I can't begin to express my love and admiration for this man. I was late getting into Prince. I really didn't start listening to him until I bought Purple Rain on vinyl in like '98. From there though it became a sick obsession. Of course I owned every album. Of course I downloaded every bootleg, audio or video, I could get my hands on. Of course I played those albums constantly and tried to get everyone I know to feel the same.
But when Prince finally came to play in my city in 2001, being a first year college student and broke, I could not afford the $120 tickets and watched as all my friends, and mom, and sister all got tickets and I had to pretend like it didn't bother me, but it did. I caved, and the day before the show managed to get one ticket, for $20 less than face, and pooled every cent I had to buy that ticket. I could not afford a drink at the show, but I was there, and ecstatic. I was sat by myself, with a couple dressed in tux and gown to my left and an old farmer couple to my right, and there I was tie-dyed and smelling of herb.
I remember when the lights went down there was an enormous black dude standing right beside me by an entrance (I'm on the aisle), and I'm sitting there thinking, "Man, Prince has security all up in this bitch". Next thing I know, dude picks up his saxophone and starts wailing. I'd been standing next to Maceo goddamn Parker that whole time and didn't even realize it. Prince goes on to start the show by basically playing The Rainbow Children in it's entirety, an album which I was kind of luke warm on at the time, but that show made it one of my all time favorite Prince albums. He then just funks up the place for like an hour straight before going into an hour or so of solo piano stuff. All in all, probably the #1 concert I've ever been to (and I've seen well over 100 amazing shows in my day, and lots more bad ones).
I guess I'm rambling, but my point is, if there is an artist out there that you can't afford to see, but you really want to. Find a way. Sacrifice whatever you need to. I don't remember that $120. I have no idea what I would have done with it, but it wouldn't have impacted my life in any way remotely comparable to how that show did. Thank you Prince.
I'll leave you with:
Sometimes it Snows in April
Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war,
just after I'd wiped away his last tear
I guess he's better off than he was before,
A whole lot better off than the fools he left here
I used 2 cry 4 Tracy because he was my only friend
Those kind of cars don't pass u every day
I used 2 cry 4 Tracy because I wanted to see him again,
But sometimes sometimes life ain't always the way...
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish life was never ending,
and all good things, they say, never last
Springtime was always my favorite time of year,
A time 4 lovers holding hands in the rain
Now springtime only reminds me of Tracy's tears
Always cry 4 love, never cry 4 pain
He used 2 say so strong unafraid to die
Unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized
No, staring at his picture I realized
No one could cry the way my Tracy cried
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad
Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
And all good things, they say, never last
I often dream of heaven and I know that Tracy's there
I know that he has found another friend
Maybe he's found the answer 2 all the April snow
Maybe one day I'll see my Tracy again
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
But all good things, they say, never last
All good things that say, never last
And love, it isn't love until it's past
I was doing better until I went to google something. 
