McCartney proves he’s still Fab 

Times Leader - April 19, 2002 (click image to enlarge)

By ALAN K. STOUT

Times Leader Staff Writer

April 19, 2002

PHILADELPHIA - When Paul McCartney stepped onto the stage at the sold-out First Union Center on Tuesday night, he was carrying a lot more than just his trusty bass guitar. McCartney, still the biggest rock star in the world and one of its most important songwriters, was carrying the legacy of The Beatles. And, as he often has in recent years, he carried that hefty heritage with care, class and conviction.

McCartney, who first appeared to the crowd in silhouette form while holding his bass high over his head, opened the show with The Fab Four favorite  “Hello Goodbye.” A strong performance of Wings' “Jet'” followed, and it was clear from the get-go that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was in top form.
   

“Hello Philadelphia!” McCartney shouted after the second number. “We have come to rock you tonight!”

He would not disappoint.

Breezy and true renditions of Beatles gems such as “All My Loving” and “Getting Better” served as an early indication that Sir Paul, despite a very impressive post-Beatles career, was not shying away from his roots. He sang such numbers with great enthusiasm and with a broad smile, and he did the same while dishing out Wings classics such as “Coming Up” and “Let Me Roll It.”

McCartney's staging was tasteful yet grand and sometimes dazzling, and a large video screen provided close-ups throughout the entire show. Additional video screens behind the stage often displayed images that fit the mood of the song performed. There were vintage clips of the Fab Four and crazed  “Beatlemania" fans during some of the Beatles numbers, plus images of gorgeous sunsets and photos of people who defined the times during which the songs were recorded.

Musically, McCartney's young band was solid and energetic, and the 59-year-old legend seemed to enjoy what it brought to the music. And despite McCartney's lofty status in the world of pop culture, he appears to be untouched by fame and seems to lack an inflated ego. He warmly introduced all of the group's members, allowed them all time to say a few words to the crowd and even asked the audience to give a hand to the technicians running the soundboard. And he himself displayed his own musical gifts by frequently switching from bass to guitar to piano. His voice was always on target.

McCartney performed several numbers alone, with just an acoustic guitar, including a marvelous rendition of “Blackbird” - which he said was inspired by the American civil-rights movement of the 1960s - and a crisp version of  “We Can Work It Out.”' Both drew huge roars from the crowd of 20,000, as did “Mother Nature's Son” and  “Fool On The Hill.”

Although the show was constantly charged with emotion and sentiment, two of the concert's most moving moments came when McCartney acknowledged the two fallen Beatles: John Lennon and George Harrison. To Lennon he dedicated “Here Today” - a song he wrote shortly after Lennon's death that dealt with their strained yet unbroken friendship - and to Harrison he dedicated  “Something.”  For the latter, McCartney played a ukulele given to him by Harrison.
   

Both numbers brought the house down.

McCartney, who helped organize last year's  “Concert For New York” and who held an unusually high public profile during the post-Sept. 11 days, also offered a fiery performance of  “Freedom,” a song inspired by the tragedy.  During the song, a huge tapestry of the Statue of Liberty descended from above the stage. Later, the Liverpool, England, native proudly waved an American flag while trotting about the stage. He also offered several more well-received numbers from his latest LP, “Driving Rain.”

Other highlights of this monumental musical event included “Band On The Run,” “My Love,”  “Maybe I'm Amazed,” a zingy rendition of “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” a powerful performance of  “Live and Let Die”' and a simple but poignant performance of “Let It Be.”  The set ended with the inspiring “Hey Jude,” during which McCartney asked the crowd to take over in singing its prominent chorus.

Encores included “The Long and Winding Road,” “Lady Madonna” and “I Saw Her Standing There.”  A second group of encores included “Yesterday,” a driving rendition of “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” and a heartfelt and fun performance of “The End.”

McCartney, despite his grounded and unassuming demeanor, seems to know he carries much more than just his bass guitar with him to the concert stage. It seems he is well aware he also is carrying the legacy of The Beatles and the soundtrack to the lives of three generations. And, based on this show and all other accounts of this tour - his first in nearly 10 years - that's something he does with great pride and great love.

McCartney, to paraphrase another terrific song he performed on Tuesday, “carries that weight” very well.

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Paul McCartney setlist.
April 16, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA

Hello Goodbye
Jet
All My Loving
Getting Better
Coming Up
Let Me Roll It
Lonley Road
Driving Rain
Loving Flame
Blackbird
Every Night
We Can Work It Out
Mother Nature's Son
Vanilla Sky
You Never Give Me Your Money/Carry That Weight
Fool on the Hill
Here Today
Something
Eleanor Rigby
Here There and Everywhere
Band On The Run
Back In The U.S.S.R.
Maybe I'm Amazed
C Moon
My Love
Can't Buy Me Love
Freedom
Live and Let Die
Let It Be
Hey Jude
The Long & Winding Road
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There
Yesterday
Sgt. Peppers Lonley Hearts Club Band 
The End