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Macca Report current Paul News!!!


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October 2014


October 30, 2014 -- Paul McCartney Twitter

Throwback Thursday Photo

Can you name the album where this photo originally appears?



October 26, 2014 -- Macca Report News

October 25 - Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena

Paul arriving at Veteran Memorial Arena (NEWS 4 JACKSONVILLE, FL)

CLICK TO WATCH

CONCERT SET LIST

1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving 
4. Listen To What The Man Said
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Coda
6. Paperback Writer
7. My Valentine
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
9. The Long And Winding Road
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. I've Just Seen A Face
12. We Can Work It Out
13. Another Day
14. And I Love Her
15. Blackbird
16. Here Today
17. New
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. All Together Now
21. Lovely Rita
22. Everybody Out There
23. Eleanor Rigby
24. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back In The U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live And Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE ONE
32. Day Tripper
33. Hi Hi Hi
34. I Saw Her Standing There

ENCORE TWO
35. Yesterday
36. Helter Skelter
37. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

THE CONCERT
From Nanci Carpenter,
Macca Reporter

Paul told us he had spent his time during the band's break, in Orlando visiting the Disney Parks. He said he rode more rides than he had his entire life!
 
At the beginning of "Something" he strummed a few notes from "Leaning On A Lamp Post."
 
When reading signs in the audience, a couple was celebrating their 15th anniversary. Paul wished them a happy anniversary. Another sign asked him to sign their butt. Paul shook his head and hands saying "No!" but then said, "Ok... let's see it."
 
A woman held up a sign asking for a tattoo on her back. Later she got her wish before "I Saw Her Standing There" when she was brought on stage.



October 26, 2014 -- Paul McCartney Twitter

Macca's Jacksonville Shout Out

Thank you Jacksonville! We'll see you next time!


October 26, 2014 -- Florida Times-Union

McCartney finds the Fountain of Youth for Jacksonville concert

Midway through "I Saw Her Standing There" Saturday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Paul McCartney let loose with a throat-ripping scream. It was the 33rd song of his set, well over two hours into the set.

How a 72-year-old guy's voice can hold up like that is anybody's guess. He mentioned during the show that he was just coming off a break spent in Florida; perhaps he found Ponce de Leon's mythical Fountain of Youth during his vacation. The guy never even broke a sweat or sounded out of breath.

McCartney's show ran for 2 hours, 40 minutes and was heavy on mid- to late-period Beatles songs.

It got off to a bit of a rocky start. The show was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. At 8:10, old photos of McCartney started scrolling down the big video screens that flanked the stage. Anticipating that the show was about to start, the sold-out crowd quickly made its way to the seats. Thirty minutes later, the photos were still scrolling and McCartney was nowhere in sight.

The first half of the show was up and down -- a mix of new songs and Beatles and Wings tunes. Early highlights included "Magical Mystery Tour," "Let Me Roll It," "Ninety Hundred Eighty Five," "Paperback Writer," "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Blackbird." The new songs -- "Save Us," "New," "Everybody Out There" -- were fine, but that's not why people paid up to $250 a ticket to be there.

Midway through the show, though, he really hit his stride, running off megahit after megahit. At one point he played, in a row, "Something," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Band on the Run," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "Let it Be," "Live and Let Die" (with explosions and fireworks and lasers), "Hey Jude" (with a massive crowd singalong), "Day Tripper," "Hi, Hi, Hi" and "I Saw Her Standing There." It was a staggering run of songs, building the excitement level in the arena to a fever pitch.

Then he came back for his second set of encores -- "Yesterday," "Helter Skelter" and "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End," and the 12,000 or so fans had completely forgotten about the interminable slide show that started the evening.

McCartney played his signature Hofner bass for only about half of the show. He played a grand piano, a funky psychedelic upright piano, six- and 12-string acoustic guitars, a ukulele and an electric guitar (tearing into a snippet of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" at the end of "Let Me Roll It."

He also spent a good amount of time interacting with the crowd, reading fans' signs and inviting one woman onstage, where he signed her back so she could have it tattooed permanently.


