29 Apr PRINCE & 3rdEyeGirl Double-Down In Las Vegas! Night 1 Set Lists & Review!

PRINCE & 3rdEyeGirl brought the Live Out Loud Tour to The Joint In Las Vegas and the Strip didn’t know what it was in for.

The Joint in Las Vegas was the largest venue that was being played on 3rdEyeGirl’s “Live Out Loud” tour, holding roughly about 4,000 people.

There were fans from all over the United States at the shows including Holland, Australia, Japan, and Spain, lining up early and conversing with other fans around the world.

3rdEyeGirl with PRINCE took the stage at the first show on Friday around 8:15 or so.  They kicked it off with the “Let’s go Crazy”  (reloaded version) that includes “Frankenstein” in it.  PRINCE came out with energy as high as fro and brought in Donna Grantis for blistering solo’s.  If this is the show I am in for, I thought, I’m going to be crazy happy.

(For the full review, click on the continue reading button.)

PRINCE then brings Ida Nielsen to the front as Donna joins them for a jam ala 80’s metal style where they are just rocking out, an art that is somewhat lost today and not done as much.  They then go into “Let’s Work” with Hannah Welton going off on drums, all while smiling away.  With it being played by only 3 band members, it obviously takes on a different feel than the version he would play with his other band, the NPG.  PRINCE is just rocking out, flirting with the mic stand and the crowd, which he has in the palm of his hand.

He then goes into a full version of “U Got The Look” that highlights Donna Grantis again.  Straight up, Donna is a phenomenal guitar player.  Her fingering and emotion is solid.  There were times where she was so wrapped in her playing and I would see the  guitar wiring get caught under her heel, but she would know where to step and how to move that it was never an issue.  Eddie Van Halen plays in tennis shoes and I would see him get his leg tied up in the wires.  I was blown away by her command and her playing.

PRINCE asked the crowd “Do you mind if I play my guitar?  We are the house band for your party tonight.” before going into “Endorphinemachine” from “The Gold Experience” and I didn’t notice at first that he changes the first line to “Frontin’ more back than Puru got keys” because the band was on point.  During the 3rd verse, he states “I like my rock and roll funky, how about you?” with a roar from the crowd.

3rdEyeGirl then go into a new song entitled “Screwdriver” with the lyric video playing behind him with his vocals. Now, to me, his reaction to the lyrics coming up with his vocals is supposed to be how others got caught lip syncing like Ashlee Simpson famously did on Saturday Night Live.  It was like a “Uh Oh, they caught me” reaction. He asks if he can lip sync since everyone else is doing it.  Since PRINCE  obviously doesn’t lip sync  he wasn’t having it as he went into the second verse.  The song rocks live.  This is coming from someone who likes the new material.  A lot.  I never get caught up in the nostalgia of comparing songs from years ago.  I look at this as a continuation of a journey rather than putting it against another song.  It is quite catchy.  During the song, PRINCE is playing his guitar so hard, a string breaks on it.  That doesn’t stop him.

He goes into “She’s Always In My Hair” and I look around, and everyone knows it and it has quickly became a highlight of the show.  It is just amazing and Ida is killing it on bass.  PRINCE has his guitar switched but returns to the mic to talk about him being a gigolo all his life, she would still be trying to be his wife while asking everyone to clap on the 2 n 4, then saying the girl is “Always in his curly hair.” Ida is keeping that bass groove going and PRINCE proclaimed “I can smell that. Wooh!”

PRINCE then goes over to the keyboards/piano shortly with the girls jamming slowly. They then went into Liathach, a cover instrumental.  They then went into a slow downed version of the “Sign O’ The Times” classic “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” and both songs were just back to back jamming.  PRINCE proclaimed “I love this band” before going into something else he loves….his “Guitar.”  The crowd’s energy on the song was high as PRINCE and Donna both jammed on it.  They then went into Donna’s “Plectrum Electrum” with each band member soloing. 

3rdEyeGirl then go into the latest song “FIXURLIFE” up which is still not for release but it seems like the crowd in front sure knows it quite well.  PRINCE put his guitar down for the second verse, walked around the stage, and then picked it back up.  Then came “I Like It There” with PRINCE in the middle throwing out some sexual teasing like only he can and just as quickly leading people into a “I I I like it there” chant.

