At many moments during the 90-minute performance, it was easy to forget that the slender man coming up from the splits was not really Prince. In fact, I had to remind myself quite a few times last Saturday night that this was just a Las Vegas tribute band.
Prince impersonator Jason Tenner has the uncanny ability to suspend disbelief long enough to get the audience at Planet Hollywood’s Sin City to show their appreciation for the whole experience called Purple Reign.
Jason doesn’t only resemble Prince; he has the mannerisms, dance moves, singing and talking voice perfected. To top it off, he’s an incredible guitar player.
After the opener, “Let’s Go Crazy,” flaunted his lead guitar skills, the performance of “Kiss” showed off Jason’s mean falsetto and scream.
The keyboardist, bassist and guitarist, who is also Purple Reign’s musical director, comprise a very tight backing band. With seemingly effortless execution, all front-line members of the group play, sing and dance through a set list of mainly Prince’s singles from the ’80s and ’90s.
Prince set
- Let’s Go Crazy
- Kiss
- Little Red Corvette
- 1999
- Strange Relationship
- Sexy M.F.
- Gett Off
- Raspberry Beret
- Purple Rain
What time is it?
Whenever Jason inconspicuously disappeared to change into another glammed-up outfit, Morris Day and Jerome impersonators slid onto the stage to do a very entertaining The Time set backed up by the same Purple Reign musicians.
While not as strong vocally as Jason, the performer playing the role of Morris made up for that shortcoming with dead-on choreography with his mirror-wielding partner and the band, as well as his cool quick wit. The Time tribute had no problem getting the crowd out of its seats with Purple Rain era classics such as “The Bird” and “Jungle Love.” They also laid down the Minneapolis funk groove to songs from The Time’s self-titled debut album and Pandemonium.
The occasional banter between “Morris” and “Prince” played up the rivalry established in Purple Rain. In one instance, Morris heckled Jason’s sheer see-through pants by calling him America’s next top model. Jason responded in Prince’s style of dead-pan humor with the help of his clown puppet featured in a scene from the movie.
The Time set
- Get It Up
- Cool
- Jungle Love
- Jerk Out
- The Bird
The small venue kept things close and personal; even the folks in the back row didn’t sit much farther away from the stage than those in the VIP area. And although I’m pretty I spent more on this ticket than I ever did seeing the real Prince, it was well worth it—a must see while you’re in Vegas.
Sounds like so much fun! And f*ckin’ Jerk Out. Jealous . . .
It was fabulous and funky, Mike. Both acts were honestly as good as the real thing.
I just remembered that they also played “Erotic City.”
Oh, and “When Doves Cry.”