Word has gotten around that Prince throws an afterparty after every show. And since these parties are usually VIP & Celeb A-list only, I had no delusions or intentions of even trying to get in to any of them.
Imagine my surprise --- after witnessing my favorite show of the tour (thus far) --- when I found myself INSIDE THE CLUB after the show. I am still not entirely sure how I was able to get in. A friend of a friend of a friend hooked us up...and when my friend said, "Follow me and don't ask any questions," I did. And next thing I knew, I was escorted through a curtain and into to the afterparty.
Several celebs we saw on stage were already milling about. Maksim from DWTS and his partner, Kirstie Alley...Taraji P. Henson...Juan Escovedo...et al. On my way past the bar, someone yelled out my name and I wondered for a split second, "Who the hell knows ME??? I'm no one special." Turns out, it was my Hanaa, whom I met at one of the LA Live shows. I hadn't seen her since 2009 and I was very surprised and flattered that she remembered me. With her was her friend Carmen.
And after introductions were made, we made a beeline for the "stage" to "mark our spots" just in case Prince played. He hadn't played at any of the 6 previous afterparties...and tonight turned out to be LUCKY # 7 for me because he actually "floated" in behind me to step onto the stage and begin a jam set.
SETLIST:***
- Let's Work --- Extended Groove
- Endorphinemachine (instrumental)
- She's Always in My Hair
- The Walk (instrumental)
- Future Soul Song
- Sweet Thing (Marva King on Vocals)
- Brown Skin (Liv Warfield on Vocals)
- Bambi!!!! (instrumental)
- Laydown
- Which Way Is Up
Prince comes back to jam to the track DJ Rashida is playing ---
- OUTSTANDING by the Gap Band
- Stratus --- extended JAM
Dj Rashida plays
- We Want The Funk
and Prince and Liv return to lead us in the chant...
Cody, off to the side starts us on the FREAKS ON THIS SIDE chant....
And Prince ends the evening by bestowing the tambourine he's playing on the hotness to my left.
Highlights best shared via bullet point:
- The stage wasn't really a stage more than it was a 5-6 inch step up platform. It was like watching him play in the corner of a living room. It was about 7-8 people wide, and the room was rather long and narrow. Starting from the far left (stage right) the front row was made up of Taraji Henson, Miko, Me, Hanaa, and 3 other people I didn't know.
- His mic stand was right in front of me and Tamiko and the half circle of pedals for his guitar was just behind a few feet away. The man himself was about 2 feet away from me for most of the performance. (HOLY SHIT!!!)
- Most of the celebs that attend these parties, don't really know his music very well. I think Prince appreciates it when people DO know his songs and he seemed to feed off of us because we knew the lyrics to every song he played --- even when the jam was instrumental, we were singing along. Several times, Prince would smile and turn his mic towards us. We were singing into his mic--- very cool cuz it felt like we were singing for him.
- When Prince did come towards the mic, he'd swing around and come at it sideways...so I had to back off to keep from getting hit in the head with the neck of his guitar --- If he'd have smacked me, I wouldn't have been mad at him. I'd have cherished the black eye and bruises to the right side of my face. Prince "War Wounds"??? LOL
- Several times during the night, I went from staring at his hands on the guitar to looking up at his face...and every time, I found him looking directly at me...and I'd smile and nod...and he'd smile and nod back. It was the best conversation I ever had!!! I felt connected to him...Somebody pinch me, cuz I KNOW I must have been dreaming.
- He was so close to me, I could smell him ——— Incense and Flowers. Mmmmmm.
- Watching his hands on the guitar and keyboards was mesmerizing. I'd swear he was being guided by an unseen force. I don't exaggerate on this. He is TRULY GIFTED..a MUSICAL GENIUS...Does this man EVER hit a wrong note??? EVER???? He's not even looking at the keys...he just puts his hands down and he's always on the right note. Hell, I need to look down at the keys when I'm playing the freaking chopsticks. The instruments are like an extention of his being....again, not exaggerating.
By the time we left, I was floating to the car and drove home on autopilot. I drove in complete silence --- not wanting to mar the experience with any other music...I was letting the events of the past 2 hours sink in...and wondering...WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED???? I can't believe that I just had that amazing experience. I've witnessed his shows from the front row...I've been close to him before...less than 4 feet and at eye level...But this experience beats any other HANDS DOWN. Making eye contact with him...having him smile and nod back at you??? UNREAL.
I have no idea how I'm going to top this night. I don't think I should even try.
GAME OVER.
"This is not music....this is a trip."
***Since cameras & cellphones were strictly forbidden during his performance, I couldn't very well pull out my cell and start jotting down the song titles as he was playing them. Special thanks to Dr. Funkenberry for tweeting the songs from the back of the club. The set list above was compiled from his posts through the course of the night.
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