PRINCE and THE GLASGOW POPULATION

MAY 22nd 2014 - A LITTLE BIT OF PURPLE MAGIC COMES TO GLASGOW

PRINCE

PRE-PRINCE - A CURRY AND A LONG WALK

With great anticipation, Zoe and myself geared ourselves up to a purple frenzy (quite literally as we were asked to wear something Purple) as the real PRINCE of rock was coming to town.

Meeting Zoe in Glasgow at my office, we headed down to the Bombay Blues Indian restaurant on Hope Street, Glasgow for a slap up, pre-concert dinner. I'm not advertising the Bombay Blues, but mmmmm tr'es superb.

Bombay Blues

There, the waiter noticed Zoe in purple and asked if we were going to see Prince. Funnily, we thought, he didn't know who Prince was (where have you been?) but he had heard of him that day. 

Anyway, Zoe and myself practically rolled out of the door, fed and watered and decided to walk to the Hydro. We headed along Argyle Street, Past Anderson Train Station, Under the Kingston Bridge and along the footpath adjacent the Clyde expressway. Its only a 15-20 minute walk and boy did we need to walk off that meal.

I hadn't been to the New Hydro before but it soon came into view.

The Hydro

I'm not sure whether to describe it as a fine building or not, however it was like a colourful bubble and contrasted nicely with the adjacent Concert Hall and Armadillo.

Once inside, we found our way up three flights of escalators to our seats. They were far out...not in a hippie trippy rock n roll way but physically far out i.e. in the rafters and at the back...oh well.

PRINCE ON STAGE

The Hydro Filling Up

On stage below, we could see a purple curtain with an image of...Er..."Purple Rain" which would eventually reveal Prince himself.

Soon the moment arrived and Prince burst onto stage singing "Lets Go Crazy". All around I could see adoring fans stunned. I even seen one middle aged women crying (well many actually). Onstage, lights were bursting into colour as puffs of smoke increased the frenzy to fever pitch. The crown Prince himself was wearing a silver, white get-up.

Lets Go "Glasgow" Crazy

Lets Party Glasgow, Lets Go Crazy Prince shouted as he began to belt out one song after another. Classic hits like 1999, Raspberry Beret, Little Red Corvette.

Now I have to point out that Prince performed between 8:10pm and approximately 10:35pm without a single break. The stamina of this 55 year old would put a 20 year old to shame.

He would play guitar, perform his wide range of vocals, play piano and he was even spinning records near the end of the show and all this while dancing around.

One thing I recall from the show was the prowess and power of Prince's guitar playing. Coupled with the fact that there was more than a passing resemblance to Jimmy Hendrix, with the Afro Hairstyle, the Hippie Clothing and the Guitars, it was a pleasing sights and and excellent sound.

COME BACK SOON PRINCE

 Prince is a music icon. To witness him play in Glasgow is a privilege. It was good to see members of the audience invited by Prince on stage. I bet they all have a story to tell.

All too soon it was over. Prince performed an admirable encore.

SOME PICTURES:

Videos will soon be available on Youtube.