As part of Yasalam 2016, Lionel Richie will be bringing All The Hits to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit for the Saturday F1 after-race concert on the 26th November.
Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase here.
Elton John announces June 2017 concerts as part of worldwide Wonderful Crazy Tour
Elton ends a spectacular year which included headline performance at bbc radio 2 live in hyde park and upcoming performance at the apple music festival
4 June – derby the 3aaa county ground
7 June – birmingham genting arena
8 June – leeds first direct arena
24 June – airdrie excelsior stadium
Tickets on sale Friday 16th September at 10am
2016 has been a vintage year for Elton John; he released his 33rd studio album Wonderful Crazy Night to rapturous applause, and wowed audiences across the UK with his epic live show which culminated in a headline performance last weekend at Hyde Park in London for BBC Radio 2. Next week (18th September) he will also perform at the annual Apple Music Festival.
From Longleat to Leicester, Edinburgh to Exeter, Elton John brought his unmistakable showmanship to the stage. The Guardian exclaimed how the Meadowbank Stadium show was “a hit parade of peerless pomp”, with the Herald observing “the maestro's unbridled raison d'etre of showbiz classicist...sits somewhere between Liberace and Mozart”.
It was no different at the Lincolnshire Showground, where The Lincolnshire Echo simply declared, “when Sir Elton John came to Lincoln, Lincoln had one wonderful, crazy night”. In Liverpool, the Echo observed, “every song was note perfect, packed with the kind of energy that belies his years”
Now fans in Derby, Birmingham, Leeds and Airdrie can look forward to what will be one of the music events of 2017, as Elton John announces shows at Derby’s The 3aaa County Ground (4 June), Birmingham Genting Arena (7 June), Leeds First Direct Arena (8 June) and Airdrie Excelsior Stadium (24 June), performing songs from his latest studio album, ‘Wonderful Crazy Night’, as well as his most-loved hits.
Having given over 4000 performances in his illustrious career, Elton said:
“2017 will be my 50th year writing songs with Bernie Taupin. Our friendship remains one of the longest and most important relationships in my life. I have said many times that without meeting Bernie I would not have had the career, or fantastic life, I have had. Not by far. So my 2017 Tour, and especially the summer shows in the UK, will be dedicated to Bernie. He remains the most unique lyricist I could ever hope to work with, and a dear friend.”
An unmistakable name in the history of popular music, Elton John has done it all – and then some. From being awarded multiple Grammys and BRITs, and even an Oscar and a Tony Award, Elton has proven his universal acclaim. In addition to selling more than 250 million records worldwide, through his partnership with lyricist Tim Rice Elton wrote the music for the feature film and Broadway stage production of ‘The Lion King”.
Having performed at several of the world’s most recognisable venues – including a pair of residencies at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Elton John continues to be one of this country’s biggest pop-culture exports.
Full Event Information: Saturday, December 3 2016
4th June 2017
Derby 3aaa County Ground,
7th June 2017
Birmingham Genting Arena
8th June 2017
Leeds First Direct Arena
24th June 2017
Airdrie Excelsior Stadium
Box office Online at:
Ticketmaster.co.uk | theticketfactory.com | tickets.amazon.co.uk |
Tickets On-Sale: Tickets on Sale Friday 16th September at 10am
SHAWN MENDES ANNOUNCES 2017 ILLUMINATE WORLD TOUR
Including first-ever uk arena dates
‘treat you better’ certified platinum & reaches top 10 on billboard hot 100
Illuminate available 23 september 2016
Tickets on sale at 10am, Friday 16 September 2016
www.aeglive.co.uk and www.marshall-arts.com
#illuminateworldtour
Today, in support of his second album Illuminate (out September 23rd on Virgin EMI UK Records), multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes announces his first-ever headlining arena world tour for 2017. The huge 44-date tour will kick off in the UK at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro on 27 April 2017 and will continue across Europe and North America until 23 August 2017, with many more dates yet to be announced globally. The tour touches down at London The O2 and Manchester Arena along the way (see full list of dates below and get ticket info at http://shawnmendesofficial.com/tour). Fan club presales begin on September 12th and general public on sales begin at 10am on Friday 16th September at www.aeglive.co.uk and www.marshall-arts.com. For fan club presale info, head to www.ShawnAccess.com.
Shawn Mendes’ upcoming album Illuminate, out on 23 September features hit lead single “Treat You Better” which was an instant hit, sky-rocketing to the no.1 spot in 36 countries and currently riding high in the UK Top 10. This marked Shawn’s second Top 10 hit following the release of “Stitches” which held the coveted no.1 spot on the UK Official Charts for two weeks. Mendes has since released three additional tracks from Illuminate including “Mercy”, “Ruin” and “Three Empty Words”, available now upon pre-ordering the album.
Shawn has recently come off his sold-out Shawn Mendes World Tour following the success of debut album Handwritten. This Friday 10 September, Shawn will headline New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden with The Illuminate Live Concert & Album Event, playing new music from his highly anticipated forthcoming album for the first time.
Shawn Mendes said, “I’m so excited for the Illuminate World Tour and to head to the UK for the shows there. The British fans have been so supportive and this will be my first time headlining in Scotland and Manchester, as well as The O2 in London. I can’t wait!”
At just 18 years old, his powerful sound and raw songwriting has lead him to be named as Forbes “30 Under 30” in 2016, The People’s Choice Awards “Favourite New Artist” 2016 and one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential Teens” of 2014 and 2015. Mendes will take to the stage at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro on 27 April, Manchester Arena on 28 April and London’s O2 on 1 June 2017.
