Celebration 2018 Recap: Even In Death, Prince Packs An Arena

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – If I asked you if a dead man could headline a concert, you might question my sanity. But during the second annual Prince Celebration held over the past few days in suburban Minneapolis, I saw it with my own two eyes. While the four-day celebration included panels on his music, his photographers, his dance collaborators and his bands, along with an abbreviated tour of his famous Paisley Park recording complex, the highlight of the event was – a Prince concert.

Of course, that takes some explaining. Billed as “Prince: Live On The Big Screen” this year’s Celebration package included a ticket to the event, which featured excerpts of two shows from his 2011 “Welcome To America” tour. During that tour, Prince, then 50, played to full houses with his crack NPG band, running through his catalogue of hits and popular B-sides. He was, as always, in top form, but these shows truly combined his showmanship and musicianship. Here’s a clip from the tour:

By splicing together the excerpts, including the above clip, from two shows on that tour and adding the live NPG band on the Target Center stage including the now controversial Kirk Johnson and the familiar bald presence of background singer Shelby J., the video footage made for a credible approximation of the live concert experience.

While some fans found it off-putting and referenced Prince’s own disdain of hologram-like performances, others were moved and happy that it replicated a concert experience without digital manipulation. Despite the fact that excerpts of both shows are available on YouTube, some paid up to $200 to see it, despite it being moved back a night to accommodate the Minnesota Timberwolves playoff game.

Fans dressed like they did in the concerts of old, including a woman sporting a full purple fro and another in tails with a bodysuit with a ‘Nasty Girl’ logo on the back. When Prince on video exhorted fans to clap, sing, or stand, the audience did so and with enthusiasm. The live NPG band provided the accompaniment to fill gaps in the show footage and as I’ve said, they’re tighter than a big girl’s Spanx.

(You can read the review from Minneapolis-based writer Jon Bream, who covered Prince for four decades, HERE.)

No, Prince will not do another earthly concert again, but especially for fans who never saw him live, “Live On The Big Screen” was both a tribute to Prince’s dominant live performances while raising his G.O.A.T. ranking. Although the upper decks of the 19,000 seat arena were closed off, which made it appear to be a sellout, estimated crowd was 7,000. Could your fave do those numbers after their demise? There was even an aftershow, at Prince’s favorite jazz club, the Dakota, where onetime collaborator Liv Warfield was joined by 3rd Eye Girl’s Donna Grantis to provide more musical fireworks.

The news about Prince’s death investigation, which confirmed what most believed already, that no one would be charged in his death, didn’t cast a pall on the Celebration, despite the release of his death photos and other invasions of the privacy he fought so hard for in life. People came from all over the country and the globe to celebrate the man and that’s what they did. The Funk Soldiers, a new group formed out of the NPG, told funny stories about working with him, and were joined by Sheila E., who partied along.

Going forward, Graceland Holdings, which also runs Paisley Park, will have to expand programming and attract more A-list collaborators and/or those influenced by Prince (namely, everyone) to stay viable and attract a younger audience. They should factor in that Minneapolis, despite is Midwestern location and freezing cold winters, is also a great city to visit, with 5 pro sports teams, good restaurants and a vibrant live music scene.

fDeluxe, formerly The Family, has regrouped and closed the four-day event with a surprisingly solid show. As you may remember, their one self-titled album features the first version of “Nothing Compares to You.”

That original demo, recorded with Prince’s vocal only, has just been released, along with a vintage rehearsal video. In other good news from the Prince estate, a new annotated site that documents all 39 studio releases complete with credits and official videos is now live. You can check it out HERE.

Despite the numerous unanswered questions and murky circumstances of his death and the tarnishing of his clean living image, one thing remains clear: Prince loved making music. In life, he stood for authenticity, craftsmanship and excellence and despite any attempts to desecrate his legacy, that will always be true.

For more on Celebration 2019, click HERE.

PHOTOS: Paisley Park/Steve Parke

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