  Beatles legend Paul McCartney delivered a large mix (about 35 songs) of solo material to go with signatures from The Beatles at The Air Canada Centre in Toronto Aug 8. The 68-year-old performer released a live CD/DVD last year called Good Evening New York City. (Mark O'Neill, QMI Agency) |
TORONTO - That McCartney kid looks like he could very well be an up-and-comer.
At least that’s how a sold-out crowd at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre could’ve seen Paul McCartney’s simply stellar first night of a two-night stand as part of his current Up and Coming 2010 Tour.
Over the course of nearly three hours and three dozen songs in a set brimming with solo hits and Fab Four jewels, McCartney and his seasoned, strong four-piece band could basically do little wrong.
What might have been the biggest surprise though was not how the songs have stood the test of time but perhaps just how well the 68-year-old McCartney stood up vocally to the rigors of delivering the parade of singles. Not bad for a singer who would have to change the song When I’m Sixty-Four to When I Was Sixty-Four (Four Years Ago).
With a large screen on either side of the stage and one behind him, the dapper looking McCartney opened with Venus and Mars/Rockshow before the punchier Jet had him working off of guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray as drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and keyboardist Paul Wickens plied their wares. Soon the first of numerous offerings from The Beatles appeared with All My Loving, Drive My Car and the roots-y I’ve Just Seen A Face that had McCartney stomping along to. The newer tune Highway recorded under the moniker The Fireman was okay but nothing spectacular.
Thanking the crowd often – who in turned thanked McCartney loudly with applause after every song – McCartney opted for a piano portion with The Long and Winding Road that led nicely into the up-tempo Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five as well as the well-crafted, terribly melodic Let ‘Em In.
If there was any miscue early on, it might have been his performance of the tender Blackbird where he had the “verses the other way around.” Afterwards he admitted concentrating on the guitar parts and lyrics was tough enough but then seeing various homemade signs in the front only added to the workload. “You say to yourself don’t look at the signs,” he said, noticing one sign from a fan asking for a hug after traveling 2000 kilometers to see the show (which he obliged near the end).
For the most part McCartney was pretty much flawless on Eleanor Rigby, Something (played on a ukulele George Harrison gave him), Band On The Run and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, the first song which had the primarily baby boomer audience finally on their feet and clapping. Looking at some rather unenthused sections one got the impression the ticket prices were literally an arm and a leg, not just figuratively.
During the 13-song homestretch, McCartney opted for more signatures such as Paperback Writer, Let It Be and the pyrotechnics-riddled Live and Let Die. Only the fusing of A Day In The Life with Give Peace A Chance seemed to be problematic, yet the sing-along refrain of Hey Jude more than made up for it.
Following the first encore, McCartney returned for Yesterday but it was the lovely Mull of Kintyre which sealed the deal, complete with the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band sauntering onstage with drums and bagpipes for a dramatic result.
Overall, there is definitely no shadow hanging over Sir Paul.
Setlist
Venus and Mars/Rockshow
Jet
All My Loving
Letting Go
Drive My Car
Highway
Let Me Roll It
The Long and Winding Road
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Let ‘Em In
My Love
I’ve Just Seen A Face
And I Love Her
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Mrs Vandebilt
Eleanor Rigby
Something
Sing The Changes
Band On The Run
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Back In The U.S.S.R.
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
Mull of Kintyre
Helter Skelter
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/The End