Shawn Mendes ‘Illuminate World Tour’ 2017 UK Tour Dates:
Thursday 27 April 2017 Glasgow SSE Hydro
Friday 28 April 2017 Manchester Arena
Thursday 1 June 2017 London The O2
Tickets available from www.aeglive.co.uk from 10am, Friday 16 September 2016.
Press reaction: Paul McCartney resumes One On One tour in East Rutherford
This weekend saw Paul McCartney resume his One On One tour of North America after a 3 week break. Read what the local media thought of his show at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, below.
Billboard
The 7 Best Moments From Paul McCartney's One On One Tour in New Jersey
Paul McCartney brought his One On One tour to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday night (Aug. 7). The 74-year-old delighted the packed stadium with hits old and new as he rocked and rolled his way through more than two and a half hours of The Beatles, Wings and solo tunes.
McCartney weaved back and forth deftly through his catalog, his voice sounding youthful and energetic. For fans of Sir Paul, the entire concert was a bright spot (literally, too; impressive pyrotechnics and fireworks light up the night during "Live and Let Die"). But here are the 7 moments that stood out the most.
1. His Instrumental Prowess
During the set, McCartney showed off his electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano and ukulele skills.
2. The Tributes
Paul played a tiny bit of "Foxy Lady" in honor of Jimi Hendrix, "My Valentine" for his wife Nancy Shevell, "Maybe I'm Amazed" for his late wife Linda McCartney, "Here Today" for John Lennon, and "Something" for George Harrison.
3. His Stories
Watching Hendrix one night, McCartney recalled the late legend's guitar went out of tune. Hendrix then called out to Eric in the audience to come on stage and fix his guitar. Eric Clapton, of course, declined -- per Sir Paul.
4. His Russian Accent
After playing "Back in the U.S.S.R.," McCartney recalled the time when the Beatles held a concert in Red Square. Backstage, the Fab Four met many Russian government officials, who told the Beatles they used their records to learn English. While telling the story, McCartney did a great impression of a Ruski.
5. A Wardrobe Change
The August heat had everyone sweating. And after "Temporary Secretary," McCartney took off his blue jacket, rolled up his sleeves and said, "That's the one and only wardrobe change for the evening."
6. Old and New Songs
McCartney's set spanned generations. "We played you our oldest song," he said, referencing the pre-Beatles tune from The Quarrymen "In Spite of All the Danger." "Now we're going to play our newest," he continued, before jumping into "FourFiveSeconds." Earlier, though, he admitted he knows what the fans want. "We can tell which songs you really like. When you play an old Beatles song, your phones all light up like the galaxy. When we play a new song, it's like a black hole." But that didn't stop him from playing his newer tunes. "Here's another black hole," he added before playing the title track from his 2013 album New.
7. Playfulness With Fans
He read signs, pretended to jump out into the crowd, joked about signing someone's butt, and even shook his own during "And I Love Her." He's still making girls scream, after all these years.
Gothamist
Paul McCartney made 55,000 concertgoers feel like the luckiest people in the world Sunday night as he brought his "One on One" tour to MetLife Stadium, performing over three dozen songs in a rousing and rocking show. Grown men were screaming "I love you!" and people were even hugging the security staff when the show was over.
Superlatives seem cliché when talking about a Legend, but the 74-year-old Macca deserves them. He and his exceptional band— Rusty Anderson (guitar), Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Paul Wickens (keyboards) and Brian Ray (guitar and bass)—didn't just play songs, they delivered a master class in arena concerts, with impeccable playing and incredible energy. If you've ever played a Beatles or Wings album, then that's pretty much how it sounded in East Rutherford—a flawless living jukebox.
The setlist included many Beatles classics and deep cuts, plus a song from his Quarrymen days, as well Wings favorites ("Live and Let Die" turned the concert into a KISS spectacle for a few minutes, with fire and fireworks) and newer songs, like an ode to his wife, former MTA board member Nancy Shevell, "My Valentine"; "Queenie Eye"; and his collaboration with Rihanna and Kanye West, "Four Five Seconds."
McCartney's banter was engaging throughout the night: At one point he admitted that he tries not to read the signs in the crowd while playing, lest he forget lyrics or a chord. Then he proceeded to read the signs: "'Kiss my butt'?!" he said, in a wounded voice, before asserting, "Let's have a look at it.”
Newsday
Paul McCartney mixes old with new at MetLife concert
Paul McCartney still knows how to pull out some surprises.
There was the Kraftwerk-like new wave of “Temporary Secretary.” There was the rockabilly swing he gave “Can’t Buy Me Love.” And there was his Elvis Presley-ish version of the first song he ever recorded, “In Spite of All the Danger” by The Quarrymen.
But McCartney’s “One on One” tour, which stopped at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, is actually one big surprise. It isn’t supporting a new album, which means Macca gets to pick through the most celebrated catalog in rock and roll history and find the songs that suit his current mood.
That means we get to hear songs from his 2013 album “New,” including the joyous “Queenie Eye,” and his more rocking take on “FourFiveSeconds,” his collaboration with Kanye West and Rihanna.
At 74, McCartney also is big on paying tribute, dedicating songs to Nancy Shevell, his wife of nearly five years; his late wife Linda McCartney, with the great “Maybe I’m Amazed”; and the late Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison.
However, it’s the way McCartney keeps his classics so current that maybe amazes most. His style is often punchier, harder-hitting than it used to be, making songs like “I’ve Got a Feeling” sound rougher and tougher.
His band — guitarist Rusty Anderson, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., keyboardist Paul “Wix” Wickens, and bassist Brian Ray — is first-rate and used brilliantly, whether they are filling “A Hard Day’s Night” with extra percussion or bringing the house down with a titanic, flame-filled version of “Live and Let Die.”
