YEAH YEAH YEAH

Mrs. Blog and I went to see Paul McCartney last night. Whoa. Great show: No dancers, no choreography, just McCartney and four other superb musicians (two guitars, keyboards, drums) who can play and sing anything, so that when they did, for example, Drive My Car, they sounded exactly like Paul's old band, the Whaddyacallems. The audience was my demographic, that is to say people who are 300 years old but still yearn to rock, or at least bounce up and down in a semi-rhythmic manner in our orthopedic shoes. McCartney, whose voice is still amazing once he warms it up, went for nearly three hours, including two long encores. A memorable moment: He's singing Hey Jude, and we in the audience are of course singing along with the na-na-na-na part at the top of our lungs, and there's one guy near us -- the lone remaining smoker in my age group -- holding up his cigarette lighter. The rest of us are holding up our cell phones, waving them back and forth in time to the "nas," so the arena is a sea of tiny, glowing, swaying screens. Somewhere up above John Lennon was looking down and going, "What the f***?"

Comments

[afurrica]

Aw, that's so cute.

[Sandi]

Your version of the concert sounds much more fun than my friend's version. He went, too, and said that (in the 14th row) it seemed to him that everyone was at a string quartet recital.

Glad to hear that your perception was different. :)

[Eleanor]

Yay for Dave!!!!
I heard him being interviewed yesterday on your radio station and - wait for it - he sounded just like himself!
It was awesome! I held up my cigarette lighter for the whole interview!

[Eleanor]

Will you still need him, will you still feed him at 64,

Line from the review designed to bring a tear to the eye of any Beatle/McCartney fan! :)

YES!!!!

[judi]

my ex went... we haven't talked about it yet but he had obstructed view seats behind the stage :) can't wait to hear if his perception was the same. we're on our way to see the MARLINS yay who cares about paul okay i do but i didn't go oh well GO MARLINS. :)

[neatfreak]

I saw McCartney last year in Indy; I paid $125 for the "cheap" seats, and it was worth every penny. Maybe I'm amazed that this guy still has the chops to sing the "ooooh" in "She Loves You." (But the song "Someone's Knockin' " has forever been ruined by Bert Parks, whose image is seared in my brain step-step-stepping to the beat with a cane and top hat. My kingdom for a brain wipe.)

[rick h]

glad to hear Sir Paul is still doing OK.

the cell phone thing sounds cool.

the last concert i went to was almost an archaeological expedition, The surviving memebers of The Grateful Dead (The Dead) and Bob Dylan.

we didn't stay for the end as w/o Jerry Garcia's presence (and voice) the songs seemed an awful lot like barely acceptable covers.

but the crowd (Val likend them to Woodstock w/cell phone)was totally into the show and i am SURE there were plenty of lighters for the encore. they were being used all thru the concert. but there was an amazing lack of cigarette butts littering the grounds.

those DeadHeads must really be environmentally concious, huh?

[Addicted to 24]

As the rep for the 20 something crowd let me say I AM SO F@#$ING JEALOUS.

Oh well i have seen U2 live.

[JustLinda]

So when "our generation" goes to a concert, what do they sell instead of concert T's? Do they sell concert pill sorters? How about concert reading glasses? Concert change purses?

Oh, I know!! You got a concert HANDKERCHIEF, right?? You can blow your nose right into Paul himself and have fond memories of the concert at the same time.

Well, at least for a little while... until the memory slips away altogether. haha

[slyeyes]

Those in Dave's demographic are F@#SING jealous, too.

I think I can get tickets to Beatlemania, however. (a faux fab four group)

[simple mind]

Sounds like that William Campbell guy is an incredibly convincing impostor. Because let's face it, Paul Is Dead.

[JustLinda]

Oh, and pssssst, Dave? Did you get my email? Once in a lifetime offer, my friend. Limited time only. Operators standing by.

Best Regards,
Linda [always trying to do everything the easy way]

[Chianca at Large]

That sounds a lot better than my recent concert experiences, in which thousands of tired 30-something parents would break into a spontaneous rendition of "Mr. Golden Sun" in unison with Barney the Dinosaur. It was nice to know we weren't alone, at any rate.

Not that we don't get a chance to take in the occasional almost-geezer -- I finally got tickets to Springsteen on my own, despite spending significant blog space begging Bruce for free ones.

[snif]

Mr. Snif and I saw McCartney 2 years ago at the St. Pete Times Forum ... he has a great band and they put on an awesome show! He did very moving tributes to George Harrison and John Lennon. Glad you enjoyed the show Dave!

[fab4fan]

Just when I was getting over the trauma of not being able to get tickets to see Sir Paul...

[Kathy P.]

I went to a Mc Cartney concert years ago when his first spousal unit was allegedly singing with the band. I nearly was deaf afterwards - my ears rang like crazy and I now have tinnitus - the acoustics at Giants stadium apprently hold in the sound more than anywhere else that there are concerts in the NY metro area....

[rick h]

hey, somebody answer the damn phone willya.

that things been ringing since 1974.

tinnitus? tinnitus!

i'll tell you about tinnitus.

or i would if i could remember.

[fab4fan]

Kathy P: I saw Paul @ Giants Stadium, too; I think it was in 1992. Great concert,with the exception of the physical altercation I had with a drunk sitting behind me.

[Trillian]

Paul's old band, the Whaddyacallems

You mean Wings?

[Paul]

Hi Dave:

How's Sam B? Still a womanizing errant piece of ordure? Good thing he's at least making child support payments or I'd have to help him see the error of his ways. Must be a family trait, bad genese from all that inbreding or something, brilliance and a lack of virtue and integrity. How's the other bro still giving soap box lectures in his madness in public places?

Kisses,

Paul

[scat]

I just got home from a Katrina benefit concert given by Dr. Mark & The Sutures (Dr. Mark did 3 hours of vein surgery on me 5 years ago and has seen parts of me visible only by Yoongchang Portable Bidet Cam).

The points are: (You may skip to #2 if you want)

1. Please keep giving to the American Red Cross

2. When I arrived, Dr. Mark & Co. were doing their faithful rendition of "Day Tripper". Made me yearn to hear Sir Paulie sing it.

Anyone besides me who actually bought the double album "The Beatles' Story" back in 1964 or 5 will recall John stating that no one will want to hear 40 year old Beatles. Paul's Superbowl performance proved John wrong and also that 64 year old Paul can still put on an inspiring show.

Let's see those cell phones!

[Liz in the city]

I tried getting tix to see Paul when he comes to NYC, but I won't pay $100 to see my favorite Beatle's backside!

I'm so glad you had a good time, Dave.

For other good shows (complete with cell phone waving), I saw U2 in Boston (AWESOME show) in May and Coldplay two weeks ago. Nothing like singing "Clocks" or "Beautiful Day" in unison with 15,000 others.

[Graz]

Dear Dave,

Did you smell anything that had the smell of burning seat cushions?

Or is it the smell of liniment nowadays?

Might be a buzz either way.

Yours,
Graz

[AlanBoss]

Weirdly, my wife and I spent last night at a show in Redondo Beach, CA called "The Fab Four." These guys were good. They looked and sounded just like the Whaddyacallems! When "John" sat down at the piano and did "Imagine" this 46 year-old cumudgeon actually started crying. And, as the last smoker in SoCal, I was the guy with the lighter during "Hey Jude."

[JammerLea]

I thought I was hallucinating for a moment, as I read "Paul McCartney" up there when, for the first time in a month or so, I decided to randomly listen to one of his albums. Paulie is amazing, I already want his new album. I'm also part of the 20-something crowd.

[U.O]

Well ... I saw Dave his ownself in Cerritos ... and John McKuen @ Topanga Days on Memorial Day weekend ... and I've seen Willie, and John R. and Billy Joel and Garth and The Lettermen and the Chad Mitchell Trio and John R. (and my brother-in-law made a pilgrimage to the Twin Cities to hear Sir Paul a few years ago) and the Statler Brothers and I met Alabama (sorta) once and heard Keith Urban and Reba and the Oaks and ... well ... some of those college-years concerts sorta blur a bit in the memory ... but I guess I'm kinda jealous of Dave and his good time ... in fact, there's a concert coming up in the F-M area -- Rain!, with what I've heard is a passable group of Beatles mimics ... oh well ...

Glad you had a good time, Dave, and Alanboss and all the rest who commented ...

[angie, your beautiful]

Someone's knockin' on the door
someone's ringing a bell
do me a favor
and let em in
yeah, yeah, yeah

[William Jefferson Clinton]

Somewhere up above John Lennon was looking down and going, "What the f***?"

Phone is spelled with a "ph", not an "f".

[philippe]

Dm7...C
5 musicians, great sound, those were the days!
Now it takes 20, and all you hear is "boom, boom".
Maybe it's my hearing aid.

[queensbee]

sir paul is a class act, and always has been. ive been a waddayacallems fan since 1963. the rolling stones were here in my town albany, ny last night.... but i didnt want to spend 300 buckaroos. the report is that they did great, and their demographic cuts across all lines. but they do have special seating for people in walkers. keith richard continues to defy science and medicine. he looks terrible of course, but rocks on.
all hail sir paul, and if he comes here i will pay whatever they ask.

