Winnipeg on June 6 (7 reports)

from Carrie Stefanik

Thanx 4 such a great concert!!! I am in awe of the world's greatest musician alive today. I AM IN BLISS!!

I was one of the few who joined the fan club & had a second row seat. To watch Prince perform so close up & those facial expression!! They just melt me. I'm still on a high from the concert. Man R U good!!!! And talk about playing those guitars, I was entranced & ecstatic. And your voice was in top form. I was equally thrilled that Prince didn't play his commercial hits. It's the un-commercial muzic that funks and grooves the depths of my soul. The influences of Jazz & blues are more evident than ever as I could hear Johnny McLaughlin & Santana in your current muzic. In your older stuff @ times I could hear the influence of the late & great Myles Davis. This is the muzic from Prince that I love. I totally agree with Prince's feeling of commercial radio. It sucks!! I don't listen to commercial radio or watch the news. I rarely read the paper. The day the concert was announced 10 friends called to let me know that Prince was coming here with the first call @ 6 am. Even my 80 year old parents called!! I didn't know what station sponsored the concert till the day of the concert.

Thank U so much. I know I will B smiling 4 along time to come.

On a final note U asked the fan club what was the last group they saw in the Walker. 4 me it was Herbie Hancock & Wayne Shorter.. they were brilliant!!!

Again thank you & keep on funkin. Please come back soon!! U R so inspiring!!! U R Brilliant!!U R a musical genius!!!!!!

from Maj

As the music club members entered the theatre the NPG was warming up to Mellow. My wife noticed Prince in the rows behind us, so I casually waved at him as I sat down and he waved back. He commented on the nice weather and how the people at the airport weren't very nice to him. He later came up from off his seat to hit the stage, he dropped a couple of jokes and told us about the last show in Regina and a prank he played on John. He started to hammer some details out with Eric Leeds who was performing in the place of Maceo. After the soundcheck he stood and chatted with a couple of us. He didn't stay for very long, because we didn't seem to have much to say. Even though I think we all wanted to say something. I can't speak for everyone else, but for me it was just the fact that I was in awe because a musical legend was reaching out to his fams on such an intimate level.

This was my first time seeing Prince live and the show was more than I expected. Prince had the funk face on and everyone in the place on their feet the whole night. We are still hungover from the overdose of funk we received. Prince was incredible, flexing his skills and his showmanship. The NPG was hot. Rhonda is talented and even more beautiful in person. Eric Leeds was amazing. Through all the of the fun, the message of unity that he sent was very important and not lost. It was a show I'm glad that I didn't miss.

Thank you Prince and the NPG for a wonderful show. I'll be sure to tell all my friends. Please come back soon.

I heard Prince held a jam session at the afterparty, but I can't comment on it because I wasn't there. My wife and I had to get home to our son. =)

from Gerry

"I can't disgiuse, the pounding of my heart, it beats so strong" Only you could give me the words to describe the feeling I had last night realising my 20 year dream to see you perform live in Winnipeg was coming true. And I know the 1600 other fans felt the exact same way. I have never been to a concert where adults were giving each other high fives and hugs afterwards. It was truly an inspiring evening. Telling us that you hoped we brought our scuba gear beacuse we were going to get deep - and then showing us the Way.

THANK YOU. For showing us that true music is still alive. For showing us how a true artist performs. For sharing with us that God lives in each one of us.

Please come back...

Gerry Fran
Winnipeg, Canada

from

i have always wanted to see prince. when he announced a winnipeg arena date last year, i was elated until he cancelled the show less than a week later.

once i heard he was really coming, i practically let out a "gett off" holla. as the june 6 approached, i managed to contain my excitement. but as i left for the walker, butterflies flew twisters in my stomach as i realized i was going...to see...prince!

what a night. i screamed, i danced, i sang and i laughed at a guy one aisle over who was obviously possessed by the funk but had a little trouble groovin' on the one...heh, heh.

what really put the bottom in my bass was the jamming that the npg got busy with at numerous points during the evening. the inclusion of the ride into the setlist was phenomenal - nothing could top hearing this joint live. it was a really good idea to concentrate on the trc material...if ever there was an album that had to be heard live, it's trc.

blackwell, nato, boyer, smith, ERIC LEEDS [whoo!] and prince get crazy kudos for a show that will most certainly never be matched in this prairie hamlet.

thanx and respect to prince for gracing us with his presence. don't wait long to come back.

peace,
jello

from Sheila

I had no one to accompany me to the concert so it really was One Night Alone, in my eyes...but who says you can't have fun at a concert on your own?! Especially when it's a Prince and the NPG concert.

