Music Monday: I saw a Beatle!

(Yeah I know it is Tuesday..technical difficulties)

Yeah that's right. I saw Sir Paul McCartney LIVE!! Oh, and it was AMAZING!!!! It was outside and the weather was much nicer (as in not as hot and humid) then the Steely Dan concert a few weeks ago, my seat (that was much closer than I thought) was never in the sun as we waited for dark and I got a pretty cool souvenir t-shirt. As I waited for the show to start my seatmates arrived (the couple sitting next to me because I had an end seat) and they were pretty much clones for my parents and others from their group of friends. The girl (Linda) was nice and they kept offering to buy me drinks and food. They were fun.

I got there at 7:00 and they had a DJ on stage playing music, Paul's music. I have only been to one other concert where the artist played their own music during the preshow wait: Prince. Paul was slightly different in that they were remixes of his songs or the majority were covers done by other artists ranging from Booker T to Willie Nelson. It defiantly reminded you of how much of an impact The Beatles, and Paul specifically, have had on music. The concert started almost on time but for about 25 min. before they have this video going to his music which was fun to watch. Then, he walked out on stage...and didn't leave at all till about 2 1/2 hours later.

He started playing right away and just kept it going. He bantered with the audience but focused on playing as many songs as possible. And he played a little of everything (see set list below the jump) some I could have never seen coming. I have been a fan for a while, watched his concert DVD from 2 years ago, listened to his performances on the radio, watched his countless times on T.V. and heard reviews of this tour. Because of all this, I kind of expected a certain line up of songs- which was partly true, but also not. He has such a HUGE catalog that I guess he could play a different set list every night for a while before repeating...and most of the songs people would recognize. In that respect alone he is an amazing artist. Like I said I was expecting certain songs, and one I really wanted to hear going into it was "Maybe, I'm Amazed". He has rarely performed this song in the last 20 or so years but I though I would have a chance since McCartney was just remastered and reissued. When I heard those first few notes on the piano me, and everyone else there, freaked out. I was amazed. (haha, I crack myself up!) And to make it better he followed that song by throwing on his acoustic guitar and playing "I've Just Seen A Face" which is one I never saw coming- but one of my favorites. (The version from Across the Universe was on my year end cd a few years ago.) FUN SHOW!!!

Another surprise/awesome moment was when he asked us if we would help him sing this next one...met with a resounding scream from the crowd followed by shocked gasps, excited screams and people shooting up from their seats as he started playing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (another song from one of my year end CDs). Literally the whole place erupted into singing, dances and ska kicks. It was so cool. I am a fan of what Jimmy Fallon calls "Shared Experiences" and there were a lot of them at this concert that made me so happy and even gave me chills at times. (Example everyone singing "Hey Jude")

One thing that was so awesome to see was how much he LOVES performing, touring, and his fans. You can see that he genuinely appreciates the support and love of the crowd, and he works hard to put on the best show possible for everyone there. (He was even out on the corner earlier in the day signing autographs...I know, I am kicking myself for missing that one) So after 2 1/2 hours of music, followed by 2 encores, fireworks and confetti it was over and I had already decided "Oh I am definitely doing this again" because it is not will I go again but how many times? ("I think we are talking an minimum 8peat.") Anyone with me?

Pics, set list and more below the break!!
 Yes a lot of these a screen shots:

There were over 42,000 people there!

He said he wore this coat for the Reds.

From my camera...not bad right?

This is post big wardrobe change (removing jacket).

"You may ask why do we switch guitars so much? Just because we want to show off."

Doing Maybe I'm Amazed

Singing another fav, Something.

He did not need back up singers. The crowd did the work for EVERY song.

Give Peace A Chance

Live or Let Die!! (Can you see all the camera light in the crowd?)

I imagine it was loud and hot on stage during that one.

He kept reading and reacting to signs and at the end brought a few of them on stage. This one was a man had a sign that said "Sign my wife" and she had a sign that said "I'm the wife sign me!" That was turned into a tattoo of course, probably that night!

Hey Jude

I kept track on my phone then found this handy thing later.