Prince - And 3rdEyeGirl wow's audiences on a crazy day in Camden!

February 5th 2014

London, Electric Ballroom, UK

*****

Prince week commences!!!

3rdEyeGirl Feat. Prince ***** As a life time Prince fan I was so excited about his new collaboration with the lovely 3rdEyeGirl, when I found out that he was playing in Camden at the Electric Ballroom, after just missing the warm up show there the night before. I knew Prince playing a selection of shows in London, but nobody know when and where so you really have to be on your guard. I raced down to catch the show and joined myself self in the que to wait the seven and a half hours until the doors opened to get finally to see one of my child hood heroes. After about four hours I got a little bit worried about getting in because no barriers had been put up and people were just randomly turning up and walking into the que. It got to an hour before the show and the que had gone from two deep in front of me to five or even six deep. So now we were all worried about getting in and still there was no barriers and the lack of security doing anything about this was really worrying. The doors finally open and they decide to move the que and there is a manic massive running crush with people pushing people over and peoples phones and belonging getting broken. Yes Prince fever is here and the Ballroom does not know what to do about it!!!

For the lucky ones that got in they are delighted by an amazing show like nothing else by Prince and 3rdEyeGirl, you are literally looking on in disbelief has they run through tricky songs and guitar licks with ease. Opening with a redux version of the classic hit 'Let's go Crazy' one of his most popular songs of the 'Purple Rain' album, you know you are in for the time of your life and you are so close to the man himself. The venue is meant to be Sold Out!!! with everyone paying only £10 to get in but there is a lot of space that seems to be unoccupied and you do wonder what is going on their. Prince even says "Let's let some of the people from outside In!". It must be gutting for the die hard Prince fans waiting outside that only just heard about the show because so close to getting in but not managing to, also some people missed out because of the crush. They do get a chance for the second show though later on so they do not totally miss out . 3rdEyeGirl break into songs from their hotly tipped album 'PlectrumElectrum' with Prince on vocals and you can see that they are a really tight unit. The title track sound marvelous in this live atmosphere and something really special, like one of my favourite new tracks 'FixYourLifeUp' and the funky jam and guitar explosion that happened before both of these songs.

Recently Prince has been looking and sounding more like Hendrix in places, but Prince is a star in his own right and always puts a spin on things and as he plays Blues and Funk mixed up with 70's Soul and Rock and even Pop. You just wonder at his genius and the way he can add new licks and elements to songs that he has never played to make them sound different night after night, like when he ends with 'Chaos and Disorder' and adds in licks from 'Live for Love' it just makes it really different and keeps the listener / watcher interested from start to finish. Like in the brilliant 'Stratus' which he includes the 'Sailors horn Pipe' in. I was just totally blown away by the way he presents himself on stage and knows the right time to do every movement. I think 3rdEyeGirl guitar Donna Grantis has really learned from her mentor and her guitar work is of someone past her years and I have never seen a girl play like this before, it is just simply breathe taking and I have to say I have now a little crush... she is a bit of a stunner too. Also she has really cool hair half shaved and half long, this look is really in now and her dress sense is also unique tight trousers and a jacket that looks like it has been specially made. All the band stand out on their own right with both Hannah "Ford" Welton and Ida Nielsen keeping in time and not playing a note wrong, which must be tricky when working with someone like Prince who can go on a tangent.

They let in the people that were waiting outside for the second show and a few people from the first that had qued up again and waited after the people that had not for a chance to see him a second time and a lucky few there was space for. Again their looks like there is space in the venue for more people with the back of the room quite empty, so I think it must have been under sold, I have seen this venue a lot more packed than this. They start off the same as the last set, but this seems to be a more relaxed affair with more hits in it. These hits include a magnificent version of 'Crimson and Clover' and in the first encore a funky version of 'Play that Funky Music' that is take to 'The Max' with Prince on the bass. Before he sits down on the piano to play a short but amazing version of 'Purple Rain'. All the lights in the venue go on and they shut the bar and everyone thinks this is the finish of the show and people are starting to leave, but Prince comes back on fifteen minutes later and plays 'Stratus / The Sailors horn Pipe' and a hit montage including mega hits 'When doves Cry, Sign O the Times, Hot Thing, Glamorous Life, I would die 4 U' and closer 'My tiny little mind is Blown'. I would strongly advise you to go see Prince and 3rdEyeGirl while they are playing their London stint, you will not be disappointed it was one of the most stunning gigs I have ever seen and Prince's afro is a must to see and no wonder he never made it to Ronnie Scott's for the rumoured third show, because he put everything into these special performances.

Early Setlist:
Let's go Crazy (Redux)
Funk 'n' Roll
She's always in my Hair
Guitar
PlectrumElectrum
FixYourLifeUp
I could never take the place of your Man
Stratus / The Sailors horn Pipe
Chaos and Disorder

Late Setlist:
Let's go Crazy (Redux)
Funk 'n' Roll
She's always in my Hair
Guitar
PlectrumElectrum
FixYourLifeUp
I could never take the place of your Man
Something in the Water
Crimson and Clover
Cause and Effect
------------------------------
Dreamer
Play that Funky Music
Purple Rain
-------------------------------
Stratus / The Sailors horn Pipe)
(Medley) When Doves Cry / Sign O The Times / Hot Thing / Glamorous Life / I would die 4 U / My tiny little mind is Blown