Your panel of judges....

 March 23, 2010

The Boys are Back!

 Paul and the band are currently in rehearsals for this year's "Got Back" tour.  How many of you have tickets?  

Paul Playing on the Roof again

 

July 15, 2009 -

This was a really great moment -- Paul McCartney and his band played on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City for a David Letterman Show.   It was not announced ahead of time and word spread quickly (as I am sure you can imagine) throughout New York.   Did any of you see this live?

Paul and the band rocks Cochella 2009

 April 17, 2009 

Concert for TM

Photo taken at the rehearsal 

 

April 4, 2009 -  Ringo and Paul perform in concert together.  

Paul You Make Me Happy

 September 25, 2008 - Israel 

You didn't have to be in attendance of this concert to have Paul make you happy.  I love that banner and completely agree.  I bet all of us here agree -- Paul makes us happy.   Thank you Paul!  

You want some peace and understanding....

Photo taken by Marvin Gee (posted with permission)

Paul sings "Coming Up" (with the video on the screen behind him) during the soundcheck in Baltimore on June 12, 2022.   
 

Group Photo

 June 5, 2002 

Got Back Tour - An honest Paul McCartney concert review

 

This past Saturday (May 28, 2022) I saw Paul McCartney perform at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.    I flew to Orlando from my home in the St. Louis area because I wanted to see this tour.  It was literally a dream come true to see Paul again in concert.  All during the lockdown in 2020,  I was super focused on the fact that I wasn't able to go any Beatles events -- especially seeing Paul McCartney live.   I questioned if 2019 was really going to be my last concert and I didn't want that.    I am beyond happy that I had a chance to see him again and can accept that it could be the last time. 

Here are my honest thoughts about the concert 

Thought #1 -  A Paul McCartney concert is actually not really about just hearing Paul McCartney sing his hits.   It is about the experience.

I am sure I have written about this before.   People who just go to hear Paul McCartney perform songs are missing out on the true experience.    The atmosphere is worth taking in.   It is fun to watch the fans arrive and see the t-shirts and outfits everyone chose to wear.   It is amazing to meet up with friends that you may have only spoken to over social media.   The excitement of listening to DJ Chris play the Paul songs and then seeing the screen show can't be beat.    I really advise you to take the entire day for Paul.  Traffic at these events have been a nightmare and some ticket holders have missed the entire concert because of traffic.   Take this advice:  arrive before 4:00pm.  

Thought #2 -  The limo watch is very stressful but worth it.

Sometimes the limo watch to see Paul arrive is easy and other times it is like the one in Orlando and it is stressful.   No one knew where Paul was going to enter.   Many fans were sent on a wild chase around the stadium in the search for Paul.   Here is my advice on the limo watch:  if someone (ANYONE) tell you that Paul is already inside of the stadium, do not believe it and keep waiting.    If you are able to see Paul arrive -- it is SO worth it!   There was a very small group of us and Paul saw me in my Minnie Mouse ears with a British flag on it and smiled right at me!  

Thought #3 -   The handicapped section isn't the best seats in the house.

Due to my mom needing a motorized scooter due to long Covid, we had to get seats in the handicapped section of the Stadium.   I purchased the best seats we could get on the field.    While I knew we wouldn't be up in the very front, I thought we'd get the seat that I chose on the Ticketmaster site.   Now I am not sure if this is standard or just in Orlando.  When we arrived the handicapped section was "first come-first serve."   The seats weren't numbers and so we had to sit wherever we could fit.   I had picked seats that were closer to the stage than where we ended up.   That wasn't a huge deal, but some people who got there right as the concert was starting, could not squeeze into a spot and I am not sure what they did. 

Thought #4 -  Paul doesn't sing as well as he once did -- but it still isn't bad.

There has been a lot of talk each year about how Paul's voice doesn't sound very good anymore.   And to a certain extent that is true.   Songs such as "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" were ones where Paul couldn't sing the higher notes or hold notes out as long.   However -- he is almost 80 years old and is on a big tour.   So what if he can't sing as strong has he one could?   He still sounds good and there is no doubt that it is Paul singing.   He sounds just like Paul McCartney!   I am thankful for the band for helping Paul out in the singing because they can fill in some of those high notes that he just isn't capable of singing anymore. 

Thought #5 -  The setlist  hasn't changed very much and that is fine! (the jokes are getting old though)

Paul sang basically the same songs he has sang in concert over the past 10 years (maybe more).   And you know what?   I love it!    It dawned on me that Paul must have a reason for singing these songs.  Either it is because that is what fans (casual and hardcore) want to hear or maybe because HE wants to sing those songs.     I was happy to hear "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" because I don't recall hearing that one before.   And the "I've Got a Feeling" with the "Get Back" film of John singing his part while live Paul sang his was really amazing.     While the same songs didn't bother me -- the same jokes made me roll my eyes.   The whole "Sign my butt" joke is OLD and was never funny.   Taking off his jacket and saying "this is the only wardrobe change for the evening...haha," has been overdone.    Paul is such a Dad with his Dad jokes.    Paul needs someone to write some new material for him.     