And when McCartney delivers the poignant civil rights anthem “Blackbird” by himself on acoustic guitar, raised 20 or so feet in the air on a special videoscreened riser, that is when the night is most magical.
After all, the best parts of the “One on One” tour come when it feels like McCartney is engaging each concertgoer personally, telling stories of how some of his classics were created or personal remembrances of his friends.
McCartney’s warm, easygoing personality has always been his most charming quality. On nights like this, it’s still a surprise how well he still shows it off.
NJ.com
The demo cost them just five pounds, Paul McCartney said.
He, John Lennon, George Harrison and their mates huddled around a single microphone, and laid down two tracks in Percy Phillips' Liverpool studio, a small middle-room, between a kitchen and living room-turned-electrical shop.
The single 78 disc they received from the session featured a grainy cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day," and an original, written by McCartney and Harrison, called "In Spite Of All The Danger."
It was the band's first recording, as The Quarrymen — they wouldn't become The Beatles for two more years. McCartney had just turned 16. It was 1958.
Stop reading for a moment and take a look around. Think of what's changed since McCartney began; all the good things, all the unspeakably horrible things.
None of that seemed to matter Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, where the sovereign songwriter of pop and rock revisited his "Danger" — inside three hours of indomitable Beatles, Wings and solo tunes — and all but seized the clocks on our digital screens.
At 74, McCartney has shown no interest in retirement — this was night No. 29 of his One On One stadium tour — and in 2016, our landscape of political uproar and seemingly endless acts of human brutality may require his voice, his music and his whimsy more than ever.
Backed by a wonderfully precise four-piece band, Sir Paul traversed nearly 60 years of his rock standards, and was sure to wrap many in ebullient tales, of their origins, his songwriting process and his undying belief in peace and love.
Here are a few highlights from his marathon at the Meadowlands.
Paul McCartney's One On One tour heads to Washington D.C for two nights at the Verizon Center before continuing across the country until his final August show at the Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland. Full details here.
Press reaction: Paul McCartney resumes One On One tour in East Rutherford
This weekend saw Paul McCartney resume his One On One tour of North America after a 3 week break. Read what the local media thought of his show at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, below.
Billboard
The 7 Best Moments From Paul McCartney's One On One Tour in New Jersey
Paul McCartney brought his One On One tour to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday night (Aug. 7). The 74-year-old delighted the packed stadium with hits old and new as he rocked and rolled his way through more than two and a half hours of The Beatles, Wings and solo tunes.
McCartney weaved back and forth deftly through his catalog, his voice sounding youthful and energetic. For fans of Sir Paul, the entire concert was a bright spot (literally, too; impressive pyrotechnics and fireworks light up the night during "Live and Let Die"). But here are the 7 moments that stood out the most.
1. His Instrumental Prowess
During the set, McCartney showed off his electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano and ukulele skills.
2. The Tributes
Paul played a tiny bit of "Foxy Lady" in honor of Jimi Hendrix, "My Valentine" for his wife Nancy Shevell, "Maybe I'm Amazed" for his late wife Linda McCartney, "Here Today" for John Lennon, and "Something" for George Harrison.
3. His Stories
Watching Hendrix one night, McCartney recalled the late legend's guitar went out of tune. Hendrix then called out to Eric in the audience to come on stage and fix his guitar. Eric Clapton, of course, declined -- per Sir Paul.
4. His Russian Accent
After playing "Back in the U.S.S.R.," McCartney recalled the time when the Beatles held a concert in Red Square. Backstage, the Fab Four met many Russian government officials, who told the Beatles they used their records to learn English. While telling the story, McCartney did a great impression of a Ruski.
5. A Wardrobe Change
The August heat had everyone sweating. And after "Temporary Secretary," McCartney took off his blue jacket, rolled up his sleeves and said, "That's the one and only wardrobe change for the evening."
6. Old and New Songs
McCartney's set spanned generations. "We played you our oldest song," he said, referencing the pre-Beatles tune from The Quarrymen "In Spite of All the Danger." "Now we're going to play our newest," he continued, before jumping into "FourFiveSeconds." Earlier, though, he admitted he knows what the fans want. "We can tell which songs you really like. When you play an old Beatles song, your phones all light up like the galaxy. When we play a new song, it's like a black hole." But that didn't stop him from playing his newer tunes. "Here's another black hole," he added before playing the title track from his 2013 album New.
7. Playfulness With Fans
He read signs, pretended to jump out into the crowd, joked about signing someone's butt, and even shook his own during "And I Love Her." He's still making girls scream, after all these years.
Gothamist
Paul McCartney made 55,000 concertgoers feel like the luckiest people in the world Sunday night as he brought his "One on One" tour to MetLife Stadium, performing over three dozen songs in a rousing and rocking show. Grown men were screaming "I love you!" and people were even hugging the security staff when the show was over.
Superlatives seem cliché when talking about a Legend, but the 74-year-old Macca deserves them. He and his exceptional band— Rusty Anderson (guitar), Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Paul Wickens (keyboards) and Brian Ray (guitar and bass)—didn't just play songs, they delivered a master class in arena concerts, with impeccable playing and incredible energy. If you've ever played a Beatles or Wings album, then that's pretty much how it sounded in East Rutherford—a flawless living jukebox.
The setlist included many Beatles classics and deep cuts, plus a song from his Quarrymen days, as well Wings favorites ("Live and Let Die" turned the concert into a KISS spectacle for a few minutes, with fire and fireworks) and newer songs, like an ode to his wife, former MTA board member Nancy Shevell, "My Valentine"; "Queenie Eye"; and his collaboration with Rihanna and Kanye West, "Four Five Seconds."