October 24, 2014 -- Macca Report News

Macca sightings in Orlando

Paul, Nancy and her son Arlen have been in Orlando since Monday visiting the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. No waiting in line for Sir Paul at Disney World. He and his family were given the VIP treatment.

Thursday Paul was a guest speaker at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where he talked to 600 students about his career in music and
The Beatles. Nancy's son attends the college.


October 24, 2014 - BayNews9.com (VIDEO)

Paul McCartney inspires Rollins College students with talk

In a small chapel on the Rollins College campus Thursday, students were inspired by a music legend.

Sir Paul McCartney spoke to students at the Winter Park college.

Rollins College Public Relations said McCartney requested Knowles Chapel because it was an intimate setting.

"He walked down and I'm like 'oh my goodness. It's Paul McCartney'," said Lillian Carter.

The school held a lottery for students to get tickets to the event. Of the 3,200 students at Rollins, only 600 won tickets.

Students who got to see The Beatles alumnus said he talked about his early d days in the music business, working with the other Beatles.

"Talking about how he got started in it and singing and his relationship with Ringo Starr," said Adam Bermudez.

"He talked about writing with John [Lennon] and how sometimes you just need another opinion," Carter said.

We're told McCartney also sang "Blackbird."

McCartney was asked to come by Billy Collins, the famous poet. Collins isn't a professor but he gives lectures at the college.

School leaders described the event as a conversation with students about lyrics, poetry, music and the creative process.

"A lot of life advice," Amy Zdon said McCartney imparted. "Like if you are in the creative process, keep trying."

Several students said their parents were jealous.

"I know my parents were so pumped that I got to go because they are huge Beatles fans and Paul fans and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever," said Katie Wookey.

Most students we talked to said they left inspired and touched by his words.

"He said keep trying and trying and trying and never give up," Bermudez said.

This isn't his first visit to Rollins College. He also visited the campus in September 2011. His stepson attends the school.

McCartney also was in Orlando in May 2013 when he kicked off the North American leg of his "Out There" tour in Orlando with two shows at the Amway Center.

After the talk at Rollins College McCartney and family had dinner at Luma on Park.

McCartney is performing in Jacksonville Saturday night. Fellow Beatle Ringo Starr was in Melbourne Wednesday.



October 23, 2014 -- Macca Report News

Paul "Meet & Greet" for Greenboro show

WHEELCHAIRS FOR KIDS CHARITY AUCTION

'Meet and greet' with Paul, October 30th in Greensboro SC. Includes two tickets to concert and meet & greet!

Current High bid: $6,200

BIDDING LINK: http://www.501auctions.com/wheelygoodtime/item/74500



October 20, 2014 -- Macca Report News TRANSCRIPT!!!

Paul McCartney Twitter Q&A Today Transcript

Paul McCartney did a live Twitter Question & Answer today around 2pm EDT. For those who missed it, or don't have Twitter, The Macca Report has put together a transcript of the Q & A.

Feel free to share but, please credit
The Macca Report if you do.

@PaulMcCartney
We're now live with Paul. Ask your questions using #askPaul

Mary Gerdt @marygerdt
What have you always wanted to do and didn't have the time?
PAUL: Spend three days in bed!

Rachael Brown @rachael_nicolee
What should I carve my pumpkin as?
PAUL: Dave Grohl!

Cham ~ @cham_ctc
If you were ruler of your own country what would you call it?
PAUL: Maccadonia!

Sarah Stacey @sarahstacey92
How does it feel when you hear people singing your songs?
PAUL: Really beautiful, humbling and exciting at the same time.

Winston @WGedicks
What's your favorite type of pie?
PAUL: Pecan baby!

Selena @selenaadearly
How did you feel about this costume?

PAUL: A trifle cattish!

mack Halley @MackHalley
What was it like playing with great John Bonham?
PAUL: It was fantastic! He was always on my top 5 drummer list and a great friend and ballsy drummer.

