Then, P proceeded to the back of the auditorium while the band worked on a jazzy instrumental. Next, a jazzy song followed possibly entitled "My Analyst Told Me" which was somewhat reminiscent of Blues in C. As he headed back to the front, a lady behind me asked about "Blue Light." Prince jokingly looked up at the ceiling and then said the band didn't know it yet but it would be a good choice. He stopped in the front row and led the band through "Extraordinary". It was amazing to see the band work out the changes and tempo of the song. They are so keyed on his leads that he asked for a G and they responded and then he asked for a H and they all started to play before realizing his joke!! At the end of Extra, he said he thought it was ready for tomorrow night which had Renato and Rhonda looking a bit scared! Finally, P played "Beautiful Strange" as requested by a fam and bid us adieu.

The show: Get to the theatres on time, folks. The lights dimmed at 8:08 and Blackwell began his drumbeat from behind the curtain. Maceo then appeared at the back of the theatre and approached the stage blowing his horn. Eventually, "The Rainbow Children" broke out as the curtain raised. The "bass" voice narration was even supplied by Prince. The first 30 minutes consisted of "TRC", "Muse 2 the Pharoah", and "Xenophobia"...a pure, rocked-out, jazz-infused beginning that showed MUSICIANSHIP is what is important. The "WNPG radio" portion included great songs from the past that had us all wishing such a station existed. Satellite radio anyone? FULL versions of classics such as "Take Me With U", "When You Were Mine", "Raspberry Beret", "Adore", "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "Do Me, Baby", "Sometimes It Snows in April", "Nothing Compares 2 U", "I Love U But Don't Trust U Anymore", and "Joy in Repetition" allowed us to remember the great past of Prince's history but did not take away from getting to hear the exciting NEW songs! My faves of the night were "Joy in Rep", "Snows in April", all the TRC songs, and "Xenophobia" (I cannot get that song out of my head and cannot wait for my NPGMC CD that contains it).

Finally, Prince led us through the "Love is God" AnnaStesia chorus over a loop after reminding us about his "love 4 Christ" and the importance of Easter. At how many concerts does that happen?

As for the band, Blackwell continues to amaze. Rhonda: 3 fine and what an ability to lay the foundation for the music. Renato is a great addition who adds the jazz chops that allow the band to expand its horizons. Maceo is truly THE legendary sax player. Greg Boyer brings a P-Funk sensibility and how refreshing to hear trombone in a Prince concert. Larry Graham is THE bass master who joined for 3 songs. Prince = the piece the brings it all together.

What a MUSICAL night and one I'll be hearing in my head for awhile. Note to Prince: PLEASE release these shows on CD like Pearl Jam does or consider allowing taping like Dave Matthews Band. That way, more people could hear your band's musicality and the message you are spreading.

Love4oneanother,
Steve Bass

from Janitri

Saturday nite - what can be better than being with Prince & the NPG & fams. Waiting in line with fams to get into the sound check is always fun because it's a time to meet and hear every1's stories about life and "time" goes mostly away. It's even more fun to listen to the stories of the fams in line and watch some of these people get picked to go on stage and dance and watch their dreams become reality. Prince just keeps giving and giving to us. ThankUSoMuch. Experiencing all of this in real-time and getting funky is so awesome. You have to go see the show and see what real musicians are - nothing there is fake! Watching Larry (yes, he was there playing awhile) and Prince is energizing in itself - smiles and happiness and love abound lives there. Joy in Repitition was so fine - makes me think that Jesus comes down and gives us hugs especially when we are loving Him.

from Syreeta

I have to say I am still at a loss of words! The Saturday night concert was off the charts. The soundcheck was like a mini personal concert in itself! Then the concert itself just had me on my feet the dancing and singing. The name "One Night Alone" that is exactly how it felt, so intimate! The new keyboardist had my spin shivering he was truly amazing. Then Prince broke down all the goodies on his piano, and all I could do was close my eyes and enjoy the ride.
I am so ready to see another one!
THANK U SO MUCH PRINCE & NPG!
Syreeta

from Art

So i did it. I flew all the way from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to see my musical and spiritual hero for over 20 years. TRC blew me away and I knew something special was going on. And it did! A lot has been said already, but if you don't mind I want to share my experience as well. Ofcourse it all started at attending the soundcheck. It was great to see Prince so calm and relaxed. It was like coming to his home and drink a (musical) cup of coffee with him. By the way I haven't read anything about the way he looked during the soundcheck. He looked very nice. Wearing a nice small hat, glasses and a 'suit' of loose fit material. Bluegrey as I remember. The soundcheck has been described before, but the main thing about it for me was the mellowness of it. Just saying hello and share some time with eachother. Great!

