A Paisley Peace For Baltimore

Lately, I’ve been discussing the recent Paisley Park Experiences with friends, and how spontaneous they are. You aren’t always given any warning, sometimes only three hours before it begins. Unlike several previous times, we were informed through  @PURPLESSENCE (Paisley Park’s Official Twitter Handle) a night before, after reading Iris Perez’s detailed experience at Paisley herself, that there would be a Dance Party in light of the recent Baltimore Uprising. 30$ Cover.

How does one invite someone to something as spontaneous as Paisley Park?! “Hey, Prince is opening his studio, and you are invited! It goes on for about five hours at a time, could be longer but it’s ultimately determined by this thing we call ‘The Everlasting Now’. We don’t know if he’s gonna perform, but there will be great dancing and 360 sound in the best sound spaces you could imagine! You down?

How does one turn that down? That’s the thing: YOU DON’T. You just GO! Every experience at Paisley is different and seemingly always tailored for the occasion.

Before the show even started, we were entertained by the two DJ’s out, making sure our feet raced on the carpet in the Luv4OneAnother room. A room allowing of space, but extremely faint compared to the Main Sound Stage. Our feet needed more room to play. There were about 300 of us there as a family unit. We were then carried through visual time travel to the Main Sound Stage.

Soul Train clips plastered on the screen, all seemingly in sync with the music played. (Shout out to Rosie Perez, as she demonstrated some of the most fly moves on screen – responded by Denise…as she shared some taunting moves too!!)

Soul Train then morphed into select pieces of artwork, dressed on the projector, in high definition, which served as a great lucid endearment. But then there is a live video to get you going too! Several, 3rdEyeGirl – videos from London were shown. Alongside with never before seen clips. The private performance of Lianna La Havas was shown at her home in London, that she did earlier last year.

Including the video (Which was only available as audio before) from The Infrared Showcase, that was briefly online on YouTube – a show for Appolonia who starred in Purple Rain – Seeing Prince play Endorphinmachine and ‘She’s Always In My Hair’ right before her, was a magical thing to witness.

An emotional tear evoking performance of Jimi Hendrix on guitar had us all soul lifted. Liv Warfield alongside, in the visual experience, made up for a great night. I’d pay 30$ just to see that again. It was crafted so well and really had your heart beating for the next page.

We all enjoy when Prince performs, it is the closest thing we have to conversation without actually speaking to him.

Music is Prince’s language.

We tend to underestimate the language in which Prince speaks through his music. This man is literally an instrument, and he is capable of talking with more than his voice.  He uses instruments to channel his raw emotional rendition; whether it’s his guitar, keyboard, or even bass guitar. All which he played last night, in very select parts of the show. Prince doesn’t simply play music, he is music. Engaging instruments like a scientist, utilizing space, to engage in a significant conversation with musical rhetoric.

It seemed he had a story to tell concerning the recent chaotic experiences. Starting off with Chaos & Disorder and falling into Dreamer. “Chaos & Disorder, ruling my world today”.

Dreamer is one of the most memorable of the night. Prince puts down his Ax for a brief moment only to play around with his keyboards. He remained there for about five minutes, to offer a rendition that was more than words can say. Lost, through his keyboard and synth stabs, he was caught within space. After feeling satisfied with his delivery of piano ministry, he heads back to his guitar with a little bit more to say.

“Peanut Butter Logic – Served on a bed of lies, don’t go down to easy when you see your Daddy crying. Have you ever clutched the steering wheel of your car – tight? See in Chanhassen we ain’t scared of the police at night, but I wasn’t always here..”

(Prince hasn’t always been in the best sides of town, he knows how the cops can be in less progressive and privileged communities)

He made mention of the chemicals chasing people at night in the skies – Encouraging the crowd to keep our 3rd Eye Open… Like CBS “So that we could SEE their B.S.”

Prince being aware of the struggles that certain communities experience.

He asked:

“Where you from?”

While answering through his guitar – a melodic sadness which seemed to correspond to what comes from being questioned by the police.

Crimson And Clover was accentuated by Donna’s divine guitar playing. The song reached the boiling point in which Prince delivered the first striking guitar solo. A guitar story which reached a climatic baptizing, wherein Prince expressed his most sensual and pulsating guitar mannerisms like he was simply drinking water.

The crowd engaged repeating “Over & Over..”

We then are reminded, He loves us- But not like his Guitar. And we can see Donna LOVES her guitar too.

Prince really enjoys talking with his guitar, it seems. Sure, he has his loves, but when he plays guitar – we can see,  he loves that a bit more.

What is Plectrum Electrum?! It’s a guitar pick that is in an electric relationship with emotional translation. He explains with Donna just what Plectrum Electrum is. Guitars echo with extreme fire and awakening power.

The crowd cheers and all of us scream. More!

He then gets on the bass guitar and performs ‘The Whole Of The Moon” (A cover by the Water Boys)

Easily the funkiest part of the night, The full of the moon punctuated the experience of the night.

Prince invited several people on stage to harmoniously groove our way back to the Dancefloor.

While he didn’t perform the new song, Baltimore like he did for Iris. We got a whole lot of music that redeemed the conversation on Freddie Gray, and what’s going on in Baltimore. Prince doesn’t have to call it by a song name, he said what he needed in the arrangement and heart of the night.

Another Paisley Night covered by pure passion. An emotional experience that is molded by the gift of music. Sure it was entertainment but it felt like a Love Trip. It’s an experience – an emotive spiritual consequence is born at that place. The sudden nature of spontaneous dictum declares a victorious revival. Energies are restored, feet (while battered and bruised from dancing) travels the distance needed for redemption. The Cycle of The Moon Effects The Motion of the Sea What You Did Prince?! On top of that – it’s spent with friends and family!  Thank YOU to Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL.
“We R 3RDEYEGIRL AND SO ARE YOU”.

Set List For The Curious (Keep In Mind..A Song Title is what it is. The name of the song. It doesn’t at all speak to how he translated it live and what emotion was geared in when we heard it)

Chaos And Disorder
Dreamer
Crimson And Clover
Guitar
Plectrum Electrum
The Whole of The Moon