25 Sep Prince Kicks Off Welcome 2 Chicago Shows…Now…About That Sound…
PRINCE kicked off his “Welcome 2 Chicago” shows with Questlove and George Lopez getting shout outs.
One person who most likely did not want to get a shout out at an NPG show; the person in charge of the house sound.
I got several tweets about the sound at the United Center and this was expressed to me;
“Prince’s management would like to apologize for any discrepancies in the quality of the sound last night.
Personnel changes were made after the concert hence the long delay after the show. (Equipment was set up very late at the House Of Blues Afterjam because of this. Andy Allo took the stage at 3 a.m. and the police were shutting down the venue around 3:30 before Prince & The NPG could perform.) Everyone could tell Prince & The NPG were ready to give 150%, They are feverishly working on Prince’s clone as well to give 150%.
Prince LOVES all his fans in Chicago and will do whatever is necessary to bring the best possible experience.”
Wow. I would not want to be around Prince right now. That totally SUCKS for those in attendance at both shows! I will be surprised if these next 2 shows and afterjams do not kick some major tail.-DocFB
karen
Posted at 10:07h, 17 Octoberto bad my friends werent there
karen
Posted at 10:06h, 17 Octobernext time you comeback prince dont come to the arena or rosoemont it was purplelame concert
karen
Posted at 10:04h, 17 Octoberi hated the show at the allstate arena i lefta after i hour got outside peiple were leaving and very dissappointed
Suzy Six
Posted at 17:38h, 11 OctoberOMGoodness! SO jealous!!!!! Prince, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ come back 2 NY! It’s been almost 2 tears and I need a fix!!!
Jeff
Posted at 14:18h, 27 SeptemberPurple Lame!
So disappointing.
Pat Samdifer
Posted at 06:51h, 26 SeptemberI was at Monday’s show and was a little disappointed. But I forgive a million times Prince is my favorite artist of all time and that will never change! This is the one and only single artist who inspired me to be in music today as a label owner for Underground music in Chicago as well as a promoter. And his standard of a show is the bar I set for my own business since I was a kid putting together Talent show in grade school. However, I understand how a show of the nature without everyone on the same page can go wrong and if he was handling on is own my hat is off to him because that had to be a stressful night. I enjoyed myself and felt blessed to be able to my great artist again on stage looking absolutely fabulous! You Prince if you need a excellent kick ass tour Concert Production Manager I got U!! Just “Take Me With U”!!! LOL
Hidden Track » Prince Mea Culpa: Duets With Jennifer Hudson and Offers Free United Center Tickets To Monday After Show Attendees
Posted at 06:19h, 26 September[…] got off to a rough start for The Purple One whose set at the United Center on Monday was marred by sound issues. Then, at Monday’s aftershow, Prince wound up not playing a note for those who had stood […]
Sounds 4 Da Masses
Posted at 00:49h, 26 SeptemberPrince definitely made up for it 2nite. The show was great and the ppl in attendance for the most part seemed pleased. The show seemed a bit rushed though, he didn’t even change outfits (or guitars) which die-hards know that’s unusual for Prince. I also didn’t notice til close to the end of the show he had the horn section off towards the rear of the arena which I thought was kinda odd. I was pleased that there weren’t alot of covers in the set list which for watever reason Prince has been obsessed with doing the past 10yrs or more. He did this slowed down version of “I Could never take the place O.Y.M. which was cool, I prefer the original but that’s me I know some will prefer the slow version. I was pleasantly surprised he added “Dreamer” in the main show “Mr. Goodnight” & “Forever in My Life” were in the sample set and “Act of God” in the encore. Again that’s only for die -hards who have heard the hits countless of times. Real quick those songs I just named the ppl around kinda just didn’t quite know what they were hearing, I was then reminded why die-hards will rarely hear “insert your fav. here” live also with Prince’s religious beliefs that even further cuts down the catalog(Like Dirty Mind or a rocking version of Temptation). I guess if I had any complaint it would be that the show seemed rushed (as I said Before) and the set list Prince played was kinda what he’s been playing the past few years and again I understand cause most of the ppl around me wanted Purple Rain, Let’s Go Crzy, 1999… I think if he kicks those covers out and plays some of his rarities in place of the covers he might be able to give casual & die-hards what they want. It might also breathe new life into some of those songs. He played “Mr. Goodnight” one women asked me what song it was once I told her she was on her phone looking on itunes for a download. Last thing anyone going to Wed. show if you have sensitive hearing you might wanna pick up a pair of earplugs, I dnt go to many concerts so I don’t know what the norm is for sound but after twenty mins between the music and the audience noise (self included haha) my hearing took a beating.
