Paul McCartney (live in the RDS, Dublin)
Review Snapshot: 165 minutes, of 36 songs ranging from The Beatles, Wings, The Fireman and McCartney's solo material, throw in a fireworks display to rival Sydney Bridge on New Years Day and you’ve only a taster of Paul’s RDS gig in the summer sunshine.
The Cluas Verdict? 10 out of 10
Full Review: sung That seven year itch for a McCartney gig at Dublin’s RDS came back around last night, and in the summer sunshine he put on a stomping rocking show for nearly 3 hours, that would leave fellow musicians half his age speechless.
The fact that his beloved England had a World Cup match at the same time meant that the gig was delayed in starting until half-time in the game. Was it worth the wait?
At 8:30pm the band walked on stage to huge applause, and began with Venus And Mars / Rockshow and Jet before McCartney tried a bit of the local tongue. “Failte Romhat Go Leir”. “Is Mise Paul McCartney in case you didn’t know that” he joked.
After All My Loving and Got To Get You Into My Life he got tongue tied. “It’s good to back, be, Dublin in. That was a new one, this is an old one” he continued to contradict himself by introducing Letting Go.
Highway and Let Me Roll It were next as he paid tribute to Jimi Hendrix with the foxy lady ending (telling us that “Jimi was a very humble man. "'Do you think they’ll like me?' Jimi used to ask).
Over he went to the piano for The Long And Winding Road, Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five and Let 'Em In.
He spoke about recent gigs in Mexico where they got their cigarette lighters out and click in time to the music. “It was amazing, it’s the only place they do that, but then they are all smokers” he added. He stayed at the Piano for My Love.
Before I’m Looking Through You he had a bit of a false start, before getting it right. “I thought we were going to do another song, which we are now” he joked. “It proves this is live” he added.
He told us that he brought that song back into the set during a gig in the Kiev, and thinking that the crowd were cheering on the mention of Ukraine, he soon discovered that the Irish had started a verse of “Happy Birthday To You” which (his 68th birthday was just days away at the time of the gig)”.
While the rest of the band took a break, Paul stood alone on stage and gave us Blackbird, his tribute to John (Here Today) and had the ukulele for Dance Tonight’ which had everyone singing along.
“There’s a guy who’s been holding up a sign here at the front of the stage, so this one is for you – Simon” was his intro to Mrs. Vandebilt. He continued to comment on the sign after Eleanor Rigby. “When you’re up here on stage and you’re trying to read all the posters but you’re trying to remember the lyrics, the chords and basically everything you’re suppose to, but you still try to read them, and there’s one guy up here at the front who has a sign saying AFTER THE SHOW I’M GOING TO BANG THIS CHICK, so I had to read that one” he laughed.
Something, Sing The Changes, and Band On the Run followed, before he spoke again. “There’s a bit in the middle of this next song that you can join in if you want, if not……(as we lip read the other two words) for the intro of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Back In The U.S.S.R. and I’ve Got A Feeling were next.
“You’re probably wondering why we keep changing guitars? We’re just showing off. We have them so we might as well use them. This is the actual guitar that was used on this next 60s song” was his intro to Paperback Writer.
A Day In The Life and the segway into Give Peace A Chance was one of the night's many highlights. By now he had moved into top gear, and continued with ‘Let It Be’ and the pyrotechnic Live And Let Die with its special effects lifted right out of a James Bond movie.
During Hey Jude the rain started to fall lightly, but it didn’t dampen the spirits as Paul got both the men and women separately singing the chorus before the band left the stage for the first time. The encore consisted of Daytripper, Lady Madonna and Get Back but just when the fans thought it was over, there was a second encore.
Yesterday was beautifully sung, and then a rocking version of Helter Skelter with the rollercoaster backdrop to make us all dizzy. “There comes a time when we have to go home” he said (which brought consistent boos from the crowd). “It’s around the same time that you’ve got to go home” he promptly added. He thanked his band and crew and fittingly finished with Sgt Peppers Reprise and The End.
Two hours and 45 minutes after walking on stage, Macca had once again proved his love for the Irish fans with a spell-binding show that proved that, fast approaching his 68th birthday next week, he’s showing no sign of easing up.
Tonight he certainly gave something back to the Irish.
Mick Lynch
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