first, here is what the media had to say:
from the mpls star tribune:
Birthday show reflects a more mature Prince
Jim Meyer
Saturday, June 16, 2001
In what is becoming a tradition, Prince is celebrating his birthday again with two homecoming concerts. Friday night's event at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center indicated that Prince is entering a new age, in more ways than one.
Recently, Prince took a much-needed break from recording. At the same time, he seemed to find a new peace through humble soul-searching and a heightened religious devotion. He's even sworn off swearing.
No one was expecting altar garments and hymns Friday, but those who had heard the buzz about Prince's serious devotion to Jehovah's Witnesses were curious to see how far he would take it. As it turns out, further than his audience may realize.
The crowd, mostly in their 20s and early 30s, were there to dress up and get down. They weren't disappointed, even though many had to wait outside an hour while Prince gave a sound check for members of his fan club.
Plans for two surprise opening acts were dropped because of lateness, and Prince took the stage at 9:20 p.m. ready to roll. He kicked off with a solid half-hour of old favorite hits powered by sweet saxophonist Maceo Parker of the James Brown band.
Opening with "Uptown" and "Controversy" Prince's heart, and particularly his voice, did not seem fully into the old material.
Soon he settled into a quieter fusion-jazz tune that sent many restless fans racing for the corridors. They missed some impressive playing.
It wasn't the first time Prince confounded his crowd, and flew gracefully over their heads. After more hits such as "Cream" and "Little Red Corvette," a female gospel vocal quartet entered the stage, dressed in low-cut long black dresses, but slit plenty high on the sides. Their vocalizing suddenly brought a different feel to the night. After a gospel tune based on "You Are My Sunshine," Prince broke into a little sermon drama in which he scolded a woman for wearing her dress too short.
"See these dresses?" he exclaimed, pointing to the vocal group. "These are nice dresses! What is that short thing you've got on?"
There are some powerhouse contemporary gospel groups around today who deliver music as strong as Prince's current group; Yolanda Adams for one. But only Prince brings the complexity, total unpredictability, musical range, and sense of creative risk to his show. Seeing him in concert these days, you enter a world where delicious beauty meets inspiring devotion. It's not quite heaven but it's closer than any mainstream pop or funk group dares to reach.
Prince plays a second show tonight at 8 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center.
. http://www.startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story=84373191&template=metro_a
and from the st. paul pioneer press:
Prince fans wait (and wait)
JOHN NEMO SPECIAL TO PIONEER PRESS
D
Deanglo Taylor stood among the sea of human bodies inside the Xcel Energy Center lobby Friday, his bright red fedora standing out like a fishing bobber among the waves of black, blond and brown hair.
Evans was among the 14,000 fans who showed up Friday to see Prince's first hometown arena show since a 1997 performance at Target Center.
Friday's show started with — what else? — some strange behavior by Prince. The singer did not allow ticket holders to even sit inside the arena until 8:20 p.m., 20 minutes after the show was supposed to start.
The delay left thousands of fans crammed inside the arena concourses while Prince and his band conducted their sound check.
While most sound checks are done several hours before a show, Prince didn't start his until about 6 p.m., according to an Xcel Energy Center official.
So while thousands of people stood sweating in the cramped entry areas and beyond, Taylor and a few other VIPs from Prince's online NPG Club were allowed to watch the Purple One meander through the motions of getting the sound system to his liking.
"I've seen him over 200 times," Taylor said as he made his way through the crowd. "I'm just a die-hard. I've been with him since 1980."
Some fans felt as if a decade might pass before they would be allowed to sit down.
"These tickets weren't cheap," said Renee Hammes, 33, of Bloomington, standing near an elevator. "They got us packed in here like cattle."
Hammes' husband, Ed, 31, cradled a small pizza box and a beer while standing next to her.
"Even if it's a (great) show, I don't think we'll be seeing another Prince show for a long time," he said. "He's losing fans."
Some onlookers didn't mind the delay one bit, saying they'd expect nothing less from Prince, who is known for his late-night jams and post-show parties at his Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen. Prince has been holding shows with guest performers like Erykah Badu, listening sessions for his new CD and other events there all week as part of what he calls "A Celebration."
"I've heard this kind of thing happens," said Dan Greene, 35, of Elk River, while waiting inside the arena. "He's a showman and a perfectionist — he wants to make sure everything is just right. Now, if I have to wait an extended period of time and the show (stinks), then I'll be angry."
Prince finally started the evening at 9:15 p.m. to thunderous applause.
He will play a second show tonight at the Xcel Energy Center. Tickets say the concert will begin at 8 p.m., but some members of Friday's crowd might argue otherwise.