Today The Greasy Slicks announce an extensive UK headline tour, kicking off at Mr Wolfs in Bristol on December 1st and concluding at Birthdays, London on December 8th.
Tickets go on general sale on October 7th at 9am at Ticketweb, AXS, Gigantic, Ticketline, The Ticket Factory and Tickets Scotland (Glasgow only)
Energetic three piece The Greasy Slicks have had an exciting 2016 having toured relentlessly across the UK and Europe this summer, beginning at The Secret Garden Party back in July and more recently headlining Bestival’s ‘Invaders Of The Future Stage.’ The band’s self-‐‐titled debut album is out now (released September 30th), and with some impressive music videos for singles ‘Eyes Wide Black’ and ‘Hawks’, and a nomination in the Best Band category at the 2016 Unsigned Music Awards (UMA), Jack, Nathan and Rian are set to return to the live circuit with their first UK headline tour. 2017 promises to be another huge year for a three-‐‐piece who are starting to seriously make a name for themselves.
The tour follows the release of the band’s debut album, recorded on the Isle of Wight in the idyllic Studio Humbug (a former water-‐‐tower nestled in the grounds of Osborne House, holiday home of Queen Victoria), with acclaimed production duo Boe Weaver (The Archie Bronson Outfit, The Kills, Paolo Nutini). The album is a skuzzy mix of blues, rock & roll, post-‐ punk and grunge recalling the likes of The Fall and modern day punk rockers Slaves. Preceded by singles ‘Eyes Wide Black’ and ‘Hawks,’ the record exhibits the sound of a band with an expansive musical influence that have translated their raw energy into an album that is sure to wet the appetite of a broad range of rock fans.
The Greasy Slicks will play the following UK headline dates:
December
1st -‐‐ Mr Wolfs, Bristol
2nd -‐‐ Soup Kitchen, Manchester
3rd -‐ The Attic, Glasgow
5th -‐‐ Hope & Ruin, Brighton
7th -‐ The Victoria, Birmingham
8th -‐‐ Birthdays, London
Press reaction: Paul McCartney One On One in Sacramento
Paul McCartney got One On One for the first of his two shows at Sacramento's Golden 1 Center on Tuesday evening. Here is what the press thought of show one:
CBS
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – It was a golden grand opening Golden 1 Center.
Paul McCartney took center stage for the first major event at Sacramento’s shiny, new arena.
McCartney’s classics served as the soundtrack to the start of this new era in Downtown Sacramento.
The legendary performer thrilled this first Golden 1 Center crowd – many stepping inside this building for the first time.
“I love the old Arco Arena, [but] it was a lousy place to see a concert,” said Sacramento resident Jeff Harris.
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive was joined by mayor-elect Darrell Steinberg for the big night.
“Time to stop and smell the roses just for a night, then we’ll get back to work,” Steinberg said.
On this Tuesday night, thousands came downtown to see a star perform in this brand new setting.
“It had to be somebody big, I think. And this is pretty big for Sacramento,” said Roseville resident Wendy Williamson.
The big hits of a music legend performing in downtown Sacramento. On this night, these were the sounds of change.
Sacramento Bee
Review: Paul McCartney rocks Golden 1 Center with nearly three hour concert
After the long and winding road to get a new Sacramento arena built, Golden 1 Center received its proper coronation on Tuesday night. And that fanfare arrived via the opening notes of “A Hard Day’s Night,” a clang of a chord that not only kicked off Paul McCartney’s nearly three hour set but inaugurated a new era of Sacramento concertgoing.
So, by the multicolored glow of the $8 million Piglet sculpture in the plaza, some 17,500 people passed through Golden 1 Center’s doors to witness a member of rock ‘n’ roll royalty at the new home of the Sacramento Kings. McCartney appearing in Sacramento isn’t necessarily new - he performed at Arco Arena in 2002 and 2005 - and any time the former member of the Beatles comes to town with his decades-long songbook is a Big Deal. But this show took on an extra level of excitement and significance with Golden 1 Center activating for the first time as a concert facility.
As McCartney arrived on stage in black jeans and a trim blazer, the roar was that of the Kings advancing to the NBA Finals on a buzzer-beater shot (which, by the way, would be a welcome turn of events for the team). The mood stayed upbeat throughout the show, so much that it was the rare classic rock show where Baby Boomers weren’t moaning in droves for people to sit in their seats - at least, such was the case on the floor.
McCartney’s music covered a range of styles and moods, such as a somewhat torchy take on the Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere” and the proto-techno sound of “Temporary Secretary,” a deep cut from 1980’s “McCartney II.” McCartney’s set overall covered nearly 50 years of music, from McCartney’s pre-Beatles days in The Quarrymen (1958’s “In Spite of all the Danger”) to “New,” a jaunty 2013 solo track that sounds like it’s going to break into “Penny Lane.”
Tuesday’s show featured an especially fresh McCartney given that his last performance was Aug. 18 in Cleveland. McCartney remained chatty and engaged throughout the set, as he sometimes danced in place between tunes and joked with fans who yelled out their devotion to Sir Paul. But most of the magic was in the music, such as the hymn-like “Let It Be” or McCartney’s tasty electric guitar licks during the Wings song “Let Me Roll It.” The arena erupted into a giant “na na-na na” chorus during “Hey Jude” and people danced in their seats during “Love Me Do” while trying not to spill $13 beers.
And in the end, this was just the beginning for Golden 1 Center.
Sacramento Press
As the front doors opened at 6:30 p.m, fans jubilantly charged into the opening event of the Golden 1 Center Tuesday night, and then cheered even louder as Sir Paul McCartney broke into “Hard Days Night.”
The sound system was as good as advertised, excitement swept across the crowd, and a new era in Sacramento had officially begun.
McCartney returns tomorrow night for a day 2 concert of his One on One Tour.
Paul McCartney plays his second Golden 1 Center date on Wednesday evening. Full details here.
Lionel Richie to headline Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concert this November
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.