Photos: Prince fans gather outside First Avenue for Memorial Street Party
April 22, 2017
A year and a day after Minnesotans flocked to First Avenue to mourn the news of Prince's death, 7th Street in Minneapolis is filled with fans once again. The Current and First Avenue have teamed up to stage a Memorial Block Party to honor Minnesota's brightest star, and the party is going strong as locals like Proper-T ("The Beautiful Ones," "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"), deM atlaS ("Let's Go Crazy," "Little Red Corvette") perform the hits (and B-sides).
The MB Band (NPG drummer Michael Bland, Mint Condition bassist Ricky Kinchen, keyboardist/vocalist Ryan, and guitarists Jeremy Ylvisaker and Homer O'Dell of Mint Condition) worked as a house band all night, accompanying vocalists as they tag-teamed mini-sets. Between performances, DJ Sophia Eris, DJ Shannon Blowtorch, and the Larkin Dancers kept the audience moving.
Update: After the outdoor show ended at 10 p.m., the party moved inside for a ticketed First Avenue dance party that will last until 4 a.m.
Setlist
Prairie Fire Lady Choir — Megamix
Claire de Lune — Nothing Compares 2 U
PaviElle — Pop Life, Take Me With U
Curtiss A — When You Were Mine
Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) — I Wish U Heaven, The Cross
Proper-T — The Beautiful Ones, How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
Ed Bok Lee — "Will of a Prince"
Taiyon J. Coleman — poem
OneGunn & Tony Christian (of Maserati) — D.M.S.R., Kiss, She's Always In My Hair
deM atlaS — Let's Go Crazy, Little Red Corvette
Mark Mallman — Raspberry Beret, Delirious
Kerry Alexander (Bad Bad Hats) — I Feel For You
Adam Levy (The Honeydogs) — Soft And Wet, ?, Darling Nikki
Jack Brass Band — 7
Julius Collins — Let's Work, Sometimes It Snows In April, Uptown
Jack Brass Band — ?
Maria Isa — Sign O The Times, 1999
Julius Collins — Purple Rain