McCartney's banter was engaging throughout the night: At one point he admitted that he tries not to read the signs in the crowd while playing, lest he forget lyrics or a chord. Then he proceeded to read the signs: "'Kiss my butt'?!" he said, in a wounded voice, before asserting, "Let's have a look at it.”
Newsday
Paul McCartney mixes old with new at MetLife concert
Paul McCartney still knows how to pull out some surprises.
There was the Kraftwerk-like new wave of “Temporary Secretary.” There was the rockabilly swing he gave “Can’t Buy Me Love.” And there was his Elvis Presley-ish version of the first song he ever recorded, “In Spite of All the Danger” by The Quarrymen.
But McCartney’s “One on One” tour, which stopped at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, is actually one big surprise. It isn’t supporting a new album, which means Macca gets to pick through the most celebrated catalog in rock and roll history and find the songs that suit his current mood.
That means we get to hear songs from his 2013 album “New,” including the joyous “Queenie Eye,” and his more rocking take on “FourFiveSeconds,” his collaboration with Kanye West and Rihanna.
At 74, McCartney also is big on paying tribute, dedicating songs to Nancy Shevell, his wife of nearly five years; his late wife Linda McCartney, with the great “Maybe I’m Amazed”; and the late Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison.
However, it’s the way McCartney keeps his classics so current that maybe amazes most. His style is often punchier, harder-hitting than it used to be, making songs like “I’ve Got a Feeling” sound rougher and tougher.
His band — guitarist Rusty Anderson, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., keyboardist Paul “Wix” Wickens, and bassist Brian Ray — is first-rate and used brilliantly, whether they are filling “A Hard Day’s Night” with extra percussion or bringing the house down with a titanic, flame-filled version of “Live and Let Die.”
And when McCartney delivers the poignant civil rights anthem “Blackbird” by himself on acoustic guitar, raised 20 or so feet in the air on a special videoscreened riser, that is when the night is most magical.
After all, the best parts of the “One on One” tour come when it feels like McCartney is engaging each concertgoer personally, telling stories of how some of his classics were created or personal remembrances of his friends.
McCartney’s warm, easygoing personality has always been his most charming quality. On nights like this, it’s still a surprise how well he still shows it off.
NJ.com
The demo cost them just five pounds, Paul McCartney said.
He, John Lennon, George Harrison and their mates huddled around a single microphone, and laid down two tracks in Percy Phillips' Liverpool studio, a small middle-room, between a kitchen and living room-turned-electrical shop.
The single 78 disc they received from the session featured a grainy cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day," and an original, written by McCartney and Harrison, called "In Spite Of All The Danger."
It was the band's first recording, as The Quarrymen — they wouldn't become The Beatles for two more years. McCartney had just turned 16. It was 1958.
Stop reading for a moment and take a look around. Think of what's changed since McCartney began; all the good things, all the unspeakably horrible things.
None of that seemed to matter Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, where the sovereign songwriter of pop and rock revisited his "Danger" — inside three hours of indomitable Beatles, Wings and solo tunes — and all but seized the clocks on our digital screens.
At 74, McCartney has shown no interest in retirement — this was night No. 29 of his One On One stadium tour — and in 2016, our landscape of political uproar and seemingly endless acts of human brutality may require his voice, his music and his whimsy more than ever.
Backed by a wonderfully precise four-piece band, Sir Paul traversed nearly 60 years of his rock standards, and was sure to wrap many in ebullient tales, of their origins, his songwriting process and his undying belief in peace and love.
Here are a few highlights from his marathon at the Meadowlands.
Paul McCartney's One On One tour heads to Washington D.C for two nights at the Verizon Center before continuing across the country until his final August show at the Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland. Full details here.
Press reaction: Paul McCartney One On One in Hershey and Boston
Tuesday night saw Paul McCartney bring his One On One tour to Hersheypark Stadium. Read what the local press thought below, including more reaction from his incredible Fenway Park show last weekend.
Lancaster Newspapers
Paul McCartney is charming at jaw-dropping Hershey show
As if the world needed any proof that Paul McCartney’s still got it, skeptics should look no further than the music icon’s Tuesday night show at Hersheypark Stadium.
Just a few songs into his nearly three-hour set, McCartney peeled off his royal blue Nehru jacket to reveal a sharp dress shirt.
Fans, primarily the women in attendance, shrieked in delight.
“That’s the main costume change of the whole evening,” McCartney said with a wink.
Moments like these are what makes seeing McCartney live an experience unlike any other. Of course the music is going to be good – not just good, astounding – so the pleasant surprises are in the humanity McCartney brings to his live show.
Sometimes it was a little jig he’d do after a song, standing up at the piano and waving his arms around playfully at the crowd. Other times, it was a sweet memory of one of his former bandmates, or a story about a time he performed in Moscow, during which he impersonates a Russian government official.
During “And I Love Her,” it was when he turned his back to the crowd and did an adorable little booty shake.
The man still has it.
The sprawling, spectacular setlist was like a musical scrapbook of McCartney’s career. He played the first song he ever recorded with the pre-Beatles band the Quarrymen, “In Spite of All the Danger.” He also played his 2015 collaboration with Rihanna and Kanye West, “FourFiveSeconds.”
McCartney performed numerous Beatles songs, from sailing toward the sky on a mobile riser during “Blackbird” to the circus ditty “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite,” which was a joy to hear live thanks to McCartney’s exceptional backing band. (It’s worth mentioning that McCartney has played with this lineup longer than he did with the Beatles or Wings.)
