Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Praise for the Purple One: Prince @ The Roosevelt 6/30
()
The ticket was $3,121 dollars and somehow it landed in my hands for free. I won't get into specifics, but I was suddenly spending my Saturday night at the hottest, most elite show in the country instead of my friend's house party (I'm sure he understands).
I'll answer the most important questions first: Yes, he played "Kiss". No, he didn't play "Purple Rain". Yes, he played "Nothing Compares to You". No, he didn't play "When Doves Cry".
The night was surreal, more like a dream than reality, everything purple hued and lit in a through-the-looking-glass style (and I was stone sober). Around 12:30 the Purple One took the stage. Dressed in an asian inspired suit/pajamas (I'm pretty sure it was silk), flanked by his Twins, Prince started the show at full volume. Rocking an assortment of songs I've never heard while embodying a James Brown style of funk. The man has moves, no way around it. He has a natural charisma that moved everyone to their feet. His royal badness paraded up and down the aisles, hitting every note and wailing on his telecaster. Guy's got skills.
Support for LAist comes from
The space at the Roosevelt Hotel had been converted into "Club 3121" with purple lighting, leather couches and flat-screens playing Prince's new Verizon commercial. The crowd was filled with an assortment of Hollywood types. Jessica Simpson, Eve, Scott Caan and Elisha Cuthbert were all on hand. Bottom line, if you were there, you felt like you were the shit (despite my being extremely not "The Shit", I somehow manage to land in these situations).
The best and worst parts of the night are after the jump...
The Best Parts of the Night:
1. Patrick Swayze, who Prince brought on stage during "Play that Funky Music". He stumbled over the words before trying to dance then giving up. For having been a professional dancer, Swayze was surprisingly awful on his feet, giving the equivalent of the "drunk uncle" dance at a wedding reception. Must have been the booze, of which he had much. His table was littered with empty glasses. After trying to get two white boys to sing the lyrics (both failed), Prince had to bring Tyler Perry (who, at 6'5", towers over Prince by more than a foot) on-stage to actually get through a verse.
2. "Let's Go Crazy," which was amazing. Hearing Prince speak the opening "Dearly Beloved" is something everyone should experience. Like seeing the grand canyon or going to Fenway Park.
3. The atmosphere, which was euphoric. I didn't have a sip of alcohol, but I felt that giddy excitement all night. Prince has a way of elevating the entire room through music, so it almost feels like you're floating. I have never seen a room fill with the energy of last Saturday night.
The Worst Parts of the Night:
1. Security, which was tight. If you so much as reached for your phone to text, check the time or, god forbid, try to take a picture you were immediately approached by security who threatened to escort you out if you didn't put it away. That is, unless you had a brand new iphone, which brings us to....
2. The asshole and his friends next to me who spent their entire time playing with (showing off) their iphones. I know, the iphone is awesome. I'm super impressed you have one. You're way cooler than me. I should buy you a drink because of how special you are. But put the fucking thing away and watch the goddamn show. You paid over three-grand to get in, concentrate on the man making music and not how lucky you are to be able to check myspace at a concert (That being said, I really want an iphone). Oh, and quit with the fucking cattle-call whistle, everyone within 5 feet hates you.
Support for LAist comes from
3. The Costume Changes of which I counted no less than 3 (all to a different style of pajamas). Prince would leave the stage to his band for 10 minutes so they could demonstrate how remarkably good they are and return in a different color get-up. The band was talented, you can't take that away from them, but when you're there to see Prince and suddenly end up with a 10 minute Sax solo of "What a Wonderful World" (when you're already starting to fade because it's 2am) you want to just get back to the classics.
After he wrapped up his big stage show at 3am, I kicked around until 3:30am when he started his late night jazz jam in the courtyard. Again, AMAZING music, talented musicians, but by 4am I was just too friggin' tired to stick around and hear experimental jazz riffs (jesus, I sound like my father and I'm only in my 20's). The party went until 6am but I cut out early. By the way, Hollywood is a wasteland at 4am, very creepy (and all other times some would say). All said, 10 bucks for parking is what I spent on an incredible evening.
Photo courtesy of The Bump Squad because Security wouldn't let me use my goddamn camera.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist