The show had been excuse to dive into everything about the band, and the performance was almost an afterthought. I assumed McCartney would be a tight-lipped Brit who would put on a competent show, as Oasis and The Who had done. Turns out he was an absolute *pro.*
See why in the live recap:
--- How does this continue to work? --> Floor ticket for the price of an upper upper-deck limited view ticket!!! Last-minute Verizon Center glory!
--- “A Hard Day's Night" / "Can't Buy Me Love”!
--- “My Valentine,” a song he wrote for his wife, Nancy, who's here tonight. Not sure why Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp are doing sign language in the video. Hopefully an activism thing.
--- “This next one's for the Wings fan.” Hahaha, the guy in front of me is awesome! “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.”
--- For Linda: “Maybe I'm Amazed.”
--- Heh at his mini curtain calls after every song. Awww and he's getting into conversations with the arena about signs!! In response to a Paul For President 2016 sign: “I don't think there's time left.” HEE.
--- “In Spite of all the Danger.” Whoa, a song from John Lennon's Quarrymen?! Before everything! He prompts the crowd with “whoa-oh-oh,” so they get into it. Lifetime pro.
--- Cool harmonica during “Love Me Do.” The pause is always the best part. Dedicated to George Martin. Cool anecdote from the recording session.
--- Guy in the audience has been to 108 shows, so he knows the intro story -- heh. Pro.
--- Whoa, I didn't know “Blackbird” was written for Birmingham / Montgomery. The raised stage / message is unexpected / satisfying! “You were only waiting for this moment to be free." High point of the night so far.
--- “Here Today”!!! Haunting ooohs and falsetto. Such a moving conversation between him and the late Lennon. “If you have something to say, say it sooner than later.” Paul Simon, TAKE NOTE. (The awesome guy next to me: “you said it!”)
--- “We can tell what you like. When we do an old Beatles song, the whole place lights up. It's every star in the galaxy. And when we do (a new) one you don't like, it's like a black hole. But we don't care.” Hahahah, most honest I've heard a singer be at a concert!!
--- “Lady Madonna”: Cool (/obvious?) images of strong women on screen.
--- “Four Five Seconds”! HA, he is certainly a man of the people. He's got words on the screen for a song about making it to the end of the work week. (Wisely) does not mention the fact that Rihanna and Kanye West are also featured in the song... (Other guy next to me saw McCartney at Bonnaroo! What is this, a Greyhound bus?)
--- “Eleanor Rigby"!! Sketchy vocals / sound, but it's still "E.R."
--- “I don't know how many of you know, but George Harrison was a really good ukulele player.” Yay, I did know that! I like that he's also paying tribute to him after the prior bashing. The ukulele in the beginning made “Something” weird in the beginning but it ends up a BRILLIANT contrast when the guitar kicks in!!! Awwww at all the George pictures on screen.
--- “Oh La Di, Ob La Da”: an unexpected party!! Like the "life goes on" part.
--- “Band on the Run.” Strong by the middle of the song -- the best Wings track tonight.
--- “Back in the USSR”: sponsored by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys? A real rocker!
--- First band to play in Red Square. “Those Ruskies love to rock.” The Russian Defense Minister told him [in a thick, amusing accent], “The first record I ever bought was ‘Love Me Do.’” Another minister quote: “We learned how to speak English by listening to The Beatles. Hello, goodbye.”
--- “Let It Be”!!! Wish you could be there, Gerry T. http://someofourdistinguishedguestss.blogspot.com/2015/01/parents.html
--- Hahahah, did not expect literal fire during “Live and Let Die”! What is this, Trans-Siberian Orchestra / Guns 'n Roses? So much for understated Brits.
--- Hahahah at him stumbling around like a deaf person after the 5,000 explosions. Final guffaw at the transition to “Hey Jude”: “welllllll, here we go.”
--- “Hey Jude”!!! It goes on like an hour, the crowd continues to flip out even after it ends. 74, he's still got it.
--- Whoa -- I thought that was the end. Still a second encore!!
--- He brings out U.S., U.K., Russia, and RAINBOW flags!!!
--- “Yesterday” / “Hihihi”!!! Sickkk contrast. I'm officially flipping out. I've lost all objectivity at this point.
--- Someone from the crowd has seen 64 shows since 64. His response to someone who has seen 100 shows: “Are you looking for a rebate?” Signings people's tattoos / Chill Class Vibe in an ARENA!!!!
--- “Carry That Weight” / “The End.” Bravo.
Grade: A+
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