Anyone see Macca last night?

Posted by: Kevin-W on 22 December 2009

At the O2, that is.

Even for a seasoned Macca-watcher such as myself, it was often baffling.

I mean, he did "Wonderful Xmas Time", a horrible clapalong "Obla Do Obla Da" AND "Mull Of Kintyre" (complete with full pipe band). But he followed the latter with a scarifying "Helter Skelter".

He played for three hours and did an exquisite "Blackbird" and a gorgeous "My Love"; a whole heap of Fabs show-stoppers ("Drive My Car", "Day Tripper", "Paperback Writer", "Back In The USSR", "Yesterday", "Eleanor Rigby", "Sgt Pepper", "Hey Jude", "Something", "Magical Mystery Tour", "Let It Be", "Long & Winding Road", "Day In The Life", "In The End", etc); a collection of Wings classics ("Jet", a dazzling "Live & Let Die", "Band On The Run"); "Flaming Pie"; "Give Peace A Chance"' a couple of Fireman numbers (both very good); and, best of all, a superb "Let Me Roll It" (with a "Purple Haze" coda) and an unbelievable "And I Love Her" which was so beautiful and heartfelt I almost cried.

On balance, despite the infuriating smugness, the eagerness to please, the showbiz tropes and the mega cheese, I think the man is a genius. And this was an intermittently (OK, mostly) brilliant gig.

Anyone else go? Thoughts?
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by El Guapo
Saw him on the tv the other night. Is his voice going or was he just having a bad night?
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by BigH47
I definitely wouldn't go if there was any chance of Mull of F**king Kintyre being played.
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Hope they recorded the show - sounds like a great set - Macca has an advantage over most in that he has fantastic catalogue of songs (and he doesn't even feature this gem any longer) - Paul rarely disappoints even if his memory is almost full.
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by Analogue Rules OK
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
I definitely wouldn't go if there was any chance of Mull of F**king Kintyre being played.



I always thought that was Mulligans Tyres?
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by --duncan--
Thanks for the review.

quote:
Anyone else go? Thoughts?


i thought about it but prices were a little too steep. That and I've indelible memories of seeing him at Earl's Court in '03.

That gig was a last-minute decision having already seen him already on that tour, but I sniped two tickets for the price of one on ebay and they turned out to be about 10m from the stage. The set included all the high points you describe and no Mull! Macca was on fire that night and I simply can't imagine him playing any better.

duncan
Posted on: 23 December 2009 by RoyleBlue
I went - never listened to The Beatles or Sir Pauls music much until I recently borrowed a friends remastered cd's. Personally I thought it was amazing - I'd heard he was going to do Mull of Kintyre (a song I never liked full stop) but thought it came across very well - the Scots band really added an oomph to it.
Posted on: 28 December 2009 by TomK
Didn’t see it but just watched the New York City DVD. It’s fantastic and his voice has never been better. Being of a certain age I grew up imagining the Beatles were my big brothers and I felt that more than ever with this DVD. He spoke so fondly of them I was welling up at times. I don’t know why people want to portray him as anything but what you see i.e. a genuinely nice guy who’s been responsible for some of the best music ever written.
Posted on: 28 December 2009 by Massimo Bertola
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin-W:
I think the man is a genius..Thoughts?


Were there doubts?

Cheers,
M.
Posted on: 29 December 2009 by mudwolf
yeah the more I listen to the new box set the more amazed I am at all of their talents put together. They weren't angry young men like so many out there, but having fun going thru life singing about love, breakups and fun stuff. They could R&R with the best of them but they excelled at beautiful colorful music.

I saw Sir Paul on the Grammys 2 years ago and he got into Helter Skelter, finally breaking the spell it's had since Manson and he definitely rocked.