[Jeff Meyerson]

neatfreak: this will wipe your mind. Just picture Bert doing "Maggie's Farm" in The Freshman.

You can thank me later.

scat: Carnegie Hall, February 1964. I was there.

Geezer bus is leaving in 10 minutes from gate 9.

[scat]

Jeff M., save a seat on the bus! When the Beatles made their one trip to my then hometown of Pittsburgh in September, 1965, I was but a wee lass and my mom wouldn't let me go to their concert.

Out of guilt, she did let me attend my first rock concert a year later. The Monkees.

[docx]

Not being really too sure who Paul McCartney is the people in my age group were busy with more important things like this: http://www.stupidcollege.com/items/Melon-on-fire

[U.O (aka Redbeard the Pirate) [Well, it useta be red ...]]

Personal update on Paul stuff ...

My Bride (remember her?) tells me that the rumor is that Paul will be performing @ "The Dome" some time in the sorta near future ...

For us Nodaks, that means "in Fargo" ...

One may only hope that it won't be at a time when I'm stranded (@ work) somewhere like SoCal or some such ...

More news as it develops ... film at 11:00 (0600 Zulu) ...

[MikeKr]

We're okay for now. But when the most popular musicians from "our time" stop performing... Disturbing, isn't it?

[Novanglus]

Now, I wonder if the genius of Paul McCartney knows and is aware of the genius of Dave Barry, because it would be so cool if Paul would sit in next time with Dave's band. (someone write him) I'm sure that Dave would know all chords to every Beatle song ever written, plus all of John's harmonies.

I doubt seriously if Paul has any writing talent,(outside of music) but perhaps he is writing under a false name like: "Eleanor Rigby's Advice Columnm". (which makes Dave superior in the muti-tasking area.

In any case, thanks to Dave for letting some of us old Beatle fans in on a concert they probably won't see due to natuarl disasters.

I personally haven't forgiving Paul for breaking up with Jane Asher. I'm glad I do not know any of Dave's former breakups. I would have missed my humor fixes and perhaps caused irreputable damage to my house.

[rita]

I had two chances to see the Beatles in 1965, or was it '64? Anyway, I was visiting a friend, and a friend at home had extra tickets and wanted to know if I wanted to go. Mom said, no, I was away, I wouldn't want to come home. WHAT??? I'd just spent a week begging her to let me go with another friend who had an extra ticket. She didn't think I'd want to go???

I wonder why she didn't want a 12- or 13-year-old going on a bus without chaperones?

But I did meet Don Henley.

[Candy Tutt]

This year we bought a 1975 VW hippie bus. Inside it's lined with lime green and orange plush, has a strobe light AND a gigando stereo with a sub-woofer. Among the first accessories I got were CDs of "Sgt. Pepper", Bob Dylan, and the Dead. You can hear me coming halfway across town. If any of you geezers want a ride, just flag me down!

[WriterDude]

Been away too long giving birth to me own blog (click on my no-longer-a-spam-dodge name), lots to catch up on. Mrs. WriterDude and our major Whaddayacallems fan/daughter -- age nine! -- and I will be seeing Sir Paul here in Denver November 1st. I might have balked at the ticket prices had I not purchased his "Back in the U.S." DVD (which I recommend highly). His Daveness speaks truth here: Sir Paul's band these days is truly incredible, and I fervently hope they stay with him until he hangs it up.

First encountered the cell-phone-waving phenomenon at an Elton John show back in May, and mistook it for a geezer thing. Relieved to know it's happening at Coldplay gigs too. I would guess orthopedic shoes don't light up very well.

[Courtney]

As a member of the 20-something crowd, I am proud and happy to say that I also went to Paul's concerts in both Miami and Tampa this weekend with my dad. It really was the best time, Paul is still just amazing. Since I wasn't born till after the Whaddyacallems (1 & 2) broke up, I feel so lucky and glad that Paul is still able to create great music and memories.

Glad to hear you had such a good time too, Dave!

[estrogen centrale]

I was at the Miami concert, too - with friends & family. We're STILL waxing poetic about it. When he went up in the lyrics, he was absolutely charming about it.
I saw him with Wings at Joe Robbie years back. Linda was still alive then. Also, I saw him a few years ago, when he was tributing Joahn & George.
His new cd is wonderful - pick it up & give a listen. Different songs will take you back to Revolver (esp Eleanor Rigby), the white album, & Sgt Pepper.