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Hairball
From Consequence of Sound:
Paul McCartney Kicks Off 2022 North American Tour in Spokane
McCartney's first US outing in three years featured a virtual duet with John Lennon
Spokane
'The vision of a grinning Lennon filled the screens above McCartney as the duo traded verses
in what was easily one of the most stirring performances of the night'
Early into the opening night of the “Got Back Tour” on Thursday (April 28th), Paul McCartney pointed out an attendee’s sign held aloft. It displayed a message that this night in Spokane, Washington — McCartney’s first live show since July 2019 — marked the fan’s 124th McCartney concert. “It’s beautiful, we love it,” the Beatle said as cameras flashed the sign to the 12,000-plus folks filling Spokane Arena. “But it’s slightly obsessive.” McCartney’s deadpan humor didn’t disappear during his time off the road, nor did his ability to craft a stunning, nearly three-hour set that somehow manages to thrill the Beatlemaniacs, give proper due to his too-often-neglected Wings work, and slip in a few surprises and new songs as well. Even so, with a catalog as stacked as McCartney’s, it’s impossible to include every “Jet,” “Back in the U.S.S.R.” and “A Hard Day’s Night” when you want to showcase tunes from your most recent albums. “Women and Wives” from 2020’s McCartney III made its live debut, and he played two songs from 2018’s Egypt Station (“Fuh You” and “Come On To Me”). The kickoff of the “Got Back Tour” was an unusually intimate affair for a McCartney roadtrip. Spokane Arena, tucked in a small city in Eastern Washington, is by far the smallest venue he’ll play on his “Got Back Tour,” a jaunt that includes shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Fenway Park in Boston and Met Life Stadium in New Jersey. The chance to see McCartney this up close and personal made for a crowd that seemed — judging by McCartney’s own informal poll from the stage — split nearly equally between locals and people who’d traveled to catch McCartney’s first concert of 2022. McCartney hit the stage in his typical casual jeans-and-blazer combo, joined by his long-time band to tear into “Can’t Buy Me Love,” followed quickly by Wings’ “Junior’s Farm” and “Letting Go.”
While McCartney opened the show playing his iconic Hofner bass at center stage, throughout the show he would bounce between myriad instruments — pianos, naturally, for songs like “Hey Jude,” “My Valentine” and “Maybe I’m Amazed,” but also electric guitar and mandolin. At one point, he brought out a ukulele he explained was a gift from George Harrison before paying tribute to his former bandmate with a cover of Harrison’s “Something” that evolved from simple acoustic strumming into a powerful, fully electrified wonder. Someone like McCartney doesn’t need any additional hype to pack his concerts, given the generations of fans on hand thrilled to be experiencing just a taste of Beatlemania in person. But the pandemic pause that pushed McCartney off the road in 2019 and forced the cancellation of a planned lengthy 2020 tour added to the excitement of his return to the live stage Thursday. And Peter Jackson’s 2021 The Beatles: Get Back documentary remarkably managed to raise McCartney’s profile to new heights as both casual fans and Beatles fanatics got a new glimpse into just what a driving, creative force he was in the context of the Fab Four. Among four unquestionable geniuses, the youthful McCartney (just 26 during the recording of Let It Be documented in Jackson’s film) clearly was the leader of the pack. McCartney made mention of Jackson’s film more than once Thursday night, incorporating several clips into his splashy video display that engulfed the rear of the stage. The “Got Back” tour moniker is an obvious nod to the film, but its presence was felt most dramatically when McCartney returned to stage for his encore (carrying a Ukrainian flag in a nod to the world outside the arena) and said, “You want some more? We have something special for you.” With that, McCartney duetted with John Lennon on “I’ve Got A Feeling,” using audio culled from the famous rooftop concert, the Beatles’ last public performance together. The vision of a grinning Lennon filled the screens above McCartney as the duo traded verses in what was easily one of the most stirring performances of the night. The youthful McCartney on display via video was a stark contrast to the real-life McCartney on stage, at least physically. Still remarkably energetic and spry as he readies to turn 80 in June, McCartney’s age is showing in his face, a somewhat jarring juxtaposition if the last time you saw him was in the Get Back doc. His voice, though, remains in fine form, holding up remarkably well over a three-hour set even if his distinct screams aren’t quite as vivid as they used to be.
