PauMcCartney

Paul McCartney

Born: James Paul McCartney
June 18, 1942
Liverpool, England

“It was Elvis who really got me hooked on beat music. When I heard Heartbreak Hotel I thought, this is it.”
~Paul McCartney

Paul Rock & Rolls at the Hollywood Bowl, Oh Yeah!
Shelli Carlisle

Multi-fauceted, multi-talented Paul McCartney wears many hats: Singer-songwriter, Composer, Multi-instrumentalist, Entrepreneur, Record and Film Producer, Poet, Painter, Animal Rights and Peace Activist. As if that isn’t enough, he also gives one of the best concerts, ever.

In the Beginning there was Ed Sullivan

Sunday evenings watching Ed Sullivan with my family was a family tradition. Each week, we gathered together to watch Sullivan and his regulars, such as, the guy who spins dishes on the end of a stick, dogs jumping through hoops, and the strangely entertaining ventriloquist, Senor Wences.

Sullivan was a master at finding and showcasing talent from all spectrums. He introduced America to legendary performers, such as Elvis Presley, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and The Supremes.

A night never to be forgotten; on February 9, 1964, with all eyes glued to our TV screen, Sullivan walked out on stage and awkwardly announced, “Here they are, The Beatles!”.

Fab Four

That night 73 million people were tuned in and got to see John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr for the very first time. At eight years old my life was forever changed by the four lads from Liverpool, England.

Rock & roll was never the same after that evening, either. During the few short years they were together, The Beatles became the most successful rock band, ever. Lennon and McCartney wrote just under 200 songs together, recorded 214, and had twenty-seven world wide number one hits.

The world was taken aback by their long hair and how they shook their heads every time they let out an “ooh.” The unconventional suits and ties and their black boots seemed very daring. In those few short minutes, listening to The Beatles sing All My Loving, Till There Was You, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, and I Want To Hold Your Hand, millions of people became Beatlemanics, me included.

Thus began my passionate journey, collecting everything Beatle that was attainable. Each birthday and Christmas, my breath was held while tearing the paper from my gifts, praying it would be a new Beatle record, figurine, magazine or perhaps some bubble gum trading cards.

A young Paul McCartney at the beginning
of his career was already a dream boat to
young women around the world.

Paul McCartney tour at Hollywood Bowl.
Image courtesy Paul McCartney

The Dream

Every girl had their favorite Beatle. Mine was Paul McCartney, secretly knowing someday we would meet, fall hopelessly in love and marry. So much for girlish dreams.

One dream worth hanging on to was the hope of seeing The Beatles perform live. Sadly, as the years passed, it was a given the Fab Four would not perform together again. My childhood plans vanished, forever. Life went on, lala how the life goes on.

The Bowl

As McCartney toured the world a number of times, a new dream emerged, which is how I ended up spending the evening with my crush, live, up-close (actually not that close) and personal at the world renowned, fabulously hip, Hollywood Bowl.

The Beatles were the first rock & roll band to play the bowl. That memorable evening was in August 1964, their concert lasted a little over thirty minutes. More than forty years later, McCartney took the stage at Hollywood Bowl for the second time in his career. This time solo, with a totally awesome band of his own and they delivered an unforgettable show that was just shy of three hours. McCartney, who will be 68-years-old in June, has as much energy today as he did 40 years ago.

The 18,000 seat venue was sold out. First, second, and even third generation fans came together to celebrate this pied piper of rock, whose innovative music has forever left its mark on the world.

McCartney singing Hey Jude Photograph
Image Shelli Carlisle

Special moments with Paul.
Image Shelli Carlisle

It’s a Really Big Show

When McCartney stepped onto the stage, a rush of energy hit the crowd, who immediately jumped to their feet. To show their love, the audience cheered wildly for several minutes.

The first song performed was Venus and Mars/Rock Show. Everyone shouted and waved their hands as McCartney sang the line “Rock & roll at the Hollywood Bowl”.

Weaving together a tapestry of songs and personal stories, McCartney took the audience on a journey filled with unique and aha moments, lending to its feeling of intimacy.

Sir Paul shared his inspiration for many titles including, My Love, which he wrote for his beautiful late wife, Linda. Later, there were more tender moments when McCartney shared his feelings about the death of Lennon, and his regret at not speaking with Lennon before it was too late.

The most touching tribute came when McCartney recalled his early days, hanging out with George Harrison, who loved playing the ukulele. McCartney then began to play Harrison’s timeless ballad, Something. Strumming the ukulele, sounding a bit whimsical, Sir Paul shared the version Harrison had written many years earlier. About half-way into the song, the band joined in, and they morphed into the traditional version, bringing Something full circle. Images of Harrison were splashed on the huge screen behind the stage, which led to a standing ovation as with many of the fans in tears.

The rest of the show dazzled: From the electrifying Band on the Run, with a full blown pyrotechnics show, to the haunting, Give Peace a Chance. Audience members were jumping up and down, singing, celebrating and rejoicing in the all encompassing spectacle. The show was magical, touching every person who attended.

McCartney is the ultimate showman, his show
will not disappoint–one of the best ever.

Image courtesy Paul McCartney.

The End of the Evening

By the end of the evening, McCartney performed nearly 40
songs. He ended the show with Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/The End. The audience joined in, lifting their voices to sing, “and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make.”

Concert goer Stuart Moore said, “As a Beatle, Wings front man and solo artist, Paul McCartney has built up an amazing body of songs. He also has a terrific, energetic band. For these reasons, each concert is a wonderful experience filled with surprises.”

If you ever have the opportunity to see McCartney perform, don’t miss it. You will not be disappointed. Sir Paul is rock & roll.
McCartney’s Play List
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles,
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

1. Venus And Mars / Rock Show
2. Jet
3. All My Loving
4. Letting Go
5. Got To Get You Into My Life
6. Highway
7. Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
8. The Long And Winding Road
9. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
10. (I Want To) Come Home
11. My Love
12. I’m Looking Through You
13. Two Of Us
14. Blackbird
15. Here Today
16. Dance Tonight
17. Mrs Vandebilt
18. Eleanor Rigby
19. Something
20. Sing The Changes
21. Band On The Run
22. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
23. Back In The USSR
24. I’ve Got A Feeling
25. Paperback Writer
26. A Day In The Life / Give Peace A Chance
27. Let It Be
28. Live And Let Die
29. Hey Jude

Encore:
30. Day Tripper
31. Lady Madonna
32. Get Back

Second Encore:
33. Yesterday
34. Helter Skelter
35. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End

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