McCartney hit high notes with remarkable ease, especially during “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Photographs and videos taken by McCartney’s late wife Linda were displayed on the big screen behind him as he played the song, which he wrote for her.
There were many times when it was easy to get misty-eyed as McCartney paid tribute to loved ones. He played “Here Today,” a song he wrote as a conversation he wishes he had had with John Lennon.
“If you’ve got something nice to say to someone, get it said,” McCartney said.
As he played the George Harrison tune “Something” on ukulele, photos of McCartney and Harrison were shown on the screen behind him.
The jumbotrons were utilized incredibly well during the entire performance. The images were a mix of photographs, video and animation, which were always interesting but never distracting. Fireworks and pyrotechnics elevated the show even higher, blasting off at key moments during “Live and Let Die.”
Even though McCartney is conditioned to putting on a grand spectacle night after night, his live show never feels like he’s simply going through the motions. On Tuesday night, he even made a conscious effort to be present and allowed himself a moment to just look out into the crowd.
“I’m just going to take a minute here to drink it all in for myself,” he said.
We’re trying to do the same, Paul. Take as long as you need to.
Worcester Telegram Gazette
Paul McCartney takes fans 'Here, There and Everywhere' at Fenway Park
In what is becoming a commonplace (but never unwelcome) occurrence at Fenway Park, Paul McCartney brought the sold-out Bay State crowd on another whirlwind Magical Mystery Tour through some of the best and most beloved pop songs ever recorded.
With more than just a little help from his friends (guitarist Rusty Anderson, guitarist/bassist Brian Ray, keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Paul “Wix” Wickens and powerhouse drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.), McCartney, who’s played at the famed ball diamond four times in the last seven years, promised to deliver a rock 'n' roll party packed with old songs, new songs and some in-between songs.
The 74-year-old McCartney delivered on his promise.
Showcasing his illustrious career as a Beatle, Wings frontman and solo artist, McCartney's 39-song, two-hour-and-40-minute performance Sunday night was a dream come true. It contained 24 Beatles songs, seven solo gems (four of which were released within the last five years), six Wings songs, a Macca, Rihanna and Kanye West collaboration and a Quarrymen song, which pre-dates the Fab Four.
And for the incredible encore, McCartney was joined on stage by Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir and Pats’ star Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski, both playing with Macca for the first time.
Looking all Beatley in a maroon-colored, collarless jacket, lightly pink-colored long-sleeve dress shirt, black slacks and his signature Hofner bass strapped around his neck, McCartney opened his stellar set with the Mop Top-era chart-topper "A Hard Day’s Night," which was sheer magic, as it hinted at the truly memorable performance that was about to unfold.
Sounding like a lost new wave gem that was a cross between Pete Shelley and Gary Numan, “Temporary Secretary” (from 1980’s “McCartney II”) was, by far, the evening's most offbeat oddity.
Proving that he’s no slouch in the six-string department, The Cute Beatle channeled his inner-Jimi Hendrix on “Let Me Roll It,” which he closed out with the scorching guitar lead from “Foxy Lady,” before leading the band from behind a piano on the jangly, honky-tonk rocker "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five."
The evening's most pleasant surprises were the timeless Beatles’ classic “Here, There and Everywhere,” which literally had the audience swooning in delight as soon as they recognized it, and "We Can Work It Out," which still boasts some of the truest lyrics about life that has ever surfaced in a tidy pop ditty.
Sounding like he was auditioning for the Soggy Bottom Boys, McCartney went all the way back to his skiffle roots on the country-tinged "In Spite of All the Danger," the first song he ever recorded with Lennon and Harrison (as the five-piece Quarrymen) back in 1958.
Sir Paul dedicated “Love Me Do” to Sir George Martin, without whom McCartney said there wouldn’t have been any Beatles records. During “And I Love Her,” McCartney playfully shook his butt, to great crowd approval.
In his introduction to "Blackbird," McCartney talked about how the Civil Rights movement of the '60s was the chief inspiration behind the song.
"Eleanor Rigby,'' easily the best nihilistic pop song ever recorded, was followed by “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!,” which momentarily transformed Fenway into a psychedelic carnival with its sweeping calliope effects, swirly laser and McCartney singing lead.
“Something” was something else. This deeply moving salute to Harrison started with McCartney tenderly caressing the lyrics while rudimentary strumming a ukulele and then erupting into full-body Beatlesque grandeur with Anderson’s shooting off Harrison’s incendiary guitar licks.
After a blistering “Band on the Run,” "Back in the U.S.S.R." was so rocking and inspired it made even the most patriotic of flag-waving Americans in the audience momentarily homesick for Mother Russia.
“Live and Let Die” was explosive, figuratively and literally, with its mix of rocking instrumentation and fiery, eyebrow-singeing pyrotechnics.
To close out the main set, McCartney took a sad song and made it better with the massive singalong/spiritual sermon "Hey Jude," a number that is still an emotional powerhouse.
After parading back on stage with U.S., U.K. and Massachusetts state flags, McCartney showed why “Yesterday” is still the quintessential acoustic ballad of the rock era and most popular song in history.
Weir (who played the previous two night before McCartney at Fenway under the Dead & Company moniker) joined Sir Paul for a jam-worthy version of Wings’ “Hi, Hi, Hi,” which made McCartney joke afterwards that he wasn’t sure if the crowd just witnessed the inaugural performance of “The Grateful Beatles” or “The Beatles Dead.”
