I'd seen prince two times before, both with a full band at larger venues, One in my top 10 gigs of all time. So, I went in a bit unsure as to how I'd deal with just the man himself and a Piano. My mind was open, my partner in crime....massively excited, the makings of a good night you'd hope.
I've never been to The Arts Centre in Melbourne always thinking of it as this weird structure with an over-ellaborate phone antenna type thing dumped on top of it. But on 15th/16th Feb it became a shrine to all things Purple. Weirdly, the first thing I noticed when I got into the venue was how much it smelt like my Nan and Grandad's house, something I hadn't smelt for literally 20 odd years. A bad omen you might think? Wrong, If anything it only added to the experience for all the right reasons.
Details of the gig were released under a week before it was due to actually take place, well done Prince. Who likes a 6-12 month wait to see massive gig. I umm’ed and arr'ed about getting a ticket, eventually deciding upon getting one of what would seemingly be the last tickets a couple of days before. I was on the last row in the balcony, right at the very back, slap bang in the middle, row J seat 20. There you go I remember my seat, that's how great this gig was.
The stage setting was simple; a grand Piano centre stage surrounded by Candelabras, and Purple, lots of Purple. Prince's entrance was minimal yet oh so prince, a day glow arrow projected onto the stage floor pointing to his unmistakeable silhouette (cane in hand) behind a solid Purple backdrop. The door in front raised for him to emerge to a hugely appreciative crowd.
Nobody really knew what his set would consist or what Prince’s mood would be like. Reports from the night before had led us to believe it might be a bit of sombre affair following the news of the death of his beloved Vanity. So there was an air of anticipation, apprehension and excitement in the cavernous theatre. Whilst there was some massively touching moments throughout the set and a tribute to the late Vanity, this definitely had more of a celebration type feel, a celebration of life and of course, all things Prince.
Lets start with the voice; something like you've never heard. Soulful, funky, delicate, powerful, completely unique. With the Piano as his only instrument of choice, aside from a few minimal strings controlled by an iPad atop of the Piano, he played that thing like it was his only instrument ever. And we all know that's not the case.
It was a career spanning set, which had me clapping, seat dancing, stand up dancing, gawping...like flies could've got in there, just completely spellbound. My highlights being Kiss and Little Red Corvette. There were tears at points (not from me). But, like me, the whole audience was in the same place throughout…In the palm of prince's hand.
I counted 5 encores, whether that was intentional or not, I don't care it was genius. Encores are a bit like orgasms, you know there's going to be One, Two is good because you didn't really know if a second one is coming. Anything over Two is incredible because you never know when it's going stop. Bands/ artists, please all take a leaf out of Prince’s book, even if it means starting your show half an hour earlier.
I left completely gobsmacked at what I'd seen. Walking out to look up and see the weird phone antenna thing on top of The Arts Centre, bathed in a Purple glow of light. Finally it made sense. Maybe I'm getting old but if all gigs in sit down theatres are like this, I'm down and here's to getting old. Sadly, I don't think that's going to be the case, because let's face it....There's only one Prince.