While much of the setlist echoed those songs played on his “Freshen Up Tour” in 2019, there were some noteworthy additions. “Getting Better” found its way into a show for the first time since 2003, as did “You Never Give Me Your Money” as part of an Abbey Road medley, which also included “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” making its first appearance in a McCartney set since 2008. McCartney’s band is incredible, as you’d expect, and has been with him since 2002. Abe Laboriel, Jr., is a powerhouse drummer, Rusty Anderson rips off concise, searing solos, Brian Ray deftly shifts between guitar and bass depending on what McCartney’s up to, and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Wix Wickens fleshes out everything from the simplest early tunes (“Birthday,” “Love Me Do”) to more ornate fare (“Live and Let Die,” the show-closing “The End”) with style. McCartney is once again packing the three-piece Hot City Horns on the “Got Back Tour,” and their inclusion on several songs, particularly Wings’ “1985,” and the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna,” gave those songs added life. McCartney’s spirits were high, but no match for an audience who relished his requests to “give us a Beatles scream” or who laughed and cheered when asked, “Let’s hear it for grandparents!” He remarked on how thankful he was to be able to play “back together, in the same room.” But the most poignant moment of the night came as McCartney introduced “Here Today,” a song he wrote for Lennon shortly after his friend’s murder — a song he said expressed the love he had for Lennon, but didn’t express before his was lost. “If there’s someone you want to say it to, get it said!” McCartney declared. Words to live by, no matter your age.
Paul McCartney next plays Seattle, WA at Climate Pledge Arena on Monday, May 2nd. Tickets for that gig, and for the rest of the tour, are available via Ticketmaster.
Setlist:
Can’t Buy Me Love (The Beatles)
Junior’s Farm (Wings)
Letting Go (Wings)
Got To Get You Into My Life (The Beatles)
Come On To Me
Let Me Roll It (Wings)
Getting Better (The Beatles) (First time since 2003)
Women & Wives (Live debut)
My Valentine
1985 (Wings)
Maybe I’m Amazed
I’ve Just Seen A Face (The Beatles)
In Spite Of All The Danger (The Quarrymen)
Love Me Do (The Beatles)
Dance Tonight
Blackbird (The Beatles)
Here Today
Queenie Eye
Lady Madonna (The Beatles)
Fuh You
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite (The Beatles)
Something (The Beatles)
Ob La Di Ob La Da (The Beatles)
You Never Give Me Your Money (The Beatles) (First time since 2003)
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (The Beatles) (First time since 2008)
Get Back (The Beatles)
Band On The Run (Wings)
Let It Be (The Beatles)
Live And Let Die (Wings)
Hey Jude (The Beatles)
Encore:
I’ve Got A Feeling (The Beatles)
Birthday (The Beatles)
Helter Skelter (The Beatles)
Golden Slumbers (The Beatles)
Carry That Weight (The Beatles)
The End (The Beatles)
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jahisnotdead
Paul stays in the house where George died? That's wild.
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CaptainCorellaQuote
jahisnotdead
Paul stays in the house where George died? That's wild.
Turn it round.
George was dying and Paul helped ease his pain by letting him spend his final days in one of his (Paul's) houses.
A loving gesture to a dear friend.
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GasLightStreet
Who is "until we’re jolted awake to the fact that they cannot, as with the recent instance of videos being circulated of a certain ’80s icon who is not coming within a prayer of hitting the notes on his band’s most enduring hit anymore." about? Apparently I missed that one.
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GasLightStreet
Who is "until we’re jolted awake to the fact that they cannot, as with the recent instance of videos being circulated of a certain ’80s icon who is not coming within a prayer of hitting the notes on his band’s most enduring hit anymore." about? Apparently I missed that one.
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jahisnotdeadQuote
GasLightStreet
Who is "until we’re jolted awake to the fact that they cannot, as with the recent instance of videos being circulated of a certain ’80s icon who is not coming within a prayer of hitting the notes on his band’s most enduring hit anymore." about? Apparently I missed that one.
Though the phrasing seems to hint Jon Bon Jovi, the videos that I've seen circulated recently are of Vince Neil.
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GasLightStreet
Vince Neil!?
Vince isn't quite an 80's icon, is he?
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jmd
Sure, if you’ve seen him before, there’s a lot of “been there done that”.
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bitusa2012Quote
jmd
Sure, if you’ve seen him before, there’s a lot of “been there done that”.
As compared to the always freshly updated Stones setlist?
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bitusa2012Quote
jmd
Sure, if you’ve seen him before, there’s a lot of “been there done that”.
As compared to the always freshly updated Stones setlist?
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jahisnotdeadQuote
GasLightStreet
Vince Neil!?
Vince isn't quite an 80's icon, is he?
I remember Motley Crue being as big as any band of the 80's. *shrug* Either way, the reference does seem to be Jon Bon Jovi, so I stand corrected.
But Neil is pretty epically terrible now; look up some of the recent versions of Kickstart My Heart for some serious vocal sadness.
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bye bye johnny
Paul’s iconic ‘McCartney’ trilogy available together for the first time as a limited-edition box set
17.06.2022
Paul’s three iconic solo albums (McCartney, McCartney II, and McCartney III) available together for the first time as a limited-edition box set – August 5th, 2022
[www.paulmccartney.com]
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bye bye johnny
Abe Laboriel Jr. is this week's guest on "Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin". A great listen.
[www.iheart.com]
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jahisnotdead
Happy 80th birthday to Paul McCartney today. Along with the Rolling Stones and the Ramones (who got their name from him), McCartney's solo work has given me the most musical pleasure over my lifetime. I'm grateful for his music. It's enriched my time on this earth.