Paul McCartney draws on a half-century of songs as only he can
By Chris Kelly
August 10 2016
Paul McCartney (with drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.) performs at Verizon Center. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)
On Tuesday night, Paul McCartney opened his show as he has on most nights on his One on One tour: with “A Hard Day’s Night,” one of the Beatles biggest and most recognizable songs. Improbably, this tour marks the first time that McCartney has dusted off the 1964 hit to play it solo. But for some reason, this milestone feels like little more than trivia, because even if one hasn’t heard a specific song live, it feels like we’ve all been listening to the Beatles forever.
During the first of two Verizon Center concerts, McCartney unleashed more than a half century’s worth of songs, anecdotes and memories like only a veteran of more than 2,000 can: with showmanship, precision and perhaps some weariness. At 74 years old, McCartney is essentially the definition of “spry,” a lithe figure in dark jeans, a white button-down and a blue jacket who hit most of his notes while singing and playing a combination of guitar, ukulele, piano and – of course – his iconic Höfner violin bass.
Paul McCartney. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)
Paul McCartney. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)
And while his fans might have been satisfied with less, McCartney showed off his stamina by playing 38 songs during the nearly three-hour-long concert. Promising “new, old and in-between,” he darted around his catalogue, reaching back as far as “In Spite of All the Danger” — a song recorded by Beatles predecessors the Quarrymen in 1958 — and as recent as last year’s Kanye West and Rihanna collaboration “FourFiveSeconds.”
As expected, the set was dominated by Beatlemania, but McCartney also made time for both must-play favorites and cult classics from his Wings and solo years, as well as lesser-loved material from his 2013 album “New.” And while some in the audience used the latter for a trip to the concourse, McCartney didn’t seem to mind. “We can tell which songs you like,” he told the crowd, joking that the arena “lights up like a galaxy of stars” on popular songs but looks like a “blackhole” during others.
That kind of self-effacing humor was perhaps the best part of McCartney’s performance. Between songs, he recalled the origins of beloved songs, reminisced about Jimi Hendrix, paid tribute to fallen comrades and bantered with the crowd. That banter provided moments of spontaneity at a concert that — while impressive — felt too much like a living museum diorama where the rock-and-roll songbook was played in front of a montage of flashback footage and digital video effects.
Not that the mostly middle-aged crowd minded: a Paul McCartney concert is the most perfect expression of baby-boomer nostalgia. Which isn’t to say that there weren’t young people in the crowd: McCartney brought one 20-something signholder onstage and autographed a “Hey Jude” tattoo on her ribcage, joking that “you never know what you’re going to get up here.” That sentiment isn’t exactly true, but who needs surprises when you have a half century of memories to rely on?
(Photo by Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)
pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
Paul McCartney Performs In D.C. With Penguins Sticker Still On Guitar
August 10, 2016
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A sticker on Paul McCartney’s guitar is generating some renewed buzz after a show at the Verizon Center Tuesday night.
Pictures began popping up on social media of the legendary singer using a guitar featuring a Pittsburgh Penguins sticker.
In case you didn’t know, the Verizon Center is the home of the Washington Capitals.
Yo @PaulMcCartney that Penguins sticker is very out of character! #HowYouTrynaAct pic.twitter.com/i21FkUBDPJ— Luke Dolan (@lukedolan3) 10 de agosto de 2016
To be fair, the guitar also features a Detroit Red Wings sticker. That too has some historical significance to Capitals fans. The Red Wings beat the Capitals to win the Stanley Cup in 1998.
Anyway, the stickers are not a calculated moved by McCartney to rile up Caps fans.
According to the Penguins, the sticker dates back to 2010 when McCartney played the first-ever show at CONSOL Energy Center.
The acoustic guitar he only uses for “Yesterday” already had the Red Wings sticker on it. After the show, David Moorehouse and former Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl presented McCartney with a Penguins sticker.
That sticker has been on the guitar ever since.
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