Just when the audience thought the show couldn’t get any cooler or crazier, Gronkowski came barreling out on stage like a big friendly giant and provided some laughable stiff dance moves, goofy air guitar gestures and ridiculously bad vocals on the Beatles’ classic “Helter Skelter,” which McCartney hasn’t been playing regularly on this tour.
And, if that wasn’t enough to inflate ones spirits, Gronk told the already pumped crowd that football season’s just around the corner and the Pats are gonna “turn it up” this year.
Appropriately enough, the evening came to its confetti and fireworks finale with the beloved “Abbey Road” suite consisting of “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End,” which concludes with the ringing sentiment, “And in the end/The love you take/Is equal to the love you make.''
No arguments here.
Popmatters
Paul McCartney Takes Nothing for Granted on 'One on One’ Tour
At this point in his career, Sir Paul McCartney wouldn’t be faulted for phoning in a live performance. Fortunately, one look at setlists from his current ‘One on One’ tour will show that he does nothing of the sort. The former Beatle didn’t play it safe, nor did he pander to the audience with some easy hits. In fact, McCartney invited them to celebrate as he packed 38 songs from all eras of his life into his revamped tour.
Fortunately, McCartney has incorporated a variety of classics into his set including “Love Me Do” and “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” in addition to staples like “Live and Let Die” (complete with fireworks) and “Blackbird”.
The only oddball song was “FourFiveSeconds”, a recent collaboration with Rihanna and Kanye West. But from that, he went right into “Eleanor Rigby”, so the minor detour to something unfamiliar didn’t prevent everyone from continuing to have fun.
In spite of the size of the venues, McCartney and his music forge a personal connection with each and every one in the audience. His ‘One on One’ tour continues—dates follow below the photos.
Paul's One On One tour of North America continues throughout July and August. Full details here.
Paul McCartney joined by Grateful Dead's Bob Weir at Fenway Park
Paul McCartney returned to Boston's Fenway Park this weekend for the first time since his Out There tour back in 2013. Here is what the local press thought of his One On One performance.
Boston Globe
Paul McCartney weaves in new bits amidst familiar tunes at Fenway Park
At some point during a Paul McCartney concert, it hits you. Maybe it’s when he strides onstage initially, that customary fiddle-shaped Hofner electric bass strapped on. Maybe it’s when you see video footage of the fresh-faced young Beatles scampering across the field at Shea Stadium, now more than half a century ago, on a screen overhead while McCartney plays “Can’t Buy Me Love” here and now.
For this audience member at a sold-out Fenway Park on Sunday, it hit me just after McCartney delivered “Blackbird” atop a platform that had risen from the stage. Afterward, he strode to one end of the platform and bowed to that side of the stadium. Walked to the other end, bowed again.
There it was. McCartney is as close to a figure of royalty as rock ‘n’ roll has ever produced, a man that the overused term “living legend” actually suits. Yet he still has it in him to play three-hour shows with the same boyish grin you see in 50-year-old footage, and to show graciousness and humility toward all who come to see him.
To recognize that time has passed is no slight, but rather an acknowledgement that even with all that McCartney’s done for his admirers, he’s determined to keep moving, giving, creating.
How extraordinary. What an absolute gift.
If you’ve seen McCartney on his recent tours, like those that set Fenway attendance records in 2009 and 2013, you recognized half of the set list here, or more: big production numbers like “Band on the Run,” “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” “Live and Let Die,” and “Hey Jude,” as well as subtler numbers like “Here Today” in honor of John Lennon, and “Something” on ukulele in George Harrison’s memory.
But there were new bits, as well. Offbeat fare ranged from the quirky 1980 hit “Temporary Secretary” to a stripped-down take on “In Spite of All the Danger” by the Quarrymen, the English skiffle group that birthed the Beatles. Two songs from 2013 LP “New” — the title track and “Queenie Eye” — settled into the mix well; so did a solo take on “FourFiveSeconds,” McCartney’s 2015 single with Rihanna and Kanye West.
The evening didn’t lack for pyrotechnics or special effects — not least the sight of Rob Gronkowski dancing onstage while Dead & Company’s Bob Weir played guitar during “Helter Skelter,” halfway through the encore. But the powerful, generous show McCartney provided with his long-serving band — guitarists Brian Ray and Rusty Anderson, keyboardist Paul “Wix” Wickens, and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. — provided all the fireworks any fan could want.
Boston Herald
Sir Paul McCartney belts a home run at Fenway Park
OK, Paul now you’re showing off.
Thankfully, we love it when you show off.
At Paul McCartney’s first Fenway Park show — back in 2009 when Macca was a mere 67 — he played 34 songs. Last night at the packed park, the icon performed 39 (not including the “Foxy Lady” jam that followed “Let Me Roll It”) over nearly three hours. To add to the epic, he had Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir guest on (yup) “Hi Hi Hi” and Rob Gronkowski dance to “Helter Skelter,” well, I guess you could call that dancing.
Sir Paul and his ace band did obvious Beatles classics and Fab Four songs I’d almost forgotten (the lonely, pretty “And I Love Her”). They did the same for his Wings catalogue — the nearly lost track being a sleazy, in-the-groove “Letting Go." He reached back to do a Quarrymen nugget with “In Spite of All the Danger” and turned his tune with Rihanna and Kanye, the deservingly-ubiquitous “FourFiveSeconds,” into a tender, jangly gem which felt strangely perfect next to “Eleanor Rigby.”
The man has had his hand in about near a hundred Top 40 hits, but many of the best moments came when he ignored songs we all know by heart.
He played three from 2013’s “New” and delivered them with tremendous energy and a modern and retro touch — The Strokes haven’t written a new new wave number like Paul’s “Save Us” in a dozen years. I could have had more. I say add the winsome “Early Days.”
