Local from the Twin Cities here. It's fucking crazy. People are still mourning/partying today, people took off work, First Ave the club where Prince got his start and still a huge music venue here got government permission to stay open round the clock starting last night through Sunday. They are hosting a 24 hour Prince dance party the entire time, with some special guest local musicians playing as well. Every radio station is just playing Prince round the clock. Electronic billboards and displays are all going mostly purple. This state took it pretty hard. Even if you weren't a fan of his music, Prince is the pinnacle worldwide celebrity from Minnesota and no one will ever top him. He was like our local Willy Wonka. Mysterious, perhaps strange at times, but entirely gifted and talented. He could have moved to LA, or NYC, or anywhere with a better music scene, but he didn't. He stayed right here where he was born. He was born here, lived here, recorded here, and died here. There's a lot to respect about that. The man was an international icon, and he called this place home. Everyone from here loves prince even if they don't love his music. Some Pics from First Ave and other stuff: They had a no cover 18+ all night party. So naturally half the city showed up and the streets were filled for blocks in either direction.
I saw him live at the Dakota here in the twin cities. Tiny little venue where he played decades ago and still plays. Generally before he has a tour or new album he'll do like a whole weeks worth of shows there. Tickets to the actual shows are near impossible to get, but i got some rehearsal tickets, and have before. They are far better. Less people, more intimate, and it's pretty much just him practicing with his band and occasionally just going off on a shredding rampage on the guitar. One time I was at the bar there there, and he appeared next to me asking for some bottled water to the bartender. Wearing his hoody, sunglasses, and being a little incognito. I made eye contact with him, nodded, and he said "sup boss", got his waters, and then left. Pretty sure my heart stopped beating for like a minute.
That's pretty great. I used to live near a House of Blues and I would go for lunch and a beer there with cgod. On show nights we'd hear the bands practicing upstairs on ocasssion. Just a mellow afternoon eating gumbo listening to a live set from good bands. I hear you on the whole intimacy thing.
I will forever regret missing this. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sxsw-2013-prince-closes-festival-with-epic-concert-20130317 A show so good they didn't mention Tribe Called Q until the eighth paragraph.