The show... The show was really the best I've witnessed. I started at Sign of the Times and seen him a lot of times after that. Back then the show was as important as the music, sometimes even more important. Through the years I more and more longed for concerts where the music was the key thing. This one is like that. It's like a 'rehearsed aftershow'. It's about music and music only (besides the content of TRC which is also communicated through the text and video-images). With 'rehearsed aftershow' I mean that it almosts feels like a free jam but it isn't. Prince is still in control and knows what he is doing. There is some space for improvisations but the whole is more or less 'locked'. (And then again it can change every show. On saturday he did 'Joy...', on sunday Carlos came up playing. So what do i mean 'locked'?! But you get my meaning, I hope) Unfortunately I missed the expected aftershow of the sunday show, but I think that is the place/moment where the band goes completely free. Don't get me wrong: what was offered now was more than satisfying. 'Controlled' or not it was awesome. The band is GREAT. This is the right crew to do this. Ronda (you lovely allround outstanding bass (and some keyboard!) player , Renato (thank you for the electronic feel added, besides your free playing), Greg (a bit underexposed in the show but take you away and things go wrong) and ofcourse John (a lot has been said but you are THE man. From subtle jazz grooves to hardrockin' kickass beats. You can do it all). And besides that there was MACEO (the man IS) and Larry (kinda like the man...).

Oh yeah and there was this man playing all kind of different guitars and he was singing and playing the keyboards too! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You started it all. And you're still on top. For me you never been away, but man o man it's wonderful to see you in such an excellent (and highly spritual) way. You give me so much joy. With your music, but also with your appearance. Especially on this tour. Thank you for being so open and accessible. Was it worth the rather bizare trip (arrived friday, saw the show on saturday, flew back on sunday)? Haven't even asked myself that question. You'll know the answer!

Love and peace (and be wild once in a while).

Art,
Amsterdam.

from Sherri

Prince, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to experience the TRUTH. I am so glad that you are educating people through your music about slavery and the roles of some American 'forefathers' that have been given undue props for hundreds on years. Thank you for exposing them for what they are, instead of what 'the establishment' wants us to believe. Keep on doing what you're doing....make the devil mad....you're opening people's eyes, minds and hearts. Thank you for allowing GOD, THE ALMIGHTY to use you as a vessel. Let it flow brother....God has put you on this earth with the charge to lead the lost to the truth and the light. The 3/30 DC show was greater than I could have ever imagined it could be. Thank you for doing all the favorite slow jams....(Joy in Repetition, Sometimes it Snows in April, How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore and Beautiful Strange were true gifts!!!) And the songs from The Rainbow Children sounded even better live!!!! ....To sum it up.....I LOVED EVERYTHING!!!! Every penny spent was well worth it many times over. Truth be known, I would have paid much more to get what I was given Saturday night. I traveled from NC for the show and it was well worth the trip! If you were to offer a lifetime membership, I'd buy it today because the perks for music club members are off the chain! We were treated like VIPs for real! The people standing outside as my sister and I entered the soundcheck were so envious!!! A few nonmembers asked me if I'd let them come in with me...of course I wasn't havin' that!!! I advised them to save up $100, check the site and get their own credentials...cause begging ain't cool !!! Hopefully you'll come to VA or NC this month (hint...hint...ya hear?). I've checked the site about 50 times already today for an update on where you'll be next! I've been a fam for many, many years and thought I couldn't possibly have more love and admiration for you....until Sat. night. It just continues to grow! Thank you for showing us love right back!

God Bless you, the NPG and all my fellow fams! Much love and respect!!

Sherri from NC

from RTT

I want to say thank God and thank Prince for an exquisite experience in DC. The Warner Theater was an excellent choice of venue. The band is tight, the best I’ve seen in years. (Blackwell took my breath away) (Prince you did too) ;^ ). Highlights for me: XENOPHOBIA. I can’t wait to get the full release. Soon Hopefully (hint hint). Joy in Repetition live, worth the price of the ticket alone and Sometimes it Snows in April, shear perfection. And last but not least is MELLOW MELLOW. I can’t get enough of that one. I’m wearing a groove in TRC with that track.

Prince, I can’t express what your music has meant to me over the years and the concerts seem to make everything a little mo’ better.

REMEMBER: God has many messengers, you keep spreadin’ the “good news” in your own way and all will be well.