Modernaire
Posted at 23:42h, 25 SeptemberPrince loves his fans? Really? That’s news to me. … really???
Maybe his fam$ I guess…
Troy lee – where is the evidence for your assertion that the HOB sound “crew” purposely messed up the sound in the venue?
Suddenly, everyone’s a sound expert. How can a regular staff sound personnel, who probably know everything about the sound and amplification at HOB down to how it sounds in the restrooms, mess up the sound just this night? Sure, every act, musician, band does come in with something new but it just seems suspect on Prince’s and his associates part as to why things the way they went.
In fairness though, fams… you have to realize Prince is indie, so he has to handle all the logistics, all the issues that either MORE money that a record company brings to assure things are done professionally and their artist gets properly presented at any venue. Prince is just wearing too many hats or … wigs or whatever.
Hardcores will still flock to the shows regardless of how they are treated, its like… puppy love.
In-joy the shows.
Ella Muhammad
Posted at 22:53h, 25 SeptemberTonights Prince show was really awesome. Much better than last night. He still did an unusually long sound check but it was so worth it.Yesterday the sound check was from 3pm until about 6:30 and he did not want the doors open until he got it right. Tonight he killed it, sound was perfect. Fams are filling their glasses with purple kool aid again and drinking it with pleasure. Prince made up for any mistakes that were made last night. Sound check lasted til 6 pm. But tonight he allowed the doors to be opened at about 5:30 so many people
heard the last of the sound check even though they were not allowed in the auditorium. Again, of course it did not start on time but who cares he made it worth the little wait. Jennifer Hudson sang “Nothing Compares To You” with Prince and she rocked it. He did all the hits, had much energy and our little man was in a great mood. I was inside UC at 3pm both days and I saw how hard he worked. The after set is so funky, Chicago will smell the funk for years. And yes. he is on stage right now.
troy lee
Posted at 20:48h, 25 Septemberwhy are u butt holes blaming prince for?…he is not the freaking sound man…prince is the artist/musician and has a great history of doing excellent shows…i find it interesting that u haters would show much disrespect for an amazing genius like prince who has giving us incredible music for over 30 years for two bad nights due to a sound crew who screwed up prince shows for his support of van jones charity…this is a conspiracy and politics at its best….dam haters
Twinkly1
Posted at 20:23h, 25 SeptemberIt’s really a shame the sound was not at the usual Prince standard. I feel bad for those who attended and can’t go back. Sounds as if Prince commented and then was apologetic throughout and after the concert but the sound man couldn’t get it right. I went to a musical performance couple nights ago and the sound was horrible–nearly killed the show. That artist also gave directions to the sound man during the set, but the sound was mixed improperly the entire night. I mean, if you are the sound guy, that’s what you get paid to do and therefore it should be right. It would appear impossible for Prince (or any other musician) to perform AND handle the sound–not making excuses, it just seems logical.
Sean N DC
Posted at 20:16h, 25 SeptemberI’ll end with this: What would Jehovah do?
Prince, make it right.
Sean N DC
Posted at 20:01h, 25 SeptemberWow…I can’t believe this. Makes me think twice about giving him my money in the future. Waiting until almost 4 am, after paying all that money and not even getting a make up show, that is terrible. Prince did nothing at the HOB but he will still get paid. Wasn’t he talking about love earlier in the night? Where’s the love for the fans? Greedy bastard.
violet aura
Posted at 19:54h, 25 SeptemberPeople need to take responsibility for their own actions.Get organized and handle things professionally.And most of all treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.You want love4oneanother – lead by example!As an audio engineer myself I can only imagine what sort of sound issues that soundman had to try to deal with.Why don’t you try and keep sound in check with 20 people onstage with half that amount running round onstage!!!There is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist but sometimes you just have to “let it go” and just do the best you can!
