Thanks for the great review!!
Too bad I couldn't be there... Would have probably cried my eyes out 
Nathalie
From: Paul Moedt
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 8:18 AM
Subject: WERCHTER (was: Re: [Prince-4ever] The WINs & FAILs of Prince's 20Ten [Vibe.com])
Hi Jill (and others)
I actually didn't.... I rejoined Prince-4ever after the show.
So here goes nothing :-)
(I'm no good at setlists.... But if you google for it you will probably find a correct one.)
My daughter (Wendy Lisa, in case you don't remember that's what she is named) and me had booked a hotel room in Mechelen, which was a 30 minute drive form the venue.
It was a hot day, with clouds overhead, but still 37 degrees Celcius.
At this point the sun was right behind the stage peeping through the clouds. Sticky like glue :))
Jamie Lidell was ok, great at some songs, boring (when he used the loop-machine) in others, too loud (on the bass and bassdrum) in some... But it was ok.
He kept to the timeschedule (18.00 - 19.00).
After clearing away the equipment from Lidell it took about 45 minutes for Mint Condition to start.
First set with some heavy rock songs, and the bass was too much... It sounded more like the Foo Fighters then something from Funky Town.
After the first songs people seemed to want it to be over; the leadsinger wanted us to chant along, but was not very convincing.
Then they changed to do some really funky stuff which was cool... It changed the atmosphere, because now we we really getting some where.
Except for the bassplayer. No matter the guys in the booth tried to do, he kept turning up the volume. Since my daughter had allready fainted once during a Prince show (can't remember which one, but it was the one where Prince and the bassplayer were funking at the end of the show... It was in Utrecht, maybe another European knows) we were looking at each other like... "We don't want this again!!"
Then came the last Mint Condition song with one of those endless endings... We were hoping Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets would turn up and pull them of stage.
Then came the last Mint Condition song with one of those endless endings... We were hoping Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets would turn up and pull them of stage.
At least they didn't play a full hour. A few ladies standing next to me were close to packing it in, also because of the bass.
I tried to (re-)assure them that Larry Graham was a real bass-player and real funky.
Heavy rains were treathening overhead, but according to the program it was at least 30 to 45 minutes before Graham Central Station would go on stage...
But they must have been watching the weatherradar because after only 5-10 minutes Larry and band came marching in. (Like the way Prince did with the opening of the Sign O' The Times-concert). They climbed the stage and the drums started a groove and one by one all the mucisians feel in... I'm pretty sure this was an unrehearsed sort of sound check.... they needed the show on the road.... After the groove (with a perfectly nice bass, after Lidell and Mint Condition), Larry guided the band through various songs just to keep us up and funky, because the sluices of heaven opened. The rain
started to subside a little and Bisquet sang "I can't stand the rain"... Alas, the sluices opened up again. Larry did a solo with the bass (and the drums) with all the funky showmanship and even ventured out in the crowd...
He got wet too :-)
After that he asked which songs he should play from the Sly and The Family Stone era.... "Higher ?? Maybe later." :-)
Heavy rains were treathening overhead, but according to the program it was at least 30 to 45 minutes before Graham Central Station would go on stage...
But they must have been watching the weatherradar because after only 5-10 minutes Larry and band came marching in. (Like the way Prince did with the opening of the Sign O' The Times-concert)
started to subside a little and Bisquet sang "I can't stand the rain"... Alas, the sluices opened up again. Larry did a solo with the bass (and the drums) with all the funky showmanship and even ventured out in the crowd...
He got wet too :-)
After that he asked which songs he should play from the Sly and The Family Stone era.... "Higher ?? Maybe later." :-)
Oh.... and the sound of the bass was noce, clean and pumping. The lady standing next to me agreed that this was much better.
After Larry gave an encore we settled down for a long wait.... Prince was due at 22.15 and it was just 21.30 / 21.45.
Well, I didnt go for drinks or bathroom, because I didn't want to lose my spot (front in the second circle - the gold circle was too expensive for us).
And no more then 10 minutes later Prince's band appeared and started playing an instrumental (more sound- and equipmentcheck??)
After Larry gave an encore we settled down for a long wait.... Prince was due at 22.15 and it was just 21.30 / 21.45.
Well, I didnt go for drinks or bathroom, because I didn't want to lose my spot (front in the second circle - the gold circle was too expensive for us).
And no more then 10 minutes later Prince's band appeared and started playing an instrumental (more sound- and equipmentcheck?
Venus De Milo, but I didn't know that at the time.
Prince appeared, in an outfit with the 2010 picture on it. He kept that one all night, no wardrobe changes.
Let's Go Crazy / Delirious
1999
Little Red Corvette ,the verses were slow, the chorus was as we liked it...
Controversy
Take Me With You
Guitar
Hot Summer (not really the song, just him chanting Hot Summer and playing the guitar)
Hot Summer (not really the song, just him chanting Hot Summer and playing the guitar)
Some where after this the sluices opened again.... People were trying to take what cover they could... Not me, I was wet anyway, but not cold.
I 'm guess Prince changed the setlist and started
PUPRLE RAIN
By this time all everybody's efforts of keeping dry were unsuccesfull.
I don't really recall the order of songs after this.
Angel (a Sara Mclachlan cover by Shelby) Note: the other two background singers were fantastic too, all through the concert.
Nothing Compares 2 U, with Shelby singing the counterpart.
Kiss (with the guitar riff from a sampler)
Mountains
A Michael Jackson song (Shake Your Body??)
Everyday People and Larry joined the band, though at first we couldn't see him. I never got to see the drummer either, they were standing in the back of the stage and the Organ was blocking the view.
Higher (with Larry on bass too) (and the front man of Mint Condition trying to sing along, but he never got a chance and when he was introduced by Prince it was apparent, that we were not too happy with him). But Prince, Larry and the girls were really bringing it home... Oh, and that guy that plays harmonica did great in making it sound if there was a full set of hornz on the stage.
I like Funky Music
Musicology
Musicology
Forever
Partyman
Old Skool Company
Dance / Disco Heat (I didn't particular like that one)
Everybody Loves me (again not the song, just "I Love Everybody Everybody Loves Me")
Old Skool Company
Dance / Disco Heat (I didn't particular like that one)
Everybody Loves me (again not the song, just "I Love Everybody Everybody Loves Me")
Roller Coaster (not the song actually, but the riff and then he start slow (with only the kickdrum along) and then go faster and faster... He must have done that at least 20 times.
(A small piece of) Peach
I may have missed some songs
The show ended at 23.45, so it was a LONGGGG concert: 4 encores!!!
(A small piece of) Peach
I may have missed some songs
The show ended at 23.45, so it was a LONGGGG concert: 4 encores!!!
It ended with GOD, I think...
All in all a great concert.... and I'll never forget this close to religious experience singing Purple Rain in the rain :-)
Simon Mooncalf
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