Of course the big cheers came for the anthems, the massive, world-changing anthems.
“A Hard Day’s Night,” “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” and had a manic, almost punk energy.
His awesome tunefulness and talent remains as he constantly swapped instruments: bass, piano, acoustic and electric guitars (and ukulele for George Harrison’s
“Something”). Nobody writes or performs with the same joy for harmony — see “Band on the Run,” “Let It Be,” “Yesterday” and 36 more. Nobody pairs meaning with melody like McCartney — civil rights tune “Blackbird” had a sad relevance to ongoing social injustice problems with Paul noting things are “not that much better now.”
McCartney has sold out Fenway Park four times in seven years. I’m guessing he could fill the place another four in the same span. So, see you all in 2023? McCartney will be 81. Honestly, I think he could do it — even if he has to pare back to 34 songs.
Mass Live
Paul McCartney rocks Fenway Park with a little help from Rob Gronkowski, Bob Weir
It has been a half century since The Beatles rocked Suffolk Downs, but the passage of time has not slowed down Paul McCartney, who gave a marathon performance at Fenway Park on Sunday night.
Unlike the Fab Four's brief show at the east Boston racetrack in 1966, McCartney delivered an impressive two–hour and 45-minute, 39-song overview of his storied career with a mix of solo material, Wings hits and Beatle favorites.
Oh yeah, and there were two surprise guests to boot – Rob Gronksowki of the New England Patriots and Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir.
The concert was a decades-spanning study of McCartney's work with songs ranging from "In Spite of All the Danger," a tune a 16-year-old Macca co-wrote for The Quarrymen skiffle group in 1958, to "FourFiveSeconds," his 2015 collaboration with hip hop stars Kanye West and Rihanna.
McCartney and his finely tuned four-piece touring band kicked off the evening with "A Hard Days Night." Its iconic opening chord crackled and echoed throughout the ballpark, bringing more than 30,000 cheering fans to their feet.
Chatty and charming, he gave an engaging and energetic performance. He still can still tackle songs like "I've Got a Feeling" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."
McCartney knows the crowd demands the classics – "Eleanor Rigby," "Hey Jude" and "Band on the Run" – and he delivered, but he also tossed in some pretty impressive deep cuts.
After playing his signature song "Yesterday," Weir was brought out on stage to jam on Wings' once-banned hit "Hi Hi Hi."
Then, to thunderous applause, McCartney brought out Gronk, who, along with Weir, joined in on two "White Album" rockers, "Helter Skelter" and "Birthday." Gronk may not have a future as a rock 'n' roller, but he looked to be having a grand old time.
McCartney capped a memorable night with the haunting closing medley from "Abbey Road."
The legend ended the night with the lyrics from "The End" – "And in the end / The love you take / Is equal to the love you make."
American Spectator
For the fourth time in just over a decade, I saw Paul McCartney in concert. Of the four occasions, three have taken place at Fenway Park.
This time around, I was joined by my roommate Christopher Kain (who attended the show with me at Fenway in 2009 – the first concert at the park in decades) and my older brother Ezra. Before the show, a nice young woman from Spain who is in this country for a few weeks to study at the Berklee School of Music chatted him up. While it was the first time Ezzie had ever seen perform, it was not the first time he had seen him. In 2005, while working at Whole Foods in Toronto, he, his co-workers and the patrons got the shock of their life when they saw Macca walk in. Well, even a Beatle has to eat. I’m sure the cashier will never forget ringing him up.
Well, there’s something to that vegetarian diet because the 74-year old Beatle performed a set of 38 songs over three hours without an intermission. There was a healthy mix of Beatles tunes (“A Hard Day’s Night”, “”Let It Be”, “Hey Jude” and even “You Won’t See Me”), Wings material (“Band on The Run”, “1985” and even “I Feel Like Letting Go” from Venus & Mars) as well as a couple of tracks from his newest album, the aptly titled New.
McCartney let things be and saved the best for last. After closing the show with “Hey Jude”, he came out for an encore carrying an American flag while one of his band mates carried the Union Jack. After starting the encore with “Yesterday”, McCartney brought out Bob Weir of The Dead (who had performed at Fenway the previous two nights) to perform Wings’ “Hi Hi Hi”. But the biggest surprise came when Macca introduced New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski who came out and played air guitar and danced to “Helter Skelter”. With Tom Brady somewhat deflated, Gronk is now probably the Pats most popular player and last night will do nothing to dissuade that sentiment. McCartney and company would then play “Birthday” and end with “Medley” from Abbey Road which concluded, “And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Unfortunately, love isn’t enough. But we could certainly use more of it and Paul McCartney always has an ample supply to go around for the taking and making.
Paul's One On One tour of North America continues throughout July and August. Full details here.
FAULT interview Lionel Richie photographer Alan Silfen at 'STILL' exhibition launch
FAULT spoke with photographer Alan Silfen at the launch of his exhibition ‘STILL’ alongside Lionel Richie. Read the interview in full below.
Words by Robert Baggs / FAULT Magazine.
Last night FAULT was at an exclusive viewing of ‘STILL’, an exhibition by Alan Silfen showcasing the life and adventures of none other than Lionel Richie, who was also in attendance. Hosted at The Dorchester hotel, we managed to grab Alan to ask him what it was like shadowing such an icon.
FAULT: So first off, how does it feel to have an exhibition like this in The Dorchester?
Alan: Oh, it’s amazing; it’s ridiculous. I’ve been shooting Lionel Richie for 40 years and you don’t realise until something like this that it has been 40 years. It’s been a trip and it’s so funny remembering time and the fun and the craziness of The Commodores.