@raisingbiz
Early Take - Beware My Love - Does One Exist? How about a Best of The Rest Album?
PAUL: Yes indeed! And here s the world premiere of it featuring John Bonham on drums.

dealist @idealist
Which activist group do you hold most near and dear to your heart?
PAUL: I do, @pussyrrriot & @peta

Joe Mantegna @JoeMantegna
You have written songs for others that were hits. Ever think about releasing your own versions?
PAUL: I wrote 'Come and Get It' for Badfinger and 'World Without Love' for Peter & Gordon.

christineg @sixtimelosers
Who is one of your favorite film directors?
PAUL: Scorsese, Fellini and Dave Grohl!

@thefemtrooper
Is there anywhere in the world you haven't been but would like to go?
PAUL: Yeah, China! It seems like everyone else has, but I haven't!

maria @mafeespinoza
Why are you so hot?
PAUL: It just comes naturally to me.

amberleymadison @amberleymadison
Will you marry me?
PAUL: I'm afraid I'm spoken for. So the answer is a firm 'No!'

@Yorkshiremouth
Who was the last person you said 'Hello' to? And who was the last you said 'goodbye' to?
PAUL: Just left my wife Nancy in the street (Goodbye), and Hello is you @yorkshiremouth

Flora Hausammann @FloraHausammann
Is it okay for me to own 8 Beatles t-shirts?
PAUL: It's very good, but not enough!

Laura Boxall @EnglishSummers
Can you speak any other languages?
PAUL: Si, Oui, Ja!

victoria @babyIiebers
What's your favorite horror movie?
PAUL: Alien would be my favourite for the bit of chest-popping!

THANKS PAUL @rockwithbeatles
What do you think of your young fans? I have 12 years and I love your music!
PAUL: I love my young fans! I'm always surprised how many there are. I love the perspective of young people.

@intenselipstick
Can you yodel?
PAUL: Yes. I studied in Switzerland!

Vanessa @Kittyprryde
Do you have any hobbies like collecting or knitting?
PAUL: Not really, but I do have some nice guitar picks from over the years and some nice books too!

Shawndelle Dixon @ShawndelleD
Are you the walrus?
PAUL: In fact because I happen to wear a walrus head in Magical Mystery Tour - I am the nearest any of use came! GooGoogAJoob!

dreamer @AllonsyHP
What makes you feel better when you're in bad mood?
PAUL: Drugs, Alcohol & Sex (he says with a wink)

Domi Silva @domisilva93
What the World needs now is...?
PAUL: Paul McCartney - vote for me! (He said modestly!) Though I'm not sure what state I'm in!

Phil McNamara @Phil_McNamara
Favourite gig you've BEEN to? (not played in)
PAUL: There are many, but @S_C_ (Mr. Carter) & @kanyewest comes to mind.

Naked dude @declanjayyy
Is there anyone who makes you starstruck?
PAUL: Even though I've known him for a long time the nearest is probably @bobdylan.

Naked dude @declanjayyy
Do you ever twerk?
PAUL: The last time I tweaked I was with @katyperry. She was rather good at it!
TWERKED! (Autocorrect - sorry!)

Rachel Foster Mowgli @Bearluffer
Favorite song you have written for someone else?
PAUL: 'Step Inside Love' which I wrote for the British singer Cilla Black, but Diana Krall has one of mine coming out soon that I love.

Rick Rubin @RickRubin
(question not publicily posted)
PAUL: Yes I do. I don't know quite what, but I believe in a benevolent spirit that is behind everything that we do.

Andrew St. Clair @Andrew_StClair
What makes the studio space at Abbey Road so special?
PAUL: There have been so many great hits made in that room that physically and spiritually it has a greatness built into it.

DiegomiralbÈs @dmiralbes4
Hey Paul, can you reply to this tweet saying something very stupid?
PAUL: My toes are in my mouth!

laura @_pri3to
What's the first record you ever bought?
PAUL: Gene Vincent singing Be Bop A Lula on the Capitol label which was sheer magic.

kornball @jennikorn
Can you give me a nickname?
PAUL: Kornball! You shall forever be known as this!

