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.
