Paul McCartney - nib Stadium, 2nd December 2017
Words: Todd Lockley
It's not every night Perth is graced with rock and roll royalty. More likely is it every couple of centuries, if this side of the country is lucky enough to be included on the tour poster at all. Sir Elton pops in every couple of years and Sir Bowie (RIP) used to pop in every 10 years or so. Hell! Sir Jagger and his Stones have only been here four times since 1965. So it was an honour and a privilege to learn that the greatest living artist of all time was kicking off his One On One Australian tour on a balmy ol’ night in Perth.
To have Sir Paul McCartney, an integral part of hands down the greatest band of all time (Yeah! That's fucking right Zeppelin, Stones, Eagles and Faith No More fans!), grace us with his presence and extensive song list. With semi trailers of production that covered an entire side of nIB Stadium, the stage was set for one of the greatest shows the most isolated city in the planet had ever seen. What could possibly go wrong?!
The blemishes were minimal. Macca played 40 songs, yes, 40 songs! Such a performance of unforgettable hits hadn't been heard of since John Fogerty tore Fremantle Park a new one in 2012 at the Blues and Roots (RIP) festival. The difference is that on that tour, the fee to enter included John Fogerty plus two full days of other world renowned musicians. McCartney’s jukebox played to the tune of $10 a song if you'd got tickets early enough to keep away from the nosebleed section. Slightly extortionate for any musician.
It wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good. At times it was great; smashing opener to proceedings A Hard Days Night and renditions of A Day In The Life and Eleanor RIgby had people standing in awe, mouths drooping on the floor at the spectacle they were witnessing. Paul motherfucking McCartney! The legend! A stone’s throw away, in the flesh! But then there were the lulls. Three-punch combo middle of the deck sit downers Here Today, Queenie Eye and New dragged on and don't even get me started on that fucking Kanye rubbish FourFiveSecondsI. Do not want!
It's easy being pissy about what was played. FFS, the guy played 40 songs! There was Something in there for everyone. It's what wasn't played that really hurts. No We Can Work It Out, She Loves You, The Long and Winding Road or even solo gem Another Day. But FourFiveFuckingSeconds had to be on the setlist?! At 75, Paul McCartney is on top of his game, which is hard when he "is" the game. No one has ever played it better. He was gracious, his guitar work was impeccable and he was in fantastic spirits, often stopping between songs to tell stories with passion and zest. What an extraordinary life he's lived, name dropping Jagger, Richards, Hendrix and Clapton in those stories, as if we were all old friends.
To have Sir Paul McCartney, an integral part of hands down the greatest band of all time (Yeah! That's fucking right Zeppelin, Stones, Eagles and Faith No More fans!), grace us with his presence and extensive song list. With semi trailers of production that covered an entire side of nIB Stadium, the stage was set for one of the greatest shows the most isolated city in the planet had ever seen. What could possibly go wrong?!
The blemishes were minimal. Macca played 40 songs, yes, 40 songs! Such a performance of unforgettable hits hadn't been heard of since John Fogerty tore Fremantle Park a new one in 2012 at the Blues and Roots (RIP) festival. The difference is that on that tour, the fee to enter included John Fogerty plus two full days of other world renowned musicians. McCartney’s jukebox played to the tune of $10 a song if you'd got tickets early enough to keep away from the nosebleed section. Slightly extortionate for any musician.
It wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good. At times it was great; smashing opener to proceedings A Hard Days Night and renditions of A Day In The Life and Eleanor RIgby had people standing in awe, mouths drooping on the floor at the spectacle they were witnessing. Paul motherfucking McCartney! The legend! A stone’s throw away, in the flesh! But then there were the lulls. Three-punch combo middle of the deck sit downers Here Today, Queenie Eye and New dragged on and don't even get me started on that fucking Kanye rubbish FourFiveSecondsI. Do not want!
It's easy being pissy about what was played. FFS, the guy played 40 songs! There was Something in there for everyone. It's what wasn't played that really hurts. No We Can Work It Out, She Loves You, The Long and Winding Road or even solo gem Another Day. But FourFiveFuckingSeconds had to be on the setlist?! At 75, Paul McCartney is on top of his game, which is hard when he "is" the game. No one has ever played it better. He was gracious, his guitar work was impeccable and he was in fantastic spirits, often stopping between songs to tell stories with passion and zest. What an extraordinary life he's lived, name dropping Jagger, Richards, Hendrix and Clapton in those stories, as if we were all old friends.
