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Paul McCartney Brings Up and Coming to California A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Deborah Rose Someone once said Paul McCartney never met a stage he didn't like. That was certainly apparent this week when the pop icon took the stage for two awe-inspiring shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on March 30th and 31st - and he appeared to be enjoying every minute of it.
 Paul McCartney back onstage at the Hollywood Bowl. (Photos by Lisa Kaplan) The crowd was a mixture of all ages, due to the fact that McCartney has a unique way of bringing together the older fans from the 60s, along with their children who have become fans through their parents influence. There was an excitement in the air of being able to witness a living legend, and also a hint of nostalgia knowing that he had played the Bowl with the Beatles back in 1964 and 1965. Now some 46 years later, those who missed those shows and new generations had come to watch him perform at the same legendary venue. The pre-show consisted of a box of Paul's memories opened up with pictures of him, his family and The Beatles, as well as images of the 60's pop culture scrolling on the giant video screens on either side of the stage. McCartney came on stage just after 8 p.m., looking fit with his long "shag" hair, in a black Mod style jacket with three red pleats on either side, and wearing Beatle boots. He looked cool. The audience roared as he opened the show with the song "Venus and Mars" that contains the line, "If there's a rock show at the Hollywood Bowl, we'll be there!" Still looking Beatlesque and watching his youthful exuberance, it was hard to believe that he will be turning 68 years old in June. As he said hello to the adoring crowd, he looked around as if reminiscing and said, "I need a moment to take this all in." Reflecting back on when The Beatles were there he commented, "That was a hundred years ago. We were just kids really. We couldn't hear anything because of all the girls screaming." He added, "We play a lot louder now!" After the first few songs he removed his jacket and said, "That's the costume change for the evening", revealing a white shirt with thin suspenders that he now often wears. McCartney was backed by the rockin' band that has played with him for about 8 years, ironically, the same length of time The Beatles were officially together. Considering this, it was a glaring omission that he did not introduce the band members individually. With a staggering 5 decades of music to pull from, he played songs from Wings and Fireman, his latest solo album, as well as classic Beatle songs including the melancholy, "Eleanor Rigby" and a rousing "Obla Di Obla Da". Being aware that many fans would be going to both shows, he played four different songs on the second night. On the first night he played "Got to Get You Into My Life", "I Wanna Come Home", "I'm Looking Through You", and "Two Of Us", while fans on the second night heard "Drive My Car", "Let "Em In" "I've Just Seen a Face" and "And I Love Her". He did his usual tribute to his late wife Linda with "My Love", and he also paid tribute to his former band mates, John Lennon and George Harrison. For Lennon he played the beautiful touching song he wrote for him "Here Today", and he played Harrison's "Something" on a ukulele George had given him, and received a huge response from the crowd. He then said, "Let's hear it for Georgie." Throughout the evening, Macca played different guitars and showcased his ability on several guitar solos. At one point he even did the classic riff from Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze". Strapping on a guitar before going into "Paperback Writer" he mentioned that it was the same guitar he used to record the song. However, it was watching him play his famous Hofner bass that brought back the emotional memories of the past. Many of the songs were highlighted with creative lighting around the stage and various videos behind the band. The crescendo of the evening was "Live and Let Die" with fireballs and pyrotechnics exploding in front of the stage. The crowd was also treating to a spectacular fireworks display, which the Hollywood Bowl is known for. Macca ended the 2 hour and 45 minute shows with Lennon's "A Day in the Life" followed by a moving "Give Peace a Chance", a giant peace sign was behind him, and the audience stood and sang along. For an encore, he returned to the stage alone, performing his signature song "Yesterday". He was then was joined by the band to end the night on a rockin' note with "Sgt. Pepper", complete with the three competing guitar solos, leading into "The End" with the last line, "And in the end, love you take is equal to the love you make," summing up the feelings of The Beatle era. A splendid time was definitely had by all - including McCartney. He has said that this may very well be his last tour. But watching how much fun he was having on stage, I find that very hard to believe.
 Related Links: For more information on Paul McCartney and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- Paul McCartney Site | HollywoodBowl.com (Originally Published on April 09, 2010) |
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