At the soundcheck it didn't look like I was having 'fun' to Prince. He thought I was bored or tired so he asked me if I wanted coffee. I said, 'no' and kicked myself afterwards. I said no to coffee from Prince! Can't believe I did that. By the way, I wasn't bored or tired. I was disappointed that my boyfriend couldn't be there to enjoy the moment with me. The soundcheck was interesting to watch nonetheless. It's obvious that Prince is indeed a perfectionist at what he does. I only wish he stuck around a little longer after the soundcheck to chat with the club members more, although some of us were a little too awestruck and not as responsive as we could have been, not to mention, we didn't want to distract him from his work at hand.

The concert was truly unbelievable! The music, the singing and dancing. It was a high energy performance. Prince and the NPG sounded better than ever. I have to admit, I'm not too familiar with his more recent work but since hearing some of those songs at his concert, I will definitely look into The Rainbow Children.

Thank you Prince for visiting us in Winnipeg. It was a thrill to watch you and the band in concert as well as at the after party jam. We could have funked all night ;)

I'd also like to thank John Blackwell (drummer for the NPG) for keeping me company, on and off, throughout the concert experience. You're a wonderful person and the funkiest drummer of them all!

xoxoxoxoxox
Sheila

from Rita

After ur amazing Winnipeg concert, I am a “BORN AGAIN” FAN! I kinda lost track of ur music since emancipation, probably due 2 the fact that my 2 preteens are always filling our house with their bubble gum pop sound. But after hearing u perform live with ur truly inspiring and funky sound, I have taken over the CD player and now my house is once again filled with the sound of REAL music!

I visited Minneapolis a few years ago and hung out at the First Avenue club. I thought that was as close as I was ever going to get 2 u in my life. I wished and prayed that u would grace us with your presence here in Winnipeg and now my dream has come true! It wuz AWESOME! I had great seats (row 9 section C) and I brought binoculars so that I could get a good close up. WOW! Ur voice, ur music, ur messages, the stage set up…it wuz all brilliant! Even though the tickets were pricy and I’ve spent all of my fun money 4 the next few months, it was definitely worth it! My only regret is not being able 2 attend the after party, but my coach became a pumpkin at midnight and it was back 2 my “mommy duties” after the concert. Surprisingly, my kids wanted 2 hear all about it. My next plan is 2 update my CD collection and become a member of the NPG Music Club!

Maybe if I wish and pray some more, u will return one day and I’ll have front row seats and a chance 2 actually meet u face 2 face! I truly believe that dreams can come true! Thank u Prince 4 giving me a very memorable One Night Alone…

Rita

from Jeff N

I've been waiting 2 see Prince in concert for many years and he finally came 2 Winnipeg. I have everything thing that he has ever put out. I'm not a NPG member, but yesterday I would have given anything to have been one. I never thought that Prince would have shown up in the little town of Winnipeg. So why bother right? Well don't be as naive as I was and become a member fast! As soon as I finish this review I'm signing up!! Being able to sit in the front, before anyone else even gets there and listen to the sound check and interact with the band at the same time! Dang, that would of been FINE!

The concert was simply amazing! I never sat down, I was grooving all night and believe me, I'm not good at it, but I didn't care. I purchased Rainbow Children about 2 months ago and was blown away by how different it was compared 2 the older Prince. The older Prince got me hooked and the newer stuff will make me stay 4ever. (Not that I was going anywhere.) I always thought that Prince was ahead of his time, and he proved it yesterday. Winnipeg got funky last night and can't wait to get funky again. Prince if you are reading this, thank you SO much for blessing us with your presents! You are truly a GREAT artist and without a doubt the most kick ass guitar player in music today.

Peace and love
Jeff N

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