Prince hits and misses at Glendale Arena

Prince rules.

As a musician and showman, his Purple Badness is without peer. So why was his nearly sold-out show at Glendale Arena mildly disappointing?

It started with an absolute bang. “Musicology” — the strong title track of his forthcoming album, copies of which were handed out free as patrons entered the show — led into a quartet of tracks from “Purple Rain.” Confetti and purple streamers rained from the ceiling during “Let's Go Crazy” and Prince and his crack eight-piece New Power Generation band segued smoothly through slightly truncated versions of “I Would Die 4 U,” “When Doves Cry” and “Baby I'm a Star” while the crowd danced and sang along with gusto.

Sharply dressed in a red suit and black shirt, Prince had the audience in the palm of his hand from the get-go. Performing in the round, he sang center stage with the band scattered around him and took regular jaunts onto four catwalks that jutted into the audience to show off his still-formidable dance moves.

Pacing the proceedings perfectly, Prince slowed things down with the ballad “Shhh” before revving the show back up with blisteringly funky takes on “DMSR,” “I Feel For You” and “Controversy” — an extended jam with impressive solo turns by the band as directed by their diminutive but dominating leader.

“The command he has over the music and the communication between the musicians was incredible,” said David Tatkin, 52, of Scottsdale. “I brought my son (Alex, 12) because I wanted him to see real musicianship and showmanship.”

While his keyboardist and saxophone player vamped through an instrumental interlude, Prince and the rest of the musicians departed the stage. When he returned dressed in white pants and a flowing white shirt with small red polka dots, the show took a turn for the mellow with “The Beautiful Ones,” “Nothing Compares 2 U” (which he's fully reclaimed from Sinéad O'Connor) and “Insatiable.” Nothing wrong with that, but an oddly slow take on the normally gritty funk of the apocalyptic “Sign O’ The Times” failed to re-establish the momentum of the show. When that was followed with “The Question of U” and new track “Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance,” neither of which ignited any sparks, much of the previously dancing crowd had taken their seats.

But Prince is in possession of far too many hits and is much too polished a performer to let a listing show sink and “U Got the Look” was just the lifeline it needed. The funky groove of another new track, “Life 'O' The Party,” was augmented by about 20 audience members invited onstage to dance along. A faithful reading of Sam & Dave's classic “Soul Man” was followed by the pop perfection of “Kiss” and the entire arena was going as wild as those lucky fans onstage.

“I ain't through with you!” Prince teased and then launched into “Take Me With U” before thanking the crowd and bidding farewell.

Having read reviews of his recent Los Angeles shows, I was expecting a solo acoustic segment to begin the encore when a roadie placed a stool center stage. Alas, it was withdrawn and the band returned with the familiar intro of “Purple Rain.” The signature anthem, replete with seering guitar solos, was a fitting finale to a two-hour-plus show, but it still felt like something was missing — especially when Prince has made statements that this tour will be the last time he performs his best known songs live.

“I thought there should have been more hits,” said Kristen McEntire, 29, of Phoenix. “There was no ‘Little Red Corvette’ and no ‘Raspberry Beret.’ He just touched on the classics.”

While Prince has been far too prolific for a quarter-century to not leave some favorites unplayed, that list also includes: “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” “1999,” “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man,” “Erotic City,” “Alphabet St.,” “Gett Off,” “Cream” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

After a good 10 years in the wilderness of a largely self-imposed exile — changing his name to a symbol, record company battles, less than stellar albums — Prince seems ready to reclaim his throne as rock royalty. A star turn at this year's Grammy Awards and well-deserved induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have raised his profile considerably. Consider that his previous show in the Valley was in front of 5,000 folks at the Dodge Theatre in April 2002 while this concert drew nearly quadruple that amount. Without a hit in the interim to boost ticket sales, it's clear that many former fans returned to see Prince on the promise of a heavy dose of familiar tunes. In that sense, the show — especially the sagging middle section — left something to be desired and unless “Musicology” can return his Purple Majesty to the charts, all the good will and career momentum of this “comeback” will be squandered.

Set list:

Musicology

Let's Go Crazy

I Would Die 4 U

Baby I'm a Star

Shhh

DMSR

I Feel For You

Controversy

The Beautiful Ones

Nothing Compares 2 U

Insatiable

Sign O’ the Times

The Question of U

Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance

U Got the Look

Life 'O' the Party

Soul Man (Sam & Dave cover)

Kiss

Take Me With U

Encore:

Purple Rain