www.kentucky.com
McCartney proves he can still deliver the Beatles magic fans love. And a few surprises.
BY WALTER TUNIS CONTRIBUTING MUSIC CRITIC
JUNE 02, 2019
Paul McCartney performed 37 songs for a sold-out crowd of 19,000 at Rupp Arena on Saturday night. ALEX SLITZ ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
Paul McCartney had the sold-out audience of 19,000 before him sized up pretty well as his tireless and irrepressibly fun concert headed into the home stretch Saturday evening at Rupp Arena.
Noting that performances of his Beatles classics usually triggered “a galaxy of stars” through the glow of cell phones from eager fans while the delivery of new songs amounted, in terms of expectation and interest, to “a black hole,” he unapologetically launched into “Fuh You,” the third of three tunes from his 2018 album “Egypt Station.”
Paul McCartney greeted the crowd then launched into a nearly three-hour concert. Alex Slitz ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
Maybe the audience showed a sliver of sympathy for the seemingly orphaned tune or perhaps they were taken by the its bright pop melodicism which sounded like the direct descendent of a Beatles gem. Regardless, the cell phones came out and lit up Rupp like a Christmas tree for the song.
Paul McCartney opened his Rupp Arena concert with “Eight Days a Week.” Alex Slitz ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
My guess is something different – specifically, that the Rupp crowd took Sir Paul’s bait and illuminated the tune after the rock icon’s none-too-subtle hint.
The moment was one of many highlights in an evening that was, from beginning to end, a marvel. But it proved especially insightful in explaining what made the performance so special. It underscored how the concert, for all its unavoidably nostalgic lure, didn’t stay buried in the past. Oh sure, the better part of the program – a stunning setlist of 37 songs delivered in a 2 ¾ hour performance with no intermission – went heavy on Beatles favorites as well as popular relics from McCartney’s ’70s albums with Wings. But there were also surprises. Lots of them.
Paul McCartney performs to a sold out crowd during the “Freshen Up” tour at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, June 1, 2019. Alex Slitz ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
For starters, there was “Letting Go,” a gritty, hook heavy slice of forgotten rock ’n’ roll from Wings’ 1975 album “Venus and Mars” that ushered in a three-man horn section. The trio entered not from backstage, but down the lower arena stairs and played the entire tune in the lap of the audience.
Later came “I’ve Got a Feeling,” a similarly gritty (and overlooked) mid-tempo rocker from the Beatles’ 1970 swansong album “Let It Be” that still reveals an earthiness in tempo and groove. It was also cool to hear guitarists Brian Ray and Rusty Anderson, along with drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. (who proved a powerhouse player, vocalist and all-around spirit for the entire performance) taking over the refrain originally sung by John Lennon.
Equally unexpected was “Queenie Eye,” a comparatively recent entry off of McCartney’s 2013 solo album “New” that, like “Fuh You,” was delivered with a keenly retro sense of fun spearheaded by the headliner’s natural sense of playfulness.
As for McCartney directly, he remains something of a wonder onstage. Two weeks shy of his 77th birthday, he looked fit, sang with surprisingly unblemished gusto (yes, a few cracks of age appeared, but nothing more than what most rock singers half his age reveal in performance) and flowed with the program’s length and drive as it were a casual stroll. A testament to his stamina was the encore segment, which had him ripping through a reserved but still immediate version of “Helter Skelter,” one of the Beatles’ most savagely electric works, after navigating a full 2 ½ hour set. McCartney didn’t look even remotely winded afterward either.
As for McCartney directly, he remains something of a wonder onstage. Two weeks shy of his 77th birthday, he looked fit, sang with surprisingly unblemished gusto (yes, a few cracks of age appeared, but nothing more than what most rock singers half his age reveal in performance) and flowed with the program’s length and drive as it were a casual stroll. A testament to his stamina was the encore segment, which had him ripping through a reserved but still immediate version of “Helter Skelter,” one of the Beatles’ most savagely electric works, after navigating a full 2 ½ hour set. McCartney didn’t look even remotely winded afterward either.
Paul McCartney performed “Junior’s Farm” to a sold out crowd during the “Freshen Up” tour at Rupp Arena in Lexington, on Saturday. Alex Slitz ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
Undoubtedly the biggest audience expectation of the evening was how such a master song stylist would do justice to one of the most honored song catalogs in rock and pop history. To that end, McCartney didn’t disappoint, from the show opening glee of “A Hard Day’s Night” to an eloquent solo reading of “Blackbird” to a lean and effectively rootsy “Love Me Do.”
