Anyone else watch Paul on Saturday Night Live last night?

I thought that Paul looked and sounded great... love his band... don't know all their names. Especially the drummer Abe. L. The two guitarists are pros: switching off as needed between lead and rhythm and slide; electric and acoustic; all sounding right and handling all the nice licks.

After the 2nd song, I though that it would be nice if they let him play more than the SNL-standard 2 songs. After all, he's Paul McCartney... they'd surely let him play more if he wanted to. Sure enough, they came back again later in the show for some more songs.

The songs:

First set:
(1) "Jet"



Second set:
(2) "Band On The Run"



Third set (Medley):
(3) "A Day In The Life"
(4) "Give Peace A Chance"


The John Lennon tribute was quite touching... The 30th anniversary of John's death was just days ago... a Beatles song that is so closely associated with John then segued into a Lennon solo tune.

Fourth Set (With Show credits)
(5) "Get Back"





Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-14 06:20 by schillid.

Yeah, that's cool Paul remembered John like that. And this band is smoking hot. Hope they'll stay with him to the end.

His hair is a little too dark these days. Looks kind of silly.

REVISION:
That was my first thought. He reminded me of when I was a kid in the 60's, and you'd see old Bob Hope with this obviously dyed hair.

But watching the performances on the DVR last night (Sun), you can't deny that it was a great success. Sure his voice was a little old, but not a disaster (like Harrison's '74 tour) and the band played very very very well.

I couldn't believe it when he started playing "A Day In The Life." I never thought I'd ever hear that performed live by a Beatle. And "Give Peace A Chance" by Paul was an emotional experience. Just beautiful.(Since he is a credited co-writer of that song I guess he gets royalties for that performance??)

The whole thing had to be a dream come true for Beatle fan/SNL Producer Lorne Michaels. Wonderful early Christmas present for the rest of us.



Did you notice that in the Weekend Update bit where he and Seth Myers voiced Charles and Camilla that they really didn't go too far in their mockery? Seemed designed to keep Sir Paul in good standing with the future King.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-13 17:54 by loog droog.

Quote
frankotero
Yeah, that's cool Paul remembered John like that. And this band is smoking hot. Hope they'll stay with him to the end.

ditto the sentiments on Paul's band. From various live appearances I have seen on tv or video I have collected of Paul over the last several years, it appears that his current band has invigorated him....
PS- as an older music fan, I admit that I do not stay on top of all the current raves, but I will say that compared to some of the recent artists that have graced the stage on SNL, it was an ABSOLUTE PLEASURE to see the likes of Paul McCartney strutting his stuff. Whether it is an act he has perfected or not, he appears to exude such class and charisma whenever he walks into a room...

Just watched the whole episode. Wow it was great to see Paul play in some comedy skits. He's a good sport. Also very emotional the two John songs. You could see it in Pauls face, it's real!!! Another thing I really liked was the closeness of the band. Must be very inspirational. I hope to see The Rolling Stones this way... and very soon. Rock on everyone!!!

This probably will not be available on Youtube after today...

EDIT: See above



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-12 23:30 by schillid.

I watched the whole episode on actual TV and loved it. Hilarious was Paul's mini-harmonica solo and him singing Berlin's TAKE MY BREATH AWAY (theme song from the movie Top Gun) dressed in a Mozart era costume in the SNL Digital Short.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-12 23:56 by Title5Take1.

I thought that Paul looked and sounded great... love his band... don't know all their names. Especially the drummer Abe. L. The two guitarists are pros: switching off as needed between lead and rhythm and slide; electric and acoustic; all sounding right and handling all the nice licks.

Band members are:
Abe Loboriel Jr - Drums
Rusty Anderson - Lead Guitar
Brian Ray - Rhythm Guitar
Paul "Wix" Wickens - Keyboards

Gosh, I guess I don't hear correctly! I thought his singing was horrendous and that he should hang it up! I also wish that his band would be guys closer to his age.

Quote
largelingerie
Gosh, I guess I don't hear correctly!

I guess you don't.

I will admit that the performance of Jet was a bit flat. But I am also wondering if it was the SNL mix. But the backing vocals were a tad flat and Macca hit a few bum notes. Hey we all have to have an off night...the man has been working hard the last two years, touring non stop, and I saw him twice in a year and they were two of the best shows I have ever seen. Period.

I thought that the band were great.Fans will be in for a treat for his London and Liverpool gigs. Anyone know how his Apollo Theatre in Harlem gig went down? Actually he may not have played it yet.Not sure.

"I thought his singing was horrendous and that he should hang it up! I also wish that his band would be guys closer to his age."

Hang it up? Really? Small band you play superbly with Paul in great form.

Paul's voice is not quite as strong as it was ten years ago and has a slight quiver to it but I thought he was FAB, as he likes to say. I've seen him with that band and they are perfectly suited for him. Physically he looks better now than he did a few short years ago when he was so stressed over his divorce. I was surprised that he did " Give Peace A Chance" but very happy that he picked that tune as a Lennon tribute.
P.S. I thought the hair was fine!

I'm so pleased to see Paul getting the sort of respect he deserves these days. He's bloody brilliant is Paul.

Quote
whitem8
I will admit that the performance of Jet was a bit flat. But I am also wondering if it was the SNL mix. But the backing vocals were a tad flat and Macca hit a few bum notes. Hey we all have to have an off night...the man has been working hard the last two years, touring non stop, and I saw him twice in a year and they were two of the best shows I have ever seen. Period.

