Prince 3x

I was lucky enough to score tickets for the third installment of Prince's "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden last night. Better than the second show, but still not quite as transcendent as the first, the legend played for nearly three hours and was joined onstage by the incredible Sharon Jones (plus some Dap Kings) and jazz musician Maceo Parker.

Though he did play deep-cut classics like "Controversy," "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "The Beautiful Ones" over the course of his run, it still boggles my mind as to why he played "1999" at all three dates, but never got into "When Doves Cry" nor "I Would Die 4 U."

Other observations about last night's show: at one point, Prince brought Leighton Meester up onstage—a cushioned chaise seat already waiting for her—then proceeded to serenade the Gossip Girl with the help of Maceo Parker.  Also, the ballerina who appeared during the first two shows was seemingly replaced by some amateurish "twins" who looked like they choreographed their own dances at a sugar-buzzed sleepover party. I was genuinely concerned for them when they circled the stage in Heelys.

Despite this minor nitpicking, it was still a great honor to be in attendance. The show was inspirational, uplifting, awing. I've now seen Prince as many times as I've seen Judas Priest—and it feels just right.

For all you Paisley Park enthusiasts, here are the setlists for his December 18, December 29 and January 18 shows. And as a bonus, an extended live version of "I Would Die 4 U" from 1985. 



Double Bonus: The Twilight Singers' take on "When Doves Cry," featuring Appolonia.

Two Important Addendums

Shortly after compiling my final year-end lists, it came to my attention that there were some glaring omissions. Nowhere did I mention what might be the record I actually played the most last year—Iggy & The Stooges' Live at Richards, Atlanta, GA - October 1973.

Part of 2010's Legacy reissue of Raw Power, the live CD captures Iggy Pop & co. at their nihilistic best, taunting and titillating the audience through renditions of "Head On," "Open Up and Bleed," and "I Need Somebody." For anyone that couldn't be there the first time around, this is the next best thing. Seriously, go get it.

The other thing that I hadn't counted on during the winding day of 2010 was being blessed enough to see Prince play twice at Madison Square Garden. A master of R&B, funk, pop and rock—not to mention being a phenomenal guitar player—Prince put on an incredible show on a center-in-the-round stage shaped like the famous glyph he once adopted as his name. Kicking off the first performance with "Baby I'm a Star" and continuing on with classics like "The Beautiful Ones," "Let's Go Grazy/Delirious," plus an intense version of "Nothing Compares 2 U," Prince put on an energetic performance that should be the standard for all live shows.

But I really lost my shit when special guest Sheila E. came up through a platform in the center of the stage—with her standing drum kit in tow—to plow through '80s club hit, "Glamorous Life." Immediately after, she attacked her instrument for the hottest solo I've ever seen by a woman in a weave and an embroidered bustier.  Next, Prince tore through "1999," "Purple Rain" and "Kiss," but no "When Doves Cry."

It was during the encore that the most surreal thing happened: The diminutive wonder called up all the famous black people in the crowd (these included Sheri Shepherd, Spike Lee, Sinbad, Naomi Campbell, John Leguizamo, Alicia Keys, Dr. Cornell West and Whoopi Goldberg) for the last song of the night, "A Love Bazaar," again featuring original vocalist Sheila E. Incredible.

When I went back to the Garden for my second dose in 11 days, I certainly expected a different set list, which I got, but I was also hoping for a second helping of Sheila. No dice. Instead, we were treated to a piano slow-jam version of "I Wanna Be Your Lover," plus a stripped "Little Red Corvette," "Cream," and "Raspberry Beret." For the encore, he closed out the show with "Jungle Love" with guest screams by one Cyndi Lauper (which, oddly, brought me back to an issue of MAD magazine I owned when I was 9).

There's one more show at the Garden in a few weeks, and if I'm lucky enough to score tickets, you know I'll be there. Wearing sequins.

See some of my iPhone pics of the show here.

Dig If U Will The Picture...

Every time I pass by this Bebe ad on a bus shelter at 23rd St., "When Doves Cry" pops into my head.

Fashion is such a fickle bitch...