Born on my sister’s birthday – June 18th – 68 years ago, Macca as the Brits lovingly call him Sir Paul defied all expectations and went full-tilt, non-stop for more than 3 hours at the ACC last night. And that was is second show in as many nights here in Toronto. I have seen him before, but absolutely nothing compared to last night.
Sir Paul took time for emotional tributes to those he loved in his life who have since passed. During the Long & Winding Road, his first song moving to the grand piano, stage right, beautiful photos filled the back stage of what must’ve been Arizona. Cactus, flowers, mountains, desert – likely from his ranch outside Tucson where Linda passed away in April 1998 after losing her battle with breast cancer. He jumped right into a rousing rendition of 1985, then on to Let ‘Em In – written with real members of his family “Aunty Jin, Uncle Ernie.” I always thought Phil & Don and Brother Michael were musical references, and I’m sure they are. He took a moment to acknowledge his Auntie who was in the audience having come to Canada in the ‘60’s from Liverpool. He finished that set with My Love – written for Linda.
The crowd screamed wildly when Sir Paul asked us to remember John Lennon, then took the front of the stage – where the band got a break – and used his Martin acoustic guitar to play Here Today – the song he wrote after Lennon’s assassination to say “all the things I wished I said when John was with us.”
He grabbed his mandolin for Dance Tonight! And Abe Laboriel Jr., the coolest drummer ever! Did the greatest little dance moves. Back to the guitar for the quite unexpected Mrs. Vandebilt..”what’s the use of worrying” which Paul said Kiev loved thanks to the Russian-style chorus of “Oh-Eh-Oh.”
Then it was tribute time for George Harrison, bringing a Gibson ukulele to the stage that had been given to him by George – evidently a superlative ukulele player to kick off a fantastic opening version on the ukulele of Something, before transitioning into full band. Later Day in the Life morphed into Give Peace a Chance. Sir Paul had his “rainbow piano” pushed on stage for Hey Jude. Not the same rainbow piano from photos of a 2003 Liverpool concert, but a rainbow piano none-the-less. Given the many nostalgic moments – right from the opening 30 minute slide show before he even took the stage – there must be several rainbow pianos, all with fantastic stories no doubt.
Even the neve-on-tour-before version of Ob-la-Dee was a welcome flashback, as was All My Lovin’ which came early in the show after the opening Venus&Mars and Jet. I read that the August 8th show also had Drive My Car, but we didn’t get that last night. Lookin’ Thru You and I’ve Got a Feeling – the latter likely another nod to Lennon as it really his two songs stuck together (McCartney’s I’ve Got a Feeling and Lennon’s Everybody Had a Hard Year) – seemed to slide perfectly into the set lists, belying their 40+year histories. Paperback Writer, another great hit from the Beatles past, seemed to be less enjoyed by the band, but did give McCartney the chance to introduce yet another guitar with a storied past.
Live & Let Die with loud fireworks exploding throughout might’ve seemed like the grand finale, but no. Sir Paul came back after barely a 5 minute departure for Day Tripper, Lady Madonna, Get Back – he just kept right on going. Incredible for a man half his age, and absolutely first rate for a guy who’s been doin’ it for 50 years… Come back and see us again soon Sir Paul !