Joshua Welton then comes out and places a candle by the side of the stage as PRINCE goes into “When We’re Dancing Close & Slow” with Hannah on the drums playing tenderly.  If you pay attention to her during the show, she is playing hard and furious, all while smiling away. For this, she uses a light touch that compliments his playing.  “When we’re kissing long and hard” is sung and I swear, someone really is going to get pregnant tonight.

Just as tenderly as Hannah was playing before, she brings it back to the hard playing with “Bambi” as Josh comes behind her and plays cowbell.  This live version rocks even harder than it did on “Jimmy Fallon” and PRINCE still does the rock star move, but instead of throwing the guitar, he kicks the guitar stand over, proclaiming “Thank you! Good night!” as he takes his place behind the keys.

He starts the opening chords to “Purple Rain” saying “Donna, show em what time it is” as she starts to play with him before the rest of the band joins.  The lights are low but you can still see PRINCE take off his jacket before the second verse which brings screams from the females…and a few males.  This version of “Purple Rain” seemed longer than the other shows but this crowd was into it more, with the hand waving like in the movie long before they were asked to wave their hand or sing along.

PRINCE then goes into a full version of “Adore” where Stephen Hill once said that PRINCE has to play in concert if a black man is at a show.  Stephen Hill was there for that show and the remaining 3 by the way.  PRINCE changed up the lyrics a bit talking how beautiful she was that “Even Stevie Wonder” could see it.  He then lets it be known over n over again that “He wants her face all over his place” as he then brings back “Purple Rain” for a reprise. “Isn’t everything better when we do it together?” he asks.  On a side note, and not sure I should share this, but the sound guy proposed to his girlfriend of 6 years before the show.  Between sets, he told me that “Adore” was very special to him that night.  Congrats to you both!

The band leaves the stage but comes back shortly after with PRINCE behind the boards again playing “Sign O’ The Times” with Joshua pulling people on stage.  PRINCE then goes into “When Doves Cry”, first verse and second verse for this one before kicking on the sample to “Nasty Girl” with everyone on stage proclaiming “Ain’t nothing like a purple party and a purple party don’t stop.”

A sample of “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” is played before going into “A Love Bizzare” with the dancers on stage and the crowd grooving.  A snippet of “17 Days” is played before a long version of “Housequake” with Hannah getting the spotlight for a solo. That transitions into “Pop Life” and then a long version of “I Would Die 4 U” with people leaving the stage.

PRINCE then went into a full version of “Alphabet St.” changing the lyrics to “I’ll drive her to Las Vegas” having us chant “Oh we oh, Oh oh” and just like that, we were left hot and sweaty talking amongst ourselves, while preparing for show 2.

Set List Show 1

Lets Go Crazy (w/Frankenstein)
Lets Work
U Got The Look
Endorphinemachine
Screwdriver
Shes Always In My Hair
Liathach
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Guitar
Plectrum Electrum
FIXURLIFEUP
I Like It There
When We”re Dancing Close & Slow
Bambi
Purple Rain
Adore
Purple rain reprise

“Sampler Set” with band/Encore

Sign O’ The Times
When Doves Cry
Nasty Girl
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World snippet
A Love Bizzare
17 days snippet
HouseQuake
Pop Life
I Would Die 4 U
Alphabet St.

Before show 2, the people that were in the pit and had wristbands for both shows held back as the others who didn’t have the wristbands had to clear out.  But then, people who did have both wristbands were asked to leave, causing a little bit of confusion.  There were different guards for the venue telling some to exit and then telling others to stay in the corner of the bar.  This was on the venue more than 3rdEyeGirl’s people.

After the confusion, we took our place back in the pit area, only to be told that it would be different wristbands, which 3rdEyeGirl’s people were not told before.  So the confusion of trying to get the hard core fans a spot in the front that were there early was shot and they had to go through the drama all over again.

When I am using the word drama, I’m not using it lightly.  I’m sure Las Vegas was a different animal with The Joint also trying to take care of their VIP clientele. I’m sure the wristband situation on this tour is going to vary from city to city and venue to venue, but if you can, PLEASE chill on following them around and trying to get the “Golden Ticket” and I know that is hard to hear.  They are trying to get the early birds and the main supports of 3rdEyeGirl but it doesn’t help the situation of hanging out in one area where 30 people all have the same objective of getting a wristband. They do want the main supporters there…as well as others who may have never had that viewpoint at a show before.  What they are doing is difficult, and I would not want to be doing it.

