In attesa delle prossime date del suo Hit and Run USA Tour, Prince si concede qualche giorno di riposo sperando che non diventino settimane o mesi. Lo scorso weekend i primi show, che ad oggi rimangono i soli annunciati. Quattro concerti al The Louisville Palace per un totale di 11,000 spettatori. Sul palco con lui le 3rdEyeGirl, Ida Nielsen, Donna Grantis e Hannah Welton-Ford che suonava nella sua città natale, la brava Liv Warfield e Joshua Welton sempre più presente anche nella musica di Prince. La produzione di The X’s Face, ultimo singolo condiviso in rete e sentito anche dal vivo in occasione dei concerti, sono sue.

SetList: princevault.com

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Come spesso capita vi proponiamo alcuni articoli trovati in rete. Questi due raccontano con estrema semplicità, se l’ho capito io può farlo chiunque, i migliori momenti delle due serate. A seguire alcune immagini rigorosamente “rubate” dai principali siti e pagine social dedicati a Prince.

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Prince Gets ‘Too Funky’ at Floor-Shaking Hit and Run Tour Opener

The 5 best moments from the Purple One’s seismic Louisville show
By Alanna Nash March 16, 2015

Prince “You all know I’m gonna get down,” Prince said at the first of four Louisville shows kicking off his Hit and Run USA tour. And indeed he did.

The splits are gone and the high, spiky boots replaced with metallic wedges that flash red in the heels. And his lascivious moments are toned way down, limited to three derriere wiggles and, for a second, what looked to be a simulated wanking. But at the first of four Louisville shows kicking off his Hit and Run USA tour, Prince, 56, proved that neither age nor reported hip problems have dulled the seismic live performances that have helped define his decade-spanning career.

The musician who is announcing concert dates only days before the shows, chose Louisville in tribute to Hannah Welton, the blonde drummer in his band 3rdEyeGirl. Just before the Purple One took the stage, Welton, a hometown girl, promised the sold-out audience “the best show you’ve ever seen.” Most of the nearly 3,000 seemed to be expecting nothing less.

“Kentucky, let me tell you how this is gonna go,” Prince, conservatively dressed in all black, said upon taking the stage. “Have you ever heard nine hits in a row?”

It wasn’t precisely true: He sneaked the irresistible “Funknroll” in with such bonafides as “Let’s Go Crazy,” “U Got the Look,” “Controversy” and “1999.” But no one cared that the Art Official Age highlight wasn’t truly a hit. After a prolonged greeting that made the Palace Theatre’s floor shake, Prince picked up his black, leopard-strapped Vox guitar and paced the stage, playing with such ease and abandon that the instrument seemed almost an appendage. “Leave the lights off,” he instructed the crew. “This is too funky.” Here are the night’s five best moments:

1. The Reinvention of “Little Red Corvette”
Originally a glib pop song, “Little Red Corvette” became a sultry prelude to seduction, slowed down with only one thing in mind. Prince opened with a growl, jumped to a silky, Michael Jackson-tinged falsetto, screamed before launching into a bump-and-grind and followed it all with an achingly emotive guitar solo. “Can’t nobody do it like Prince do,” he crowed.

2. The Persuasive Dancing
“You all know I’m gonna get down,” Prince said halfway through “Kiss,” one of the most electric songs of the evening. That he did, spinning and clapping, shaking his hips and dropping to one knee, his other leg extended. In the night’s second show, some 30 fans rushed onstage for an intimate “Housequake” dance party.

3. Giving the Drummer Some
Well-known for fostering talent, Prince repeatedly referenced drummer Welton, at one point sauntering backstage and returning with a copy of Drum! magazine featuring her picture on the cover. “This your hometown?” he asked as if he didn’t know. “Well, it’s as funky as you said it’d be.”

4. Jams With Guitarist Donna Grantis and Bassist Kristine Nielsen
Prince’s affection for 3rdEyeGirl, which first recorded with him on 2014’s PlectrumElectrum, was obvious all night. He dueled and danced with Grantis and Nielsen, flirted with both, then implored them to play back-to-back. After Grantis delivered a staggering solo on “PretzelBodyLogic,” he held his hand over her head for applause.

5. Prince Gets Emo
“Nothing Compares 2 U” and “Purple Rain” have lost none of their searing, soul-ripping power, mostly because Prince still lives their lyrics. On the former, he looked as if he might burst into tears, holding a hand over his heart and passionately trailing his fingers down his face. On the latter, the Jehovah’s Witness assumed Christ-like poses, raising his arms as if ready for the crucifix. His lip curled and his face contorted in pain when his guitar wailed and pleaded. He frequently covered his eyes as if it were all too much.

“What a night!” he exclaimed near the end. “Some people say I was born in the Eighties. Maybe I was born tonight.”

11 Things You Experience at a Surprise, Sold-Out Prince Show

What we saw when the Purple One took the stage on his new Hit N Run Tour.
By Garin Pirnia

Prince is a man cloaked in mystery. Actually, he’s a lot like Batman—showing up when you need him the most. So far this year, he’s randomly appeared at the Golden Globes (to Allison Janney’s shock), given Beck a controversial Grammy award, and just a week ago, he announced a U.S. tour called Hit N Run Tour. He’ll announce shows in a city a few days in advance and then those tickets will go on sale the week of the show. (He successfully used this model last year in Europe.) Of all the cities he could’ve chosen to kick off this tour, he picked Louisville, Kentucky, the hometown of his drummer, Hannah Welton, of his three-female backing band 3RDEYEGIRL. Tickets went on sale last Monday and sold out in minutes; to meet demands, a total of four shows were created. Prince isn’t playing stadiums, either. The venues are also a mystery until the tickets go on sale, and Prince picked the Louisville Palace, which seats only 2,611 (Maroon 5 had already booked the much larger KFC Yum! Center). Where will Prince go next? What will he play next? No one knows, and that’s the magnetism of Prince in 2015—he keeps it unpredictable. He keeps it real. We got a chance to see Prince’s concert in Louisville. Here’s what it’s like to see Prince at an impromptu, intimate show.

