- Created on 18 March 2013
Prince delivers funk-filled finale at SXSW
This Fall 2012 publicity photo provided by Rogers and Cowan shows musician Prince performing in concert in Chicago. Prince turns off the lights at South by Southwest on Saturday, March 16, 2013, with an unexpected and intimate showcase that ranks among the biggest surprises in years at the star-studded music festival and conference. (AP Photo/Rogers and Cowan)
AUSTIN, Texas — How did Prince close out South by Southwest Music Festival's weeklong showcase of rock n' roll?
By naturally throwing a totally different kind of party: a grooving, brass band-backed funk fest that stretched to 3 a.m. and outlasted many fans lucky enough to get inside the exclusive show that also featured A Tribe Called Quest.
As Justin Timberlake and the Smashing Pumpkins headlined other SXSW wrap-ups nearby, Prince prevailed as the toughest ticket Saturday night by performing for only 300 people in his first appearance at the annual music festival that drew 2,200 bands and artists this year.
Prince towered over them all — but his concert at the tiny La Zona Rosa club that sits on the fringe of the SXSW mayhem was no grandiose spectacle. He performed for 2½ hours on a spartan stage behind a giant video board. He contentedly played bandleader instead of superstar, often disappearing backstage for stretches as the band jammed.
"They called our people and said they wanted some funk in Austin," said Prince, before belting out the last bars of a gentle rendition of "Purple Rain."
A 12-piece brass band joined the latest incarnation of Prince's New Power Generation for a run of hits like "1999" and "Cool" that jammed with a soulful backbone. The show began with the band making a Mardi Gras-style march onto the stage, only to have their horn blasts drowned out by shrieks upon fans sighting Prince in a magenta, high-collared shirt and snug black blazer.
Organizers warned the crowd three times before the show that taking pictures was forbidden. Fans who flouted the rule were scolded by security or told to scram. Even simply using a cellphone was banned at the concert thrown by phone-maker Samsung, though promoters worked the crowd beforehand, offering customers fresh phone batteries or device test-drives.
Prince never played guitar during the set. Nor did he perform his new single "Screwdriver" that debuted earlier this year, opting instead for funk covers: Curtis Mayfield's "We're a Winner" and Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Until You Get Enough" among them as the night dragged on and weary fans made their way to the exits early.
"Don't make me hurt you. You know how many hits I got?" Prince said during the first of several pseudo-set closers, before launching into another encore.
Green Day, Dave Grohl, Vampire Weekend, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks also starred at SXSW this week.
- Created on 18 March 2013
Beyonce Releases 'Bow Down'
Check out Beyonce’s website and you’ll notice a new picture of lil’ Bey in a pink “princess” gown surrounded by trophies. The title of the photo: “Bow Down”.
“Bow Dow/I Been On” is the latest release from Beyonce. No doubt her hubby’s swag has been injecting itself into her sound since the beginning. “Bow Down” was produced by Hit-Boy (who produced N—s in Paris for Jay-Z and Kanye West) In the song, she says:
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- Created on 13 March 2013
5 things we learned at SXSW 2013
Page 1 of 4
The techie fest known as South by Southwest Interactive has gotten so big that trends are hard to quantify. But it can be done. Here are five takeaways from the past five days.
Austin, Texas (CNN) -- Hoopla surrounding South by Southwest Interactive, the techie festival that wrapped up here Tuesday, has exploded in recent years.
The
...
- Created on 15 March 2013
JHud’s Otunga in Chicago for screening of his ‘The Call’ film
David Otunga plays a police officer in the film "The Call" starring Halle Berry and Morris Chestnut. Photo/Sony
David Otunga is celebrating his first major big screen role with his fellow Chicagoans. The WWE pro-wrestler, Harvard Law educated attorney who is engaged to actress, singer and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson plays Officer Jake Devans in the film “The Call” starring Halle Berry. The movies opens in theaters Friday, March 15.
Otunga will host a special viewing of the film Friday night at the AMC River East theater, 322 E. Illinois St. The event will kick off with a 7 p.m. red carpet arrival, followed by the film viewing. Afterwards, Otunga will hold court with the media and fans in a special Q&A session.
When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.
The 96-minute film also stars Morris Chestnut and is directed by Brad Anderson.
- Created on 13 March 2013
5 things we learned at SXSW 2013
Page 1 of 4
The techie fest known as South by Southwest Interactive has gotten so big that trends are hard to quantify. But it can be done. Here are five takeaways from the past five days.
Austin, Texas (CNN) -- Hoopla surrounding South by Southwest Interactive, the techie festival that wrapped up here Tuesday, has exploded in recent years.
The
...