25 days to arctic @oeizes
Favourite song at the moment????
PAUL: I've been enjoying @foofighters new track 'Something From Nothing' and @Sia 'Chandelier'

THANKS PAUL ILYSM @besidepotte
Would you like to visit the moon?
PAUL: No I don't even like rollercoasters!

Red Owl @ReadyOwl @MusicVaultz
How has being a vegetarian changed you?
PAUL: It's made me healthier, but certainly given me a compassionate perspective on the animals we share the planet with.

Joanna Scatasti @ohJOyouudidnt
Have you ever forgotten the words to a song while you were playing it?
PAUL: Quite regularly. I think that the people in my audience know the songs better than I do. Excuse is I've written rather a lot.

duda @cantadadejones
How old were you when you wrote your first song?????????
PAUL: I was 14 years old in Liverpool. It was called 'I Lost My Little Girl'

Florencia @yourloveaway
Paul, you sing in the shower?
PAUL: Yes I do - 'Singing in the Rain' or 'It's Raining Men' or 'Waterfalls'!

Heal the world @ImagineJWLennon
Something new you learned lately?
PAUL: Patience! (Not sure if it's true but it's an answer!)

Patricia Francis @Oceans1156
Do you like Halloween? What was your favorite candy as a kid?
PAUL: I do like it, it allows me to go unrecognized in my disguise and Mars Bars were my favourite!

Manu @ManuVFM9
What is your favourite colour?
PAUL: Blue comes to mind.

Andrew Davis @andrewdaviis
Are you excited for the rerelease of Venus and Mars & Wings At The Speed Of Sound?
PAUL: Yeah! I think that my team has put together brilliant packages that even I find amazingly interesting.

Daniele Paula @petitnany
What do you most like about doing live concerts in Brazil?
PAUL: The crazy enthusiasm and youth of the audiences. They're brilliant!

Michelle Gregory @shellybegood
Do you have a favourite flower Paul? Mine are lilies.
PAUL: probably roses!

Four Headed Monster @LoveTheFabFour
Paul, can you tell us what is going on in these pictures please?

PAUL: 1st John & I are in Paris when he was 21 & generally goofing around. 2nd Pulling faces in hat shop! 3rd Nipple pointing!

@user8472
Favourite Meryl Streep movie?
PAUL: I love Meryl Streep. Devil Wears Prada is great, although everything she does is brilliant.

Vickie Valenzuela @vickjagger
What was your best Halloween costume?
PAUL: Alice Cooper! [ @RealAliceCooper ]

Beatlesmaniacs @Beatlesmaniacs4
Which is your favorite kind of sports? xo
PAUL: Football (Soccer), but to watch on TV: American Football, Track, and Basketball.

Ryan Adams @TheRyanAdams
Are you a cyborg?
PAUL: I am in fact an alien!

Clara @clara_carvalhoo
Do you have any tattoos?
PAUL: No I don't. Not even on my ass!

Leticia. @beatlepaulmcca
What was the inspiration for the song of Wings "Call Me Back Again"?
PAUL: I was imagining being a kid and phoning a girlfriend who never answered.

Orbital Nick @orbitalnick
What's your favourite bassline to play? One you really enjoy!
PAUL: At the moment it's...'For the Benefit of Mr Kite'. It's challenging!

alunvaughan @alunvaughan
Have you got a favourite cover of one of your tracks?
PAUL: There are so many that I love it's difficult to say but Esther Phillips version of 'And I love HIM' comes to mind.

Collin Searls @goldengat
Will you be playing Hope (the Destiny theme) live in concert?
PAUL: HOPEfully!

Marcos f. @marcosfelixm
There's another song from the 'NEW' album that you would like to put on the setlist?
PAUL: We've been playing with 'Appreciate,' but it's kind of hard to do.

Mary @ClassicRockzzzz
Cats or dogs?
PAUL: Dogs! (Although I love cats too)

Brandon Butler @butlerb92
If you could describe the "Wings Years" in one or two words, what word(s) would you use and why?
PAUL: Difficult, but Brilliant!