RTT aka CherryMoon

from Luvsexy658

Prince let me first thank you and the NPG for sharing your talents and gifts with us, your family. I have been to many concerts in my 31 years, mostly yours, but I have never gone to one and left feeling the way I did last night. I felt as if I had been enlightned on the Truth more than I already had been. To me Prince, you are the Truth. the people who speak negatively of what you are about now but liked you back in the day obviously were NOT paying any attention to anything you said then. Because if they had, they would understand and accept what you do now.

THE SOUNDCHECK:
Anyone who is a Music Club member will agree with me that the cost of the membership is nothing when compared to the experience of being allowed access to a private moment to most astists' such as the soundcheck. When we were let in, Prince, the NPG, Larry Graham and Mr. Maceo PArker were already on stage playing. Prince said hello to everyone as they came in and the feeling was that of calmness and relaxation. It seemed as if Prince had invited his most dearest friends over to just chill. he asked one of the techs to bring him something and it turned out to be two cans of incense. He asked two ladies in the front row to pick which one they liked. they did and when he took the incesne stick back from one of them, he smelled it and with that infamous look of mischief, he said " EWW" and laughed. His tech then lit about 8-10 sticks and the rehearsal went on. Prince asked the people in the front row if they could hear the music and they said yes and he said that the reason he asked is because the night before when he walked down there, he couldn't hear it until he got back to about the middle of the theatre. He then for his set list book and mic and came down from the stage and walked to the back of the theatre and sat down. he directed the band from there as he talked about "The Analyst" When he was done there, he walked back up to the front on my side of the theatre and a woman sitting next to me asked him to play "Blue Light" to which he said "That's a good one but, we didn't learn that. Maybe we should". He proceeded to the front row and asked if he could sit down to which no one had any problem with. He made little comments about how cool it was to sit there and that we need to catch Maceo live if we haven't already. he and the NPG started to do "Extra" which sounded so much better live than on the CD. The new keyboard player Renato is da bomb!!!! A woman sitting behind Prince said something to him and Prince told her, here, you tell him. She told Renato that "I thought I would miss Mr. Hayes being up there until I heard you play"
All in all, Prince and the NPG were just having fun. He ended the soundcheck with "Beautiful Strange" and it was unbelievable!!!

THE SHOW:
He started the show with "The Rainbow Children' which I thought couldn't sound any better then the CD, boy am I slow, then he went into "Muse to the Pharoh". My friend, Tiny had never heard TRC but was lovin' it after "Muse" At one point, Prince asked a gentlman in the front row if he thought it was better to give than recieve and the man answered, to give. Prince then said good, then you won't mind giving your front row seat to someone who was further back. I'm not sure if the man he brought on stage was the one who prince asked to move or if it was the man who got to move up. At any rate, Prince invited the man up on stage. Prince asked his name and if he could get him anything like some water or merchadise and the genlteman declined the offer. Prince said ok and told the man to hang out to the side because the grove he was about to play was just for him. The whole night, Prince kept pulling people up on stage to hang out for a while. But, when Prince invited two ladies up there, one of them got right up behind Prince and started dancing all freaky-like and the look on his face was classic and he said something to the effect of "Hold up, I don't even know your name and we haven't been courting so please go to the other side of the stage and they both laughed. When Prince and Larry Graham hit some old school Ohio Players, the place went ballistic and Prince laughed and said "Ohh, y'all are showing your age".
I'm not going to go through a get into the play list but, if you have tickets for tonights' show, you will not be disappointed by any means. Now, if you're going and expecting to hear all the old stuff, then your short because this is the new Prince with the new sound although, he does a few of the old cuts that get no less acknowlegedment then the new stuff. His choice of old songs were..."Adore", "Sometimes it snows in april", "how come you don't call me", and "strange Relationshp" to name a few. Overall, the show is an absolute must see if you can.

Geneva
Luvsexy658

from Dewayne

Saturday night at the WARNER THEATRE was truly an amazing night.Prince & the Npg were in top form.All the songs that were played from the RAINBOW CHILDREN were infused with wit,energy and unerring sense of purpose.Highlights include JOY IN REPETITION,1+1 IS 3,MUSE and MELLOW.PRINCE conjured up the deepest well spring of emotion in his performance.This tour must be seen by ALL followers of Prince's music.Unbelievable!!!

from Don

THE RAINBOW CHILDREN LIVE!!

