Purple reign remembered

Under a cloud-filled sky, fans gathered at the Casbah in sadness and anticipation to honor Prince: music and dance magician.

The night started with a “U Got the Look” mood. Fans donned themselves in a feast of purple — raspberry berets, sequined purple jackets, suede boots, and someone dressed as Prince himself. As the doors to the club opened, however, it wasn’t about the look, but the shared feelings of the crowd, the purpose of the night.

Fan Clark Willits commented, “How wonderful to be under one roof with all my Prince fans…no inhibitions, bad attitudes, or hidden agendas.”

Onstage from the outset was Cathy “Cat” Thompson, the hostess of the evening. Dressed in a Purple Rain T-shirt, Cat sang every lyric. With her silver love-symbol tambourine shimmering, she led the crowd in honoring Prince’s every word. And every person on the dance floor sang every song and swayed in unison — a seductive lavender sea that only Prince could create.

By 9 p.m., the dance floor was packed and a wave of exuberance hit as DJs played hit after hit — “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” “D.M.S.R.” Becky Crimmins, all smiles, commented, “So many of Prince’s songs hold a special memory for me. Listening to a particular song takes me right back to that moment in time.”

As the crowd dispersed, you could see a bit of Prince’s seduction in their smiles, a sign of the times Prince created that they’ll never forget.

• Concert: A Tribute to Prince
• Date: April 24
• Venue: Casbah
• Seats: Dance floor