The most poignant moment of the performance didn’t even involve one of McCartney’s own songs. Instead it was a take on late bandmate George Harrison’s “Something.” It began with an almost ragtime-ish feel on solo ukulele (a favored instrument of Harrison’s) before McCartney and the full band slowed the song to its familiar ensemble arrangement as a parade of video screen photos featuring the two Beatles, ending with a series of them laughing together in a studio, illustrated the memorial.
Paul McCartney performed many Beatles songs, as well as some from his career with Wings and his solo albums. Alex Slitz ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
The concert concluded as it began with, coyly enough, the “Abbey Road” non-hit coda tune “The End.” A recorded snippet of the song brought McCartney to the stage. A full performance version sent the audience home with its lone verse reading like a time-honored mantra.
“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Those are words that defy age and trends to enforce a sense of pop affirmation McCartney’s program overflowed with.
Paul McCartney greeted the crowd while taking the stage during the “Freshen Up” tour at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Saturday. ALEX SLITZ ASLITZ@HERALD-LEADER.COM
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Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY、Paul McCartney、Freshen Up2019
ゆめ参加NAブログ with Paul McCartney & NA Dreamers
02 Jun 2019
今日はケンタッキー州レキシントンのラップ・アリーナでの公演です。
会場には大きな掲げています。
Today is the show at the Rap Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
We have a big show at the venue.
会場の外には多くの方が待機されていますが、既にサウンドチェックが行われました。]
Many people are waiting outside the hall, but sound check has already been done.
おっ！ベスト着用されていますね。
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SC終了後、一般ファンの入場です。先ずは…グッズ購入へ
Oh! You are wearing the vest.
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It is an entrance of the general fan after the end of SC. First of all ... to buy goods
Wings Over Europe BOXのデザインTシャツがイイですね！裏側もド派手なロゴ！そして、オリジナルのご当地ポスターも販売されていますね。
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そして、会場内へ…
Design T-shirt of Wings Over Europe BOX is good! The other side is also flashy logo! And the original local posters are also sold.
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And to the venue ...
アリーナ全体って、本当にすり鉢状なんですね。
前方アリーナに縦通路がない！？
The whole arena is really mortar shaped.
There is no vertical passage in the front arena! ?
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モニタールームって、結構、場所確保するものなんですね。
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The monitor room is pretty much what secures the place.
そのエリアと観客の間の通路が広い！日本だったら、密着していたのに…
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さあ！直前です。
The passage between the area and the audience is wide! If it was Japan, it was close.
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here we go! It is just before.
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Paul McCartney登場！
Periscopeを下記にリンクします。Chromeで見ましょう！
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Paul McCartney appeared!
Link Periscope to: See it in Chrome!
Periscope Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY、Paul McCartney、Freshen Up2019 LIVE
10時50分頃、中継終わりましたね。Thank you！
The broadcast ended at around 10:50. Thank you!
このようなジャケット・デザインは初めて見ました！
I saw such a jacket design for the first time!
Periscope こちらで！
Periscope Here!
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY、Paul McCartney、Freshen Up2019 Periscope
Helter Skelterのあとに、ヘフナーの指乗せをしました！久しぶりに見ましたね！
After Helter Skelter, he gave Hefner a finger! I saw it after a long time!
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アンコールで、ポールは「Birthday」を演奏しましたが、この曲を演奏する時に、スタッフやファンなど誕生日の方に向けて歌う時があるのですが、NA NA なんと！ケンタッキーは1792年6月1日に正式に第15番目の州になったのです。つまり、ライブ当日の6月1日は、ケンタッキー州の誕生日に向けて歌われたのですね！
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Paul played "Birthday" in the encore, but when he play this song, he sometimes sing for the staff, fans, etc. towards the birthday, NA NA What! Kentucky officially became the 15th state on June 1, 1792. In other words, June 1 of the live was sung for the birthday of Kentucky!
Happy Birthday！Kentucky！
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今日のピカイチは、こちらの写真です。
Today's Pikaichi is this picture.
公演が終了し、紙吹雪のあとに放されるナイヤガラ！です。
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日本時間で12時頃、終了したと思われます。
Periscope中継、ありがとう！
そして、ポール、素晴らしいライヴ、Thank you！！
The show is over, and it is released after confetti! is.
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It is thought that it ended at around 12 o'clock in Japan time.
Thank you for the Periscope broadcast!
And Paul, a great live, Thank you! !
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