One interesting observation  -  "My Valentine" used to be the song where people left for their beer and bathroom break.   During this song, Paul shows the video with Johnny Depp doing sign language to it and playing the guitar.   He has shown this same video literally for 10 years during his shows.   Now since the Johnny Depp trial, people have been staying for the song and cheer whenever Johnny is on the screen.    I've seen people online say how bold it is for Paul to take such a strong stand in favor of Johnny Depp and I want to say, "People -- this is the same video he has shown for years.  It is on Youtube.  You just didn't notice because you left to get beer."   

Go see Paul on the Got Back Tour --  It is a night you won't forget. 

*All photos taken by Sara Schmidt 

Pokemon Go!

Things have gotten a little silly when I see that Dragonite the Pokemon was called up on stage at the Paul concert in Brazil last night (October 17, 2017).      I didn't even realize that Dragonite was a fan.  Does this make Paul McCartney now his Poke master?     

How does a Pokemon get choosen to go on stage and I am still waiting for my big moment?   Is it crazy that I am jealous of a Pokemon?

5 Reasons why Paul McCartney is worth seeing in a stadium---at least once!

Photo by Coral Schmidt 

Tonight for Wednesday Review I am going to talk about the Paul McCartney concert I saw at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on August 13, 2016.    As I have said before, since Paul McCartney can do no wrong in my eyes, it isn't fair for me to "review" a Paul concert.   I am a Beatles fan.  I love Paul McCartney--obviously you do too and you will most likely agree with me, that his concerts are awesome.  

I was able to again see Paul arrive at the venue and saw him quickly (the fastest ever!) drive by and wave to the extremely small group of fans gathered around.   Why was it such a small group?   Well, a big group had gathered and then some guy texted his buddy who worked security inside the stadium and asked if McCartney had arrived yet.   His friend texted back that Paul was inside.   The news quickly spread and a lot of fans dispersed.    However, a few of us "Fans on the Run" loyals were suspicious of that news, because we saw police setting up more barricades, and so we waited about 15 more minutes and low and behold---here he came!    I got nervous and only snapped a photo of a police guard, but luckily my mom got a decent shot of the moment.

Photo by Coral Schmidt

My opinion is that Paul's voice sounded much stronger than it had in April in Little Rock.   "Maybe I'm Amazed" was still rough and I still think needs to be cut from his set, but other songs such as "You won't see me" were spot on and sounded great.   However, the audience in Little Rock was much, much better than the audience in St. Louis.    If it wasn't a Beatles song, the St. Louis crowd didn't like it---and I should point out if it wasn't a Beatles song that they knew.     The guy behind me kept a running commentary for me to know what he thought of each song.   He would often say things like "Finally a Beatles song!"   I know "In spite of all the danger" is a Quarry Men song, but it is on a Beatles' album, so I thought it should be considered a Beatles song.   And rude of all was after Paul was explaining how he had written "Here Today" as a conversation with John that he never had, people decided en mass to take a potty break during the song in tribute to John Lennon.   How disrespectful.      But it is their loss, because I personally had an amazing time!

People told me over and over that I would not enjoy seeing Paul at a stadium and while stadium concerts sure have their issues, I am going to let you know why I think all fans should experience Paul McCartney in a stadium setting---at least once!

Photo by Sara Schmidt 

5.   It is an outdoor concert.    There is just something fun about seeing a concert outdoors at night.  The atmosphere is different.   And as long as you have decent weather and a nice breeze, it can be a great experience.   Paul McCartney under the stars--you can't beat that!

4.   Live and Let Die    If you have ever experienced a Paul McCartney concert since 1976, you will know that the song "Live and Let Die" is a sight to be seen.   The pyrotechnics is amazing.   Well if you see Paul at a stadium, it is ten times bigger than it is in an arena!   The fireworks go off and the fire is blazing.   Photos and video does not do it it justice.  Really--it is something you have to be there and experience yourself!

Photo by Sara Schmidt 

3.  The Sound.   The Beatles had a terrible experience with the sound system in large stadiums in the 1960's.   Thankfully times have changed and the sound system has improved greatly over the years.   I thought the whole concert sounded better in the stadium than in an arena.   There was a bit of an echo and I liked that as well.  


2. You get to hear the soundcheck for FREE.    With an outdoor venue, it is easy to hear what is going on in the stadium on the outside of the venue.   I saw on the news that many people that weren't able to get tickets to the concert, stood outside and listened to it and some were standing in the right spot to even be able to see the big screens.     Well---I did the same thing, but with the soundcheck.  I couldn't see anything, but I heard the entire soundcheck while sitting at the 3rd base entrance.   I got to hear songs like "On my way to work" and "Let 'em in" that I wouldn't have heard otherwise.   Sure being at the soundcheck is awesome, but hearing it was the next best thing.

Photo by Sara Schmidt 

1.  Sharing the moment.   During the song "Let it Be" everyone traditionally gets out their cell phones and shines the light in the way that oldtimes will remember doing with a lighter.    I was on the field and I turned around and saw 40,000 people all shining their lights around the stadium.  It was enough to give you goosebumps.     There I was---sharing this moment with all of these other people that love Paul McCartney and the song "Let it Be."     Paul was touched too because he stated, "thank you for all the lights."      That was something that I had never experienced in the arena setting and I am glad to have been there for it.


Yes, there are a LOT of reasons why arena shows are better than stadium shows.   But stadium shows are worth a try--at least once!