Some things, such as excellent wine, improve with age. Paul McCartney may be argued to be in the same boat.
McCartney, one of just two living Beatles, proved that he is still very much alive and that rock 'n' roll isn't dead at the age of 79, with his unrelenting passion, soaring vocals, and polished guitar riffs. On Saturday night, the artist stunned a sold-out Camping World Stadium with nearly three hours of classics.With the help of his touring band, which included Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards, Brian Ray on bass and guitar, Rusty Anderson on guitar, and Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums, McCartney demonstrated his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist and singer, belting out hits like "Can't Buy Me Love," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Lady Madonna," and "Hey Jude."Despite his decades of experience, the larger-than-life artist showed a humble and sensitive side on occasion. McCartney was quick to point out that The Beatles came from poor roots and were probably improbable rock stars when they first appeared.In between songs, he remarked, "Now we're going to take you back through the mists of time, back to Liverpool, where four people started a band and made a living." "We were simply a little touring band at the time, and getting noticed was challenging."
McCartney sang "I've Just Seen a Face," a 1965 song with notes of The Beatles' contemporaries Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, in a more stripped-down section of the show that recalled the band's early days.
McCartney paused at one point to look over the crowd for homemade placards, selecting a couple to read aloud
“I missed senior prom to see you,” read another.
“Well, are you having fun?” the performer queried the young fan. The answer was a resounding yes from the entire audience. Illuminated faces revealed a multigenerational coalition of fans, a reminder of how timeless and important The Beatles’ music is to so many, regardless of age.
Throughout the set, skilled musicians helped belt out harmonies and accent McCartney’s prowess on stage, which was heightened by production with stunning pyrotechnics, lighting and graphics. A three-piece horn section even joined for a number of songs.
About halfway through the show, the rest of the band disappeared offstage, leaving just McCartney and his acoustic guitar. From a stage that slowly ascended, the singer’s voice and fingerpicked notes reverberated throughout the stadium during a chillingly beautiful performance of “Blackbird” followed by “Here Today,” a tribute to John Lennon.
"I have a husband… One banner read, "But I want to hold your hand."A ukulele opening to "Something" and a fire display during "Live and Let Die" were among the many pleasant surprises of the show. As the audience joined in singing popular pieces such as "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Get Back," the crowd's energy grew in tandem with the band's.
During a soaring rendition of "Let It Be," the stadium lighted up like the cosmos with the twinkling of cellphone lights, and there was a palpable flow of emotion and a collective exhale throughout the crowd."Na-na-na, na, Hey Jude," the musicians said in unison at the end of the set. The stage and the seats were filled with pure joy and bliss.
As if 30 songs wasn't enough, McCartney and his band returned to perform six more songs, waving Ukrainian, American, United Kingdom, Florida, and rainbow flags as they took the stage for their encore.
The band ended their nearly three-hour concert with "The End," after playing on "Helter Skelter" and "Carry That Weight." But there's a strong possibility that this isn't Paul McCartney's final performance.
"All that's left to say is — We'll see you next time," McCartney remarked as confetti and pyrotechnics rained down on the audience.
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