Traveled too far for what I saw last night
Posted at 14:51h, 25 SeptemberPrince needs to STOP blaming others, he deserved the INCREDIBLE amount of booing and “REFUND” chants he got last night as he was placing the blame on EVERYONE it himself! He acted like a snotty kid and the ENTIRE crowd was LIVID!
I flew in from the other side of the country to see these shows and I feel the entertainment I paid $88 for was the near riot that started at the House Of Blues.
You’re seriously an uncaring, rude, jerk Prince.
Make up for it tonight, I DARE ya!
brownstien
Posted at 14:03h, 25 SeptemberSaw a guy who was almost in tears by the box office at the end of the night. He was explaining he’d flown all the way from Amsterdam for this farce. Absolute THIEVERY on the part of Prince. YOU were the one who went on stage late at UC and HOB. I’ve noticed how Prince never takes responsibility for anything.
cathye o
Posted at 13:36h, 25 Septemberthis is not prince’s fault. didn’t someone is his camp tell the fans at both venue’s there is a sound problem & everthing is rolling behind. prince always give his best. i think regarding the house of blues, prince should have played not andy. since fans didn’t see prince at the house they should had or have a make up date on thursday with admittance with monday’s ticket. i heard from fans on sunday many didn’t like andy. i hope at the center the sound problem was mentioned. i don’t undersstand if you have rehersal, why sound didn’t work later. the encores shouldn’t be delayed for almost an hour. but prince had a couple long delays between encores in los angeles. i hope he’s fine. AGAIN IT’S NOT PRINCE’S FAULT. thanks, doc
KLM
Posted at 12:17h, 25 SeptemberAfter starting an hour & 20 minutes late at the United Center last night. Then the super long delay between encore’s. Then PAYING MONEY to see Prince at HOB last night…waiting until 4:00 & did not get one song. I’ve been a long-time fan (since the late 70’s) & am now super cranky about last night’s whole ordeal.
Gee
Posted at 10:52h, 25 SeptemberHE DIDN’T EVEN PLAY ONE SONG AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES. People (like me) were waiting for 5 hours for at least one song. It was shameful. Lost a fan…
Scott
Posted at 09:54h, 25 SeptemberPrince, remember what it was like when you had Cubby?
When you had Allen?
When you had Steve?
When you had real management and real sound people?
When you had someone who would be honest with you?
Time to be honest with yourself. You have no one to blame but yourself.
Instead of competence being your measure in hiring, you have chosen sycophants.
I have never seen someone work so hard, to time after time, shoot themselves in the foot.
Musgrave
Posted at 09:32h, 25 SeptemberAfter all the reviews from friends who were at last night’s show… he should Bill this as the…..”Welcome 2 Chicago Show” of the NPG. — * With Special Guest Prince. ( From how little he Plays Piano, Guitar and Sings these days)
PS> Also STOP THE SAMPLER SET Already – Please Play Real Instruments! —
Good Gawd!
Musgrave – The Disappointed
customguitar
Posted at 08:30h, 25 SeptemberOh..the same as Cologne/Germany….i can not understand, that this can happen!
After the cologne concert i needed half a year to be able to listen to P´s music again….i am through with it…sorry
Alan
Posted at 08:18h, 25 SeptemberEveryone needs to calm down and chill. Its wasnt his greatest show, but i’m sure(the bugs will be fixed) he will defintely deliver at the next one.
Purple Bane
Posted at 08:02h, 25 SeptemberFrom the bad sound to the lame show to the late-night non-performance at House Of Blues, Prince’s first night in Chicago showed an utter contempt for his audience. Let’s return the favor. Prince is supposedly in town to support the Rebuild The Dream charity. Please DO NOT DONATE to this cause. If Prince thinks his behavior last night was acceptable, then his judgment is clearly suspect about Rebuild The Dream, as well. Welcome2Chicago? Sorry, Prince, but U R no longer welcome here.