To the fucking idiots in the crowd who wanted to brandish billboards expressing love and light; their annoying and down right rude existence was noted by Sir Paul as he explained between songs that he has an inner monologue going in his head during songs to ignore the signs. "If I read the sign I'll forget where I'm at in the song, but then I think; go on! have a look at the sign". One sign stood out more so than others and we had an engagement onstage towards nights end. She said yes (she could hardly say no, in front of 25,000 people). Good for them!
Jumping between the centre of the stage with his trusty Hofner Violin Bass and one of the two pianos on offer, he took to the grand to serenade a hushed crowd for the beautiful Maybe I'm Amazed, picked up a ukulele gifted to him by George Harrison (RIP) for his dedicated interpretation of Something and shifted softly through the delicate Blackbird. Mention needs be made to the "oh so familiar" looking skin man Abe Laboriel Jr for not only smashing the heavier stuff and being oh so gentle on the softer numbers, but for also being the funny man gathering cheap belly laughs through out the evening with his often hilarious expressions, funny faces and acting out to certain lyrics.
McCartney's backing band were on fire, but no more obvious during a rare rendition of Wing's classic Mull Of Kintyre, where the Western Australian Police Force Pipe Band, in full Scottish Tartan ensemble, filled the stage with bag pipes and pounding drums. Band On The Run was the most surprisingly received song of the night, seeing the up and down audience at front of the stage using it for a bit of a sit down before the encore onslaught. In this reviewer’s opinion, and that doesn't mean shit when it's debating Mr McCartney's song selection and sequence, finishing the night with the Abbey Road triple threat of Golden Slumbers, Carry The Weight and The End was disappointing. So let's jumble it up a bit (more).
In the blink of an eye Yesterday, Hey Jude and Let It Be had been and gone, Back In The USSR and Birthday packed a punch to give the marathon the boost of energy it needed. But it was the thundering cannons, flames and crackling fireworks that rang out through Live And Let Die that had everyone's attention. Ears bursting and shorts full, think Metallica versus The Perth Sky Show.
The evening was perfect. McCartney was perfect. Entertainment is easy when all you need is love! Hopefully it won't take another 20 years for Sir Paul McCartney to come back and do it all again.
Jumping between the centre of the stage with his trusty Hofner Violin Bass and one of the two pianos on offer, he took to the grand to serenade a hushed crowd for the beautiful Maybe I'm Amazed, picked up a ukulele gifted to him by George Harrison (RIP) for his dedicated interpretation of Something and shifted softly through the delicate Blackbird. Mention needs be made to the "oh so familiar" looking skin man Abe Laboriel Jr for not only smashing the heavier stuff and being oh so gentle on the softer numbers, but for also being the funny man gathering cheap belly laughs through out the evening with his often hilarious expressions, funny faces and acting out to certain lyrics.
McCartney's backing band were on fire, but no more obvious during a rare rendition of Wing's classic Mull Of Kintyre, where the Western Australian Police Force Pipe Band, in full Scottish Tartan ensemble, filled the stage with bag pipes and pounding drums. Band On The Run was the most surprisingly received song of the night, seeing the up and down audience at front of the stage using it for a bit of a sit down before the encore onslaught. In this reviewer’s opinion, and that doesn't mean shit when it's debating Mr McCartney's song selection and sequence, finishing the night with the Abbey Road triple threat of Golden Slumbers, Carry The Weight and The End was disappointing. So let's jumble it up a bit (more).
In the blink of an eye Yesterday, Hey Jude and Let It Be had been and gone, Back In The USSR and Birthday packed a punch to give the marathon the boost of energy it needed. But it was the thundering cannons, flames and crackling fireworks that rang out through Live And Let Die that had everyone's attention. Ears bursting and shorts full, think Metallica versus The Perth Sky Show.
The evening was perfect. McCartney was perfect. Entertainment is easy when all you need is love! Hopefully it won't take another 20 years for Sir Paul McCartney to come back and do it all again.