Presented inhouse. Reviewed April 11, 1997.
Band: TAFKAP, Kathleen Dyson, Rhonda Smith, Kirky Johnson, Morris Hayes.
The unpronounceable symbol formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince (let's just call him Prince) may have been, as he put it, "a little under the weather" on Friday. And his mind may have been on other things (he won a court battle with two former employees earlier in the day, preventing them from speaking publicly about his newborn baby, who died recently). And he may even have been embarrassed by his performance the day before at the VH1 Honors, one of his more lackluster efforts. But when Prince decides to throw down, as he did at this hastily organized and nearly canceled sold-out affair, well, let's just say he still has it in him to blow the roof off the dump.
"L.A., I came2 jam. What'd U all come 2 do?" he asked early in the two-hour-and-10-minute show, and, for the most part, he did deliver what fans have come to expect from throughout his two-decade career: high-energy funk and R&B numbers that bridge the often awkward gap between spiritual journey and physical expression (read: God and sex).
The only letdown at this show was the current edition of Prince's backing band, the New Power Generation. No longer the potent force of years past, NPG '97 had no chemistry here, displayed little notable musical accomplishment and offered the show very little in the way of a stage presence. Among other things, guitar solos were botched, cues were missed and longtime collaborator Kirky Johnson's drumming was soft, and not nearly as bold as in years past. Which put all of the show's burden on Prince.
No problem, then.
Tearing through a variety of songs from his massive catalog, as well as four selections from his recent triple-length album, "Emancipation," Prince worked the crowd like a master showman: a little bit Count Basie, a little bit James Brown, a little bit George Clinton and a little bit Nat King Cole. In fact, Brown's proud "Talking Loud Ain't Saying Nothing" --- the evening's second number --- set a bold and rowdy pace early in the show that only flagged when Prince would occasionally leave the stage to his bandmates. (At least veteran harp player Sugar Blue made the most of his onstage chances.) Other notable songs included a cover of Joan Osborne's "One of Us," which in Prince's hands swings with much more soul than Joan's original version, as well as a blistering take on "Sexy MF," the revival-feel of "The Cross," a celebratory "Purple Rain" and Prince's old standby, a nifty "Take Me With U"/"Raspberry Beret" medley that nearly brought the house down.
Before this show, most of Prince's recent live appearances have either been television shows or private parties, and a planned concert at the San Jose Events Center on Saturday was postponed because of ticket-scalping concerns, but will reportedly be rescheduled. Patrons entering the Pantages received their tickets only as they entered the venue.
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Date in print: Tue., Apr. 15, 1997