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1. It’s stressful waiting to get inside.

The Louisville Palace only holds 2,000 people, yet it seemed like there were thousands more fans waiting in line, and the lines (plural) got only longer. Doors opened at 7 p.m., but by 8:10, when the Purple One took the stage, many fans—dressed in their purple best—were still waiting. And waiting. The holdup could be attributed to credit card entry, unknowledgeable staff members, and the mania a Prince show attracts. Two lines a mile long from both directions wrapped around blocks. You must have endurance, but thankfully 4th Street in Louisville is one of those entertainment districts that allows open containers. Just as he works for his fans, Prince makes them work for him, too. Wait hours to get in? No problem. Get wasted while waiting in line.

2. At 56, Prince can dance better than you ever will, so why even try.

The afro’d Prince didn’t breakdance or do anything too crazy (don’t want to break a hip), but he shuffled onstage, touched himself in a suggestive manner, and reminded us about Michael Jackson’s dance legacy. The predominantly white crowd ate it up and tried to emulate the singer’s moves, grooving along. During “Kiss,” he repeatedly jutted his posterior toward the crowd. Was he saying, “Kiss my ass”? For God’s sake, Prince even perspires sexily.

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3. He gave the audience over nine hits in a row.

“Have you ever heard nine hits in a row?” he asked the wild-eyed audience at the start of his first show. Naturally bathed in purple light, he started off with “Let’s Go Crazy,” then did “U Got the Look,” newish one “FunknRoll” from last year’s Art Official Age, a subdued slow-jam version of “Little Red Corvette,” and “1999,” during which he did a call-and-response with the crowd. “Some people said I was born in the ’80s, how about you?” he asked the crowd before performing the funked-out “Controversy.” Even though he released two albums last year—including PLECTRUMELECTRUM with 3RDEYEGIRL— he mainly stuck to his Top 40 hits. He played everything from funk to gospel, and ended with the classic, almost 31-year-old “Purple Rain,” which sounded more soulful than ever.

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4. He’s a very expressive performer.

While playing his guitar and bass, Prince contorted his face and closed his hazel eyes to deeply feel the rhythm. It made one realize what he must look like when he orgasms; then again, Prince is probably into tantric sex and never orgasms. He constantly teased the audience with wanton looks (not too dissimilar from the Grammys appearance), fluttering eyelashes, and sideways come-hither glances. He wore sunglasses at the beginning, then coyly threw them on the ground. Yes, Prince, we will do your bidding.

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5. The 8 p.m. show was tamer than the 11 p.m. show.

Prince must be one of those performers who saves most of his energy for the late-night crowd. His 90-minute 8 p.m. show was highly energetic, but at his 11 p.m. show, he played for over two hours and brought 30 people onstage for a dance party. By the time the show ended, it was almost time for breakfast, and as we know, Prince loves pancakes.

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6. He likes to cover his own songs.

Technically he wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” for his side project the Family, but Sinead O’Connor swiped it and made a worldwide hit out of it. Prince eventually recorded his own version, which he performed to the audience’s delight. Chills, people. Chills.

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7. He’s not as phone-phobic as we thought.

Prince is a private dude: If bootlegged versions of his songs and videos appear online, they magically disappear. The audience was told prior to entry not to use their phones, but of course no one listened and snapped photos during the first song. He’s been known to kick out people because of their phone abuse. Near the end of the set, though, Prince had the lights turned off and implored the crowd to light up the darkness with their phones. How many people snuck in a photo there, eh?

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8. He’ll drop a brand new song in there.

Near the end of his first show, Prince and band debuted new song “The X’s Face.” This comes in the wake of his releasing the Christian song “What If” a couple of days ago. Will there be more new music performed and released on the tour? Probably.

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9. Prince and his ladies know how to shred.

We don’t always think of the Purple One as a rock star, but at times he’s redolent of Jimi Hendrix in his uncanny ability to play the fuck out of his instruments (and look sexy doing it). At the end of his set, Prince turned the focus to Welton, New Power Generation bassist Ida Kristine Nielsen, and guitarist Donna Grantis on “Pretzelbodylogic.” While Prince hung out in the wings, he gave Welton a drum solo. She beat those skins like she was defeating a Walking Dead zombie, gleefully smiling. Earlier, he stood at his mic and casually perused the April issue of Drum! magazine featuring Welton on the cover. “She says I’m funny,” he told the crowd.

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10. Prince and his band love the bling and the Love Symbol.

Prince’s signature unpronounceable Love Symbol was emblazoned on the tambourine, a large replica on his mic stand, and even on his guitar picks. Prince wore long gold necklaces around his neck, gold lamé designs on the sleeves of his black shirt, and his shoes—which looked comfy with heel supports and blinked red lights when he walked—had gold specks all over them. His ladies chose silver: shiny boots, strips of silver on their pants, and silver medallions around their necks.

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11. Prince does not seem to play “Batdance” live.

How amazing would it be if Prince would restage his “Batdance” video, with full-blown cowls and Vicki Vale impersonators? Prince is more low-key and low-production these days, but anything can and will happen on this tour. (Somewhere like Albuquerque will probably get “Batdance.”)