Kohl Center, Madison, Wisconsin: From the moment Paul McCartney hit the stage at the Kohl Center, nostalgia permeated the room. Fans of all ages relived memories of perhaps the first time they heard a particular song, whether in the 1960s or the present day. In an almost three-hour show, McCartney spanned his Beatles, Wings and solo years, triggering memories and undoubtedly creating new ones.
Backed by his long-time band — Brian Ray, Rusty Anderson, Abe Laboriel, Jr. and Wix Wickens — McCartney leaned heavily on harder rock, although he did deliver gems such as “Let ‘Em In” (a crowd favorite, judging from the standing ovation) and the charming “Dance Tonight” from 2007’s Memory Almost Full. When the famous opening chord of “A Hard Day’s Night” was struck, signaling the beginning of the show, it also served as a gateway to a trip through the 1960s and beyond.
Interestingly, he immediately followed the track with “Save Us,” a song off 2013’s New. It took little time before returning to the Beatles, however, as he tore into an energetic “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Candid film footage of the Beatles (borrowing heavily from the documentary The First U.S. Visit) flickered across the backing screen, inviting the audience to appreciate the important figure in rock history standing on the stage.
A particular highlight of the Freshen Up Tour has been the Hot City Horns, a three-person section that has enlivened numerous tracks. Not since the 1975-76 Wings Over the World Tour has Paul McCartney incorporated anything other than synth horns, and the change is welcome. The three make their first appearance in various sections of the audience, adding a soulful punch to “Letting Go.” Having the trio play surrounded by fans illustrated just how much McCartney clearly desires the audience to be a part of the show, not just passive onlookers. Although the trio popped up at various points in the show such as during “Got to Get You into My Life” and “Band on the Run,” hopefully McCartney will feature these talented players on even more future numbers. Adding two more horns would create a fuller sound.
Predictably, the classic songs received more enthusiastic reactions, although he did include three songs off his latest release Egypt Station: “Fuh You,” “Who Cares,” and “Come on to Me.” While the first two earned a polite response, it was “Come on to Me” that proved more arena-worthy. An ebullient Paul McCartney led the crowd in a mass singalong, the chorus being undeniably catchy. Its inclusion in the massively popular Carpool Karaoke, during which he toured Liverpool with James Corden and performed a mini concert at a local pub, undoubtedly helped with recognition.
The setlist varied little from other recent tours, although hardcore Beatles fans have appreciated the addition of “In Spite of All the Danger” (the first song the Beatles — then the Quarrymen — ever recorded). Hearing McCartney sing the rarity live remains a treat. The tributes remain, with “Here Today” particularly poignant in its imagined conversation with John Lennon. One could hear a pin drop as he sang to his late friend, his frayed voice underscoring the fragility of life. Photos of McCartney and George Harrison decorated the screen as he sang his rearranged version of “Something,” starting with the ukulele (one of Harrison’s favorite instruments) and ending with the full band.
Paul McCartney has been playing with his current band longer than the Beatles or Wings, and they indeed function as a cohesive unit. Laboriel proves the secret weapon, as he sings backing vocals and knows just how to alter his drumming to fit a particular song. His antics also give the audience a chuckle; for example, during “Dance Tonight” he amusingly performed numerous dance moves — including the Macarena — while McCartney sang in front.
Even after a night of nonstop hits and deeper tracks, Paul McCartney saved the best for last. As part of the encore, the band segued from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hears Club Band (Reprise)” to “Helter Skelter.” McCartney may be turning 77 this month, but he can still rock harder than anyone half his age. Hearing his screams and chants of “coming down fast!” remains an exciting experience.
As usual, the concert closed with “Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End,” with McCartney leaving the audience with the immortal lines “And in the end / The love you take / Is equal to the love you make.” The words propelled first generation fans to their ’60s youth, but the universal message also resonated with younger fans. One can quibble with the standard setlist and the same stories McCartney tells, but few can dispute that he knows how to enrapture an audience — definitely not an easy feat, although Paul McCartney makes it appear so.
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