Prince jams with his hometown fans
Last night at The Dakota, his six-piece horn section marched out NOLA-style, cycling through a funky, complex melody, followed by a drummer, bassist, guitarist, and three back-up singers. Then Prince himself emerged on the dark stage.
Andrea Swensson, author of The Local Current blog, was at the late show last night and talked about it with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer. Here's part of what Swensson wrote:
The 11 p.m. show began with his six-piece horn section marching out NOLA-style and cycling through a funky, complex melody, and they were quickly followed by a drummer, bassist, guitarist, and three back-up singers who launched into the night's first groove. Prince himself emerged on the dark stage soon after and leaned into a microphone set up at a pair of keyboards.
"I dare you to sit down," he teased, egging on the crowd and demanding that everyone get up and dance, and then launched the band into a blazing, bopping cover of Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody" that got the entire room springing dutifully to its feet.
"You better call the baby-sitter," he joked.
Swensson also looks ahead: This evening at the Dakota, Prince is promising a surprise. The two shows tonight will finish a three-day engagement at the intimate downtown club.
Tickets went on sale and were sold out just hours after the concerts were announced earlier this week.
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