Paul McCartney is playing Fenway Park tonight. Sadly, I won’t be there this time, but I’m incredibly happy for all those who are going – you’re in for a good show. I’ve seen McCartney live three times; twice in 1990 on the tour in support of Flowers In The Dirt, and once at Fenway Park in 2009.
The show in 2009 was my daughter’s first real concert, and we were thrilled for this to be the one she’ll always remember, even if she was completely overstimulated and we spent most of the show hanging out on the 1st base pavilion away from the “flashing lights” that were overloading her mind. She won’t remember that part when she’s older; she’ll remember that he played her favorite song “Dance Tonight” on mandolin.
Unfortunately, in addition to all of the great memories, I will also remember that the twit boomers that flanked us in every direction didn’t know the song since he unaccountably has continued writing music after 1975. What a bunch of morons. It was the exact same experience as when I last saw him in 1990. A bunch of pathetic fools jumping up for every Beatles song and then yelling at me to sit down as soon as the artist has the temerity to play a song that doesn’t figure into their Big Chill internal soundtrack.
It makes me very sad when performers are forced to play the same old hits from years ago to crowds who are disinterested and intolerant of the newer material. I’ve avoided seeing many acts for this reason. McCartney, oddly, is the exception to this rule, simply because he seems to vibrate with this inner joy at playing the old songs. Long past when most people would be getting resentful, he gives off the impression that he is just as excited as you are to pull out another old chestnut and he acts as if he has waited his whole life to play the song to you. I don’t know how he does it, but I completely admire his seemingly endless enthusiasm and his bottomless sense of wonder.
From a performance view, he killed. Voice is clearly not as sharp as in years past, but in no way is it unwelcome or unpleasant; just a touch worn. At a time when standards for length of performance are reverting back to the age of the singles artist, and at an age when he should probably go have a lie-down, McCartney put on not just an exciting, energetic show, but a seriously long one. Take notes, kids…
http://www.paulmccartney.com/live/gigs/10773-boston
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SETLIST
- Drive My Car
- Jet
- Only Mama Knows
- Flaming Pie
- Got To Get You Into My Life
- Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
- Highway
- The Long And Winding Road
- My Love
- Blackbird
- Here Today
- Dance Tonight
- Calico Skies
- Mrs Vandebilt
- Eleanor Rigby
- Sing The Changes
- Band On The Run
- Back In The USSR
- I’m Down
- Something
- I’ve Got A Feeling
- Paperback Writer
- A Day In The Life / Give Peace A Chance
- Let It Be
- Live And Let Die
- Hey Jude
Encore
- Day Tripper
- Lady Madonna
- I Saw Her Standing There
Second Encore
- Yesterday
- Helter Skelter
- Get Back
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End
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