Yonosoy Rodrigo @YonosoyRodrig
Who is your favourite classical composer?
PAUL: Probably Bach.

Emily Vidovich @EmilyVidovich
Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?
PAUL: I hardly ever see sunrises so it's sunsets for me!

melissa @dollybird1963
Did you come up with the idea for the new album cover?
PAUL: No! It was my design team, Mike & Rebecca who suggested it and then my son-in-law Alasdhair suggested the neon.

andres @TheLegoguy15
How did you come up with the song Blackbird?
PAUL: I was in Scotland & was playing guitar thinking of a Bach piece that we used to play & also the civil rights situation.

Nick Tregoning @triglarrrrrrr
What's your favourite cheese?
PAUL: I like a lot of them. How about cheddar, goats, feta and de Boursin.

Jennifer @JenniferMcBowie
Do you have a favorite TV show?
PAUL: I love 'Veep' and 'Family Feud' ("We asked a hundred people!")

@manicbeatles
(question not publicily posted)
PAUL: Summer holiday with the family and kids.

elijah Kraling @elijahkraling
What goes through your mind when you walk out on to the stage with a huge crowd?
PAUL: Great excitement at their reaction.

@PaulMcCartney
We grabbed a few more answers from Paul before he left which we'll post over the coming days. Thank you for all your questions! [MPL]

@PaulMcCartney
Hey! This was fun, gang! Gotta run. Meanwhile I'll leave you with this song:
http://itunes.com/wings


MORE TWEETS FROM OCTOBER 24th!!!

@letitd
What do you think about your brazilian fans?
PAUL: They're fantastic! They love music and we love that. And we always have a party!

@MariaElizaFaria
I heard you are coming to Brazil his year... is it true?
PAUL: This is true, yeah! We're coming to Vitoria, Rio, Brasília and São Paulo!

Desi Harrison ?@HarrisonScruff
What do you love most about Touring?
PAUL: The audience!

brandi ames @beatlzrule
Do you still get nervous before shows?
PAUL: Not often, but sometimes if it's a really big show you can get a little nervous, but I'm able to calm the nerves these days.

@1AlbaMcCartney
What rituals do you usually take before a concert?
PAUL: Yeah, there's quite a few. I take about an hour to get ready and during that time I do a certain bunch of things...
Before we get on stage the main ritual is we have a huddle with the band that gets us psyched up & ready to roll.

Eliza Alvarez @alvarezelizaa
Why is your tour named "Out There"?
PAUL: I try & look for a funky title that's relevant. After On the Run we figured we would be Out There on a number of levels!



October 19, 2014 -- PM.com

#askPaul Your Questions ­ Live Twitter Q&A With Paul (Monday Oct 20th)

2014 has been quite the year for Paul beginning by receiving five GRAMMY awards, a career-best. Since then he has been presented with the special one-off 'Songwriter's Songwriter' award by the NME, danced with the robot Newman in the 'Appreciate' video, jammed with Johnny Depp and a group of blues musicians for the 'Early Days' video, worked on the score of the year's most anticipated game 'Destiny', launched a new range of stickers on LINE and continued to play sold out venues across Latin and North America with his incredibly successful 'Out There' tour.

In the coming weeks Paul will be reissuing NEW with previously unreleased music and nearly 2 hours of video footage, plus the next two releases in his GRAMMY award-winning Archive Collection series; Venus and Mars and At The Speed Of Sound. Paul will also be releasing his song 'Hope' from the 'Destiny' game and taking his 'Out There' tour to Brazil.

It was around this time last year that we sat down with Paul to do his first-ever live Twitter Q&A. He really enjoyed it, and with so much going on, we think it's the perfect time to do another one this coming Monday!

So, do you want to learn more about the unreleased songs on NEW, Venus and Mars and At The Speed Of Sound? Or what it was like scoring his first game soundtrack? How about what Paul enjoys most about playