Paul McCartney: Back In STX
- 12thFret
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
SAN ANTONIO - There really are few words that can describe a Paul McCartney concert in a manner that will allow people to fully understand the magnitude of what they are seeing. With so many hit songs in his repertoire, it is virtually guaranteed that you’re going to hear something you love….. Oh yes, and he was and will always be a Beatle.
We happened to be on the side of the Alamo Dome that had the entrance to the garage where people rushed to get a glimpse of McCartney’s vehicle as it arrived via police escort and we can tell you, Beatlemania is still very real. We stood watching people run to the railing to get a glimpse of the musicians arrival and told ourselves “you won’t see him in that van” … then joined them because “what if.”
There is no escaping the fandom that comes with being a Beatles fan, and though the group has long been apart, there is no denying that they still hold a bit of magic for us. As the doors opened and the area seats filled it was literally a sea of humanity in the building just waiting for the lights to go down.
Finally, Paul and his band hit the stage and launched right into the Beatles classic “Help.”
This was not our first time attending a Paul McCartney concert so we had an idea of what to expect and we can tell you that you won’t be disappointed. Were our expectations met? Well in fact they were exceeded.
Watch Concert Footage Below
Could we be a little biased? Sure, but who isn’t when it comes to one of your all time favorite artists.
That aside, when we look at the concert from a neutral stance, we were still more than satisfied.
The band never fell a step behind as they went through classics such as Band on the Run, Live and Let Die, Here Today, Now and Then, Lady Madonna, and Let it Be, and Paul at age 83 has not lost a step. True his voice is not what it used to be, but that did not detract from the performance at all. In fact, it did not diminish the performance at all.
There were some special moments in the show such as McCartney’s performance of Blackbird which had the audience silent and in awe and a newly married couple were invited onto the stage for a congratulations from McCartney. What is always a special moment is when McCartney performs Hey Jude.
Though Hey Jude is on my top 10 I wouldn’t mark it as special as Long and Winding Road or Let it Be if I am being completely honest. However, when thousands of people join in the singing of “Na Na Na Nanana Na” (you know how it goes), that is truly something special.
That is in fact the magic of The Beatles in our opinion. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you do for a living because, in that moment we’re all in it together.
It doesn’t matter that the band has long been broken up or that some members may have passed on. Each member of the iconic group carries a bit of magic with them to this day that lives on in any project or group they undertake.
In fact, when going to this concert we never thought “We’re gonna hear Wings, or Beatles songs”. What went through our head was “We’re getting to see Paul, a Beatle.”
Looking back on the experience, the concert was filled with so many special moments and not going would have been a great regret. One moment stood out to me in particular.
Like many in attendance we are a John Lennon fan, his post Beatles work being so personal and raw it simply hits different. It was during “I’ve Got a Feeling” when we were completely taken aback.
As the 3rd verse started Paul turned to the large screen that had illuminated most of the concert with graphics and videos and suddenly…. Johns image appeared. It was a video excerpt from the famed rooftop concert at Abbey Road Studios. The audio and video were pumped through the house PA which meant not only were we hearing John sing his verse, but we came the closest we ever will to seeing the two best friends perform together.
This was such a special moment for us as well as many others that we can only imagine how it feels for Paul. To be able to, in a way, perform with your best friend who was tragically taken far too soon is something that we simply can’t comprehend.
It doesn’t matter how many years go by, a Paul McCartney concert will always be a personal experience to many that simply has to be experienced to understand. Should you find yourself in a position to see the famed musician, please do.
With a set listed ranging between 20-30 songs, all hits by the way, there is something for everyone. His band is tight and doesn’t miss a step, while Paul does what only Paul can.
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