Paul McCartney Kicks Off New Tour and Rocks Phoenix

Paul McCartney doesn't know how to act his age.

Now 67 years old, the legendary rock star turned back the clock Sunday night, and fans in Glendale, Arizona were treated to three thrilling hours of some of the greatest rock and roll of all time, with no opening act and no breaks.

McCartney kicked off what he called a "mini-tour" with a rolicking and energetic concert before a huge and enthusiastic audience. He knew what they wanted to hear, and delivered with charm and an easy smile. Fans of early Beatles got "Day Tripper," "All My Loving," "I'm Looking Through You." Fans of classic Beatles got the greatest hits: "Hey Jude," "Eleanor Rigby," "Get Back," "Lady Madonna." And every fan got a rock and roll thrill of a lifetime when McCartney played a song never before performed on American soil; with a grin, Paul said coyly, "I think you're gonna like it," before launching into the opening chords of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da". Not wanting to disappoint, McCartney also gave Wings fans a full compliment of hits, including a soulful "Let Me Roll It' and another never before performed song, "Nineteen Hundred and Eight Five" from Band on the Run.

Some of the evening's most memorable moments were studies in contrast. Some were quiet, as when, alone on the stage, McCartney offered up a beautifully lyrical "Blackbird." Later in the set, a backdrop of stunning photos of the Sonoran Desert (where he and his late wife Linda lived for many years) lent a sense of poignancy to a bittersweet version of "Long and Winding Road." He could have easily lingered on the quiet side and few would have faulted him, but Paul's still the wild boy from The Cavern Club and he wanted to rock: a sweet ukelele version of "Something" transitioned into a full-throttled showstopper that had the audience on its feet. After cranking up the volume with "Back in the USSR" McCartney threw himself into an edgy version of "I've Got a Feeling." Even at the end of a show that would have exhausted a performer half his age, McCartney was still rocking, following up his signature Beatle song, "Yesterday" with a ripping "Helter Skelter"...as part of his second encore.

Through it all McCartney never seemed to weary. And while his voice no longer rings with the crystal purity it had when he was twenty, he still touched the high notes on "Every Night" with as much ease as he growled out the opening of "Lady Madonna."

Toward the end of the show McCartney caught a small stuffed animal, a pink bunny, tossed by a member of the audience; he wore the bunny on his back for the encore (making sure to turn around so the happy fan could see). The little gift might have been an Easter gift, or it might have been an Energizer Bunny. If the latter, it had nothing on Paul McCartney. The legendary performer proved once again that he doesn't just keep going and going. He's still getting better all the time.

 

Follow Marlene H. Phillips on Twitter: www.twitter.com/msmp

Comments

[JulieDole]

04:30 AM on 04/05/2010

I saw him at Coachella last year and again this year at the Hollywood Bowl - both times somewhat on a lark (last-minute tickets on Craigslist) ... Paul and his band were super-impressive, both times.

All the other artists at Coachella did 8 or so songs - Paul put on a complete, 2 1/2 hour concert. And this week's Hollywood Bowl concert was the same - he and his band again went all-out... for 3 hours.

I wasn't a huge Paul fan before (though he was always a great songwriter) - but he won me over both times. Incredible. He just loves being onstage, and it shows. Ditto his band.

[missannie]

05:43 AM on 03/31/2010

Paul rocked the Hollywood Bowl tonight. Just got back and I have to say, I wish I could go again tomorrow night. As the reviewer said, he was full of energy, and looked to be having as much fun as the audience. The whole evening was great from start to finish.

[cungar]

06:32 PM on 03/30/2010

Just pulled up 2 Terrace Level tickets at the Hollywood Bowl tonight. Total was $764 for 2 decent but not great seats. Sorry, Paul is a legend but for that price it would have to be the Beatles.

[shel3364]

06:17 PM on 03/30/2010

*sigh* I just love Sir Paul.

[moshevelvul]

04:27 PM on 03/30/2010

seeing him tonight at the Hollywood Bowl with my 5 year old (and my wife!), Saw the set list last night and went crazy. This is as close the the '76 Wings Over America Tour that I missed as a kid because I had no idea how to buy tickets (my parents were L7) and when I got my dad to call in to a radio station contest - he did - we won - but he hung up the phone before they could take all out information!!!!!!! We called back but all I got was a t-shirt and poster....luckily my dad had more to offer or else I may never have forgiven him.

[cungar]

04:04 PM on 03/30/2010

Here's the setlsit

Venus And Mars
Rock Show
Jet
All My Loving
Got To Get You Into My Life
Highway
Let Me Roll It
Foxy Lady

The Long And Winding Road
Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
(I Want To) Come Home
My Love

I'm Looking Through You
Every Night
Two Of Us
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Mrs. Vandebilt
Eleanor Rigby

Something
Letting Go
Sing The Changes
Band On The Run
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Back in the USSR
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

Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
Get back

Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Sgt. Pepper's ( reprise )
The End

[Theatrixnyc]

04:16 PM on 03/30/2010

Now that's an impressive set list. I would have been more than happy with all of it and left a happy camper.

[peepeeray]

09:06 PM on 03/30/2010

Definitely have to open up with Venus & Mars/Rock Show at the Hollywood Bowl. Hopefully Macca is decked out in his green metal suit.

[Citizen54]

02:58 PM on 03/30/2010

I would've traveled across the country to see him play "Helter Skelter."

Every time I hear one of his "silly love songs," I have to remind myself that this is the same man who wrote one of the hardest-rocking songs of all time.

Plus, he's one of the greatest bass players ever.

[3fingerbrown]

05:42 PM on 03/30/2010

"Oh, Darling" and "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" have that same edge. Hard to believe that at his age he still has enough voice to tear into "Helter Skelter," especially at that point in the show. What a trooper.

[jacks7]

01:56 PM on 03/30/2010

I just saw him in Phoenix...I came all the way from Starkville, Mississippi ...he was AMAZING!! AWESOME CONCERT..WORTH EVERY PENNY! My one wish finally came true!! Thank you Paul for an amazing concert!

[pizzmoe]

01:35 PM on 03/30/2010

He is and will always be amazing.

[FirstGame72]

01:03 PM on 03/30/2010

Rock-n-roll musicians,songwriters or performers at the level of Sir McCartney are very few and far between. Because his best work was done so long ago (from 1966-70 he was absolutely on fire), he may actually be underated in the minds of many current rock fans. But I bet there's not a working rock musician around who doesn't hail him as some kind of god.

[Theatrixnyc]

04:18 PM on 03/30/2010

I think the God-status is somewhat deserved at this point. Not only does he have the staying power, he delivers consistently in concert. Live performing is some kind of miraculous tonic for Paul McCartney, as when he hits the stage, the years fall away, and you are right back in yesterday.

[uglicoyote]

11:50 AM on 03/30/2010

He inspires me. I am 62 and I love my work. I don't have any intention of retiring as long as i can continue to perform.

[dakotaharp]

11:34 AM on 03/30/2010

I saw him at the Excel Center (St Paul Mn) and it was great. Not only did he rock for hours I also noticed he did not have one drink of anything during the whole show.

[michie62]

11:11 AM on 03/30/2010

Macca has always put on a great show. I love that he plays three hours with no breaks. I am hoping he comes to Minnesota later this year. I have seen him in concert twice, well worth the money. He is perhaps our greatest concert performer.