THE ULTIMATE FUSION OF SPIRITUALITY MEETS, JAZZ, R& B, FUNK, GOSPEL, ROCK BUT MOST OF ALL, SHOWMANSHIP! PRINCE HAS TRUELY TAKEN HIS MUSIC TO ANOTHER LEVEL. THE WASHINGTON DC AREA WITNESSED THE ULTIMATE SHOW BY THE ULTIMATE SHOWMAN. ACCOMPANIED BY A TOP LEVEL BAND OF MUSICIANS FROM CAMEO, P-FUNK ALL-STARS ETC. HE HAND PICK THE BEST MUSICIANS REMINDING ME OF THE NBA ALL-STARS! EACH INDIVIDUAL COULD GO OUT ON TOUR BY THEMSELVES. THE SHOW WAS MORE ABOUT 3 HOURS LONG BUT WASHINGTON DC COULD CARELESS IF THE SHOW WENT ON FOR 3 MORE. EVEN THE STAFF AT THE WARNER WERE INTO THE ENTIRE SHOW. PRINCE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, GOD BLESS YOU AND THE BAND.

THE SOUNDCHECK!

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TRUE PROFESSIONALISM! THE BAND WAS TIGHT BUT IF THEY WERE NOT UP TO PRINCES STANDARDS AT THE TIME, HE WOULD LET THEM KNOW. HIS BAND PLAYED A FEW UP TEMPO JAZZ TUNES, A SLOW JAM BUT FINISHED THE SOUNDCHECK WITH"BEAUTIFUL STRANGE" MOST CLUB MEMBERS LEFT THE SOUNDCHECK FEELING LIKE THE SOUNDCHECK WAS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION.

DON DORSEY MPGMC MEMBER...

from John

NPGMC Membership: $100.00
Row B tickets to the show: $276.00
Hotel, Travel, and Food: $300.00
Seeing the look on my 10 year old son's face at the show: PRICELESS...

This was my second show of the One Night Alone Tour and the band is even tighter, the energy is at an all time high, and Prince is in a zone...To those who have never seen Prince live, you MUST attend a show during this tour...

It was so good to be able to take my son to a concert where I didn't have to worry about foul language, sexual situations, or violence...However, I did have some explaining to do the next day at the Lincoln Memorial...but its better he know the truth...

Thank U and Peace 2 U!!!!!!

John

from Kimberly

Prince rocked D.C. like NO OTHA! Saturday nite's concert was da bomb!
Baby u were in TRUE form! As he made the guitar talk and sang in that sexy voice -- whew......had me cryin'!! The band was off the mutha f*%#*&%* hook -- right on time y'all !! Thanks for makin' this a nite I won't forget. C U again soon.........
4EVER listening to U,
Kimberly

from Lynn

It was fabulous. The best show I have been to. For all who read these posts, who are thinking they just might go when the Tour is close to your home....GO you will not be sorry. Three hours of great music. (Of course if you are only interested in his old work, you might be disappointed. I love his old stuff, but I love the new stuff too, which is one of the best things about Prince and his music. It all does not sound the same. It is all good. He is a true artist, and I love his music.) Hearing TRC live is great. The musicians in NPG are all excellent. I was close enough to really see Prince. Row 5 aisle. Thanks Prince & NPG for presale tickets, without that I don't think I would have been that close. My left ear is still trying to recover :-). My only regret is that I didn't buy a ticket for tonight too.

I saw Prince live in DC three times now. MCI Center first time, and George Mason 2nd time. Warner Theatre is by far the best place to be. I really enjoyed the MCI show for different reasons, but this smaller theatre and the best seats makes it so much better. Besides the great show, I could watch his hands and fingers work his guitar. Mesmerizied. For those of you fortunate to have tickets for tonight's show, you are in for a great time. Wish I could be there too. It is a great party.

from heather

the show saturday night was spectacular...the premium membership and tickets all paid for themselves by the end of the soundcheck. it was one of the greatest experiences of my life...thank you NPGMC!!!!

love and peace,
heather

from PluvBwild

this show was the best show I have ever seen within my 20 years of Prince experiences..........u cant get much, cant get ANY better then this.............i cant even think right now..........lol.........he did Beautiful strange at the sound check like beautiful stange has never been done before it was titillating...........and the full songs of JOY IN REPETITION!!!!!! it was surreal!!!! after 20 years FINALLY i got to hear it LIVE........ Thank ya sir :) and the full song of Do me Babbbbby.................those were the 3 main songs that took me away.............there were sooo many more i cant even think!!!!..........Good Lawd..........Prince u really did DC good :)
I LOVEeeee IT!!!!

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