FAULT: I bet you couldn’t imagine back when you first shot Lionel that it would ever lead to exhibitions and shots of Royalty.
Alan: No way! I was 17 when I first shot him. 17. That lead to being scared out of my mind in a room with Lionel, Princess Diana and Prince Charles and not knowing how to act; I wasn’t even meant to be in the room. They finally said I could go in but I had all these bodyguards staring at me and burning a hole through me with their eyes. Then, all of a sudden, I hear Princess Diana say “could you take a picture of us?” What would you do? I said yes. It’s about moments like that. That’s how it feels: crazy.
FAULT: One of my favourite images on display has to be the rolls of proofs where Lionel has circled and crossed out images he does and doesn’t like in red pen. What was the thinking behind including it in the exhibition?
Alan: Well, that was one of things about putting this exhibition together. All of the early work is on different types of film. These images are all on Kodak 120 roll film, so it’s all negatives and on a proof sheet which is around A4 size. You would sit down with a magnifying glass and you would circle the ones you like. So when I found this sheet, I thought it would be perfect and so I printed it oversized and then Lionel saw and said “I’m going to go to town!” So I got him some acrylic red paint and he did his usual process of crossing off the ones he didn’t like. What he does and doesn’t like hasn’t changed in 40 years. He doesn’t like the moody images; he prefers to be engaged.
Photographer Alan Silfen – Photo courtesy Robert Baggs
FAULT: Do you ever not agree with his image selections?
Alan: Oh of course! That’s half the fun of it!
FAULT: Who wins usually?
Alan: I’ll leave that to you to figure out… it could be me, it could be him.
FAULT: The Glastonbury image from last year is absolutely incredible. To see Lionel’s fan base having just grown and grown; the crowd is phenomenal.
Alan: This image to me is the ultimate. Just to think that Lionel broke the record for the biggest crowd at Glastonbury and then his album went number 1 after this. The album had been out for 18 years.
FAULT: You must have shot a lot of his live shows.
Alan: Yeah, a lot of his live shows and I’ve gone on tour with him. We also do all of the album packaging and marketing for the tours but my favourite is going in to the studio with him.
FAULT: He has worked with some incredible artists.
Alan: Yeah, like sitting in with him and Lenny [Kravitz]… the two of them together is crazy. They work all through the night until 9 the next morning and you don’t even realise it because it’s amazing to see people like that write music. Just being allowed to be there to photograph it is amazing and they forget I’m even in the room. That’s how I’ve been very lucky because Lionel has always been that way with me.
Lionel with LL Cool J – Photo courtesy Alan Silfen
FAULT: It is shots like that that are iconic and my personal favourite over posed images.
Alan: Yeah and that shot of the two of them always reminds me of how he writes. That frame is from 1996 but it could be from 1980 or it could be from yesterday. What he does is he’ll have the melody done and then they book him for a vocal session and he hasn’t even written the words yet. So, when he had to do the vocals for Easy he hadn’t even written them yet. So he was sitting there like a school boy with a pencil and a lined notebook writing words.
FAULT: I couldn’t agree more. As a photographer I know just how incredible it feels to capture a great moment and just what it means.
Alan: Exactly – you can understand then. I mean, I can’t play [an instrument] but I love music and I can’t play a note. The camera is my way to be around him and so that’s what I did and from that I get to meet all these people you see, including that man over there. His name is Barrie Marshall who owns Marshall Arts Ltd. He promotes all the major tours; Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John and so on. That is how I got to work with Paul McCartney. In fact, Barrie promoted the first Commodore concerts in Europe and to do this day he still promotes Lionel.
FAULT: It seems as if Lionel has surrounded himself with the same people throughout his career.
Alan: Yes and that says a lot about Lionel.
FAULT: He must be great to work with!
Alan: That and he is very loyal.
FAULT: Over these years working together, have you seen your work evolve along with his?
Alan: Oh, definitely. You can walk around and see that. There was a style I always did, but if you look at my new portraits you can see how the style has altered; perhaps it’s a more sophisticated style. You know how it is Rob, the more you shoot the more you realise what you like and what you like to look at.
FAULT: Certainly. Developing your own style is a difficult goal to achieve as a photographer.
Alan: That’s really the hardest thing: figuring out what you like. After that you just have to figure out how to do it. When you figure out what you like it’s just the fun of working out how to make it work.
FAULT: With the candid work you have that control, but what about the live work? That must be much harder to put your stamp on. Do you ever wish you could have done it differently after the fact?
Alan: Always. When I first arrived at this stage at Glastonbury I thought “how am I going to capture this?!” Do I go down and shoot from the crowd – what do I do? I tried to go to the crowd but I couldn’t get in to it as it was so packed. I mean, if you dropped something it wouldn’t hit the ground. Also, it was a tall stage and I didn’t want to shoot up the guy’s nose and that doesn’t tell the story of the madness. But it’s trying to combine that with Lionel being Lionel that was the difficulty.
FAULT: Well again, it’s the photographer in me talking but I don’t think this could have been a better shot to capture the atmosphere and the composition is just perfect. Lionel is caught right in full flow and even the background is perfectly aligned to the rule of thirds!
Alan: It’s good that you noticed that actually. Lionel likes things to be symmetrical – in his life too. He likes order in everything and particularly in his writing. He likes things to be simple and one word titles.
FAULT: Well, I will leave you to entertain now and enjoy your exhibition!
Alan: Thank you – any time.
Photo courtesy Alan Silfen
Alan Silfen's 'STILL' runs until July 29th. Interested in visiting the exhibition? You can find more information via The Dorchester website here.