Show 2 kicks off around on time.  (If anything was played earlier in the first show, unless there was different things happening, I will not repeat the context.)

PRINCE Is perched on the drum kit as they go into “Let’s Go Crazy” where he proclaims “So we meet again.” He goes into “Endorphinemachine” followed by “Screwdriver” and “She’s Always In My Hair” which seemed shorter than the first show. He takes off his jacket which causes the audience to scream.  Wish I had an audience that would scream when I take off my jacket in the comfort of my own home.  Oh well.  PRINCE then goes to the side of the stage on the speaker and just chills.  Hands reach out to him and PRINCE reaches back…only to play hot hands with them.

PRINCE then gets behind the boards going into “Forever In My Life”  where Ida comes over to him and he puts on her bass and goes to town.  He then takes the crowd to church implying that perhaps it is needed and ironic in this city.  For those that may not know, Vegas is somewhat known as Sin City.  That is for the people that have never been here before.  All right then.

3rdEyeGirl goes into “Alphabet St.” and then “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” where PRINCE wants to know if he is qualified.  That is followed by “Guitar” and an even better version of “Plectrum Electrum” that is just rocking!

They go into “Guitar” which is followed by a high energy version of “Plectrum Electrum” and I must point out, for a time, the second show’s crowd had more energy than the first, but they could not contain it.  Not sure what happened.  The second show was also more smokey than the first.

“We are 3rdEyeGirl and my name is Prince” he proclaims as he goes behind the board and wonders what he should play.  He mentions “Diamonds & Pearls”, “Delirious” and “Cream” before going into “How Come U Don’t Call Anymore” complete with those Princely screams. While performing the song, PRINCE says “I’m gonna get my own self pregnant!” What? Ha! He says “You know my number girl, its 1-800-Good-Time!”

He asks if he can get one more before going into “Do Me, Baby” from his Controversy album. That is followed by “Purple Rain” where during the song where he states “I don’t know what is going on outside but there is a lot of love here tonight.  I’m not sure what is going on in your life, but sing for me.  Everything is better when we do it together.” Amen.

3rdEyeGirl then go into the sampler set complete with the band as “Sign O The Times” is played then “When Doves Cry” as dancers make their way onto the stage as the “Nasty Girl” snippet is played before going into “A Love Bizzare”. Afterwards, a long sample of “Shockadelica” is played. That is followed by a shorter version of “Pop Life” before going into “Housequake” where each band member solo’d.  It would have been nice if the dancers on stage would have cleared the middle for Hannah’s solo so for those in the balcony, they could see it.

For the encore, PRINCE comes back out in a green outfit wearing something close to a hoody on stage.  He says “You all thought I split and went to another club or something, didn’t you?”

He closes the show with high energy versions of “Let’s Work” and “U Got The Look”.  There were different elements in both shows so it was hard to compare which one was better although, as I said before, for a little bit of time, the 2nd show had more energy, but it waned.  The first show was longer.

On a side note, a musician friend of mine who usually chills by the soundboard was by the front for the second show.  He was critical of Hannah Welton when he heard that she was in the band.  Even somewhat about Donna Grantis.  This is not an isolated incident in the music industry to try to belittle female musicians.  I looked over at him several times during the show. He usually sits there just chilled back, taking things in.  Not this time.

There he was bobbing his head, which for him is like full on rocking out. I talked with him after the show and he was left impressed by Donna and Hannah.  Where he was critical before, he made up for, being very complimentary. I don’t need to mention who this person is.  He is a friend and hopefully he knows now that is not about the sex of the musician but the talent behind the person.

Set list show 2

Lets Go Crazy (w/Frankenstein)
Endorphinemachine
Screwdriver
Shes Always In My Hair
Forever In My Life
Alphabet St.
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Guitar
Plectrum Electrum
FIXURLIFEUP
How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore
Do Me Baby
Purple Rain

“Sampler Set”

Sign O’ The Times
When Doves Cry
Nasty girl
A Love Bizzare
Shockadelica snippet
Pop life
Housequake

Encore

Lets Work
U Got The Look

Expect a review for night 2 later.-DocFB

Diagnosis:  1-800-Good Time

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