I felt the same, Jet was a bit flat soundwise. But it was a TV show. Band On The Run sounded much better, more like I expected.

And the vocals WERE a bit off at times, especially the backings from the guitarists. Paul was pretty on all through, but a bit weak in spots. He's getting up there though, so it's expected. But the comments that he should quit are just wrong. He's nowhere near that point, and the band plays and sounds great.

I respect what he did with John's Give Peace A Chance, but I didn't really like it. I was really digging Day In The Life, and when they made the switch, it didn't really work for me.

Overall, I thought he was great. Paul is such a pro, at this point I think it's extremely rare for him to put in a really bad performance.

Paul's voice is pretty strong considering he isn't just hitting the high notes on BAND ON THE RUN but screaming them, too. I was watching LADES AND GENTLEMEN yesterday and noticed Mick was avoiding a lot of the high notes live even back then. Paul isn't dodging them even now.

Quote
Title5Take1
Paul's voice is pretty strong considering he isn't just hitting the high notes on BAND ON THE RUN but screaming them, too. I was watching LADES AND GENTLEMEN yesterday and noticed Mick was avoiding a lot of the high notes live even back then. Paul isn't dodging them even now.

You should hear him sing I've Got A Feeling live. Isn't dodging anything there either.

Quote
largelingerie
Gosh, I guess I don't hear correctly! I thought his singing was horrendous and that he should hang it up! I also wish that his band would be guys closer to his age.

Common misconception about the age of his band members...everyone thinks they're a bunch of young cats, but only Abe the drummer, who's about 40, would remotely fit into that category. The rest of them are in their 50's...much younger than Paul's 68, for sure, but it's not like he's up there with a bunch of twenty-somethings.

Rusty Anderson (guitar) - 51
Brian Ray (guitar) - 55
Paul "Wix" Wickens (keyboards) - 54

Close enough to his age for you, or would you really prefer all of them to be approaching 70 like him??



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-13 18:52 by Jah Paul.

paul was awesome on snl.great band i loved a day in the life and get back

Tidy little keyboard solo on Get Back too.

Quote
largelingerie
I thought his singing was horrendous ... I also wish that his band would be guys closer to his age.

His voice is just a bit thinner than it used to be, and he was flat on one or two high notes on SNL ("Having read the book, I'd love to turn...")... but overall I'm always impressed by how easy Paul Makes it look... Singing at the same time that he's playing with a tight band -- like the band he's got -- that isn't easy.

As for the age difference... If they play great together, then so what? Maybe the other band members being younger does have something to do with Paul still rocking. But again, so what?... If it's all still making good RnR, then it's ok.

Quote
sweetcharmedlife
Abe Loboriel Jr - Drums
Rusty Anderson - Lead Guitar
Brian Ray - Rhythm Guitar
Paul "Wix" Wickens - Keyboards

Excellent band he's got now... the same guys have now been playing together for a long time

Quote
schillid

Quote
largelingerie
I thought his singing was horrendous ... I also wish that his band would be guys closer to his age.

His voice is just a bit thinner than it used to be, and he was flat on one or two high notes on SNL ("Having read the book, I'd love to turn...")... but overall I'm always impressed by how easy Paul Makes it look... Singing at the same time that he's playing with a tight band -- like the band he's got -- that isn't easy.

As for the age difference... If they play great together, then so what? Maybe the other band members being younger does have something to do with Paul still rocking. But again, so what?... If it's all still making good RnR, then it's ok.

Quote
sweetcharmedlife
Abe Loboriel Jr - Drums
Rusty Anderson - Lead Guitar
Brian Ray - Rhythm Guitar
Paul "Wix" Wickens - Keyboards

Excellent band he's got now... the same guys have now been playing together for a long time

Yeah most of them have been with him for about 10 yrs. Wix,much longer than that.Yes they are tighter than a cun's nunt.

I really enjoyed it, not just the music but also the afore mentioned comedy skits. When appeared on Weekend Update and they asked him if he can do a British accent? Priceless. And I was pleased to see him promote Band on the Run (just re-released this year) and also pay tribute to John.

Saw him in Nashville this past summer. Hands down one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. Even if he occasionally struggles with a high note once in a while, his energy, strength and skill are still stunning for a man of any age, much less somebody pushing 70. I hope the guy rocks til he drops.

Paul is getting to be what we call in England,''A National Treasure''.A few others are Coronation Street,Bruce Forsyth and in my opinion The Rolling Stones.All very English in every way. ><

Quote
sweetcharmedlife
Paul "Wix" Wickens - Keyboards

Funny... it originally took a symphony orchestra and much planning to complete the rising crescendo in "A Day In The Life" ... now it's just one keyboardist on a synthesizer.

Did they use Paul in one of Kenan's "What Up With That" skits? That would have been funny.

He played A Day in The Life/Give Peace A Chance just this way during his last tour. It's his way of getting more than just one Lennon song in and recognizing him for not only John's best Beatle song, if not THE best Beatle song, and for his peace activities, all in one medley.

How can you not be moved by this performance of "A Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance" 30 years after Lennon's tragic death? A few bum notes are way beside the point on that one.

Thanks for posting that.

Loved his band, loved his spirit--
His singing was way off, imo.

I haven't seen him in person, thought
he was much better in other televised appearances
of late, such as one outside on top of Letterman's theater.

(In need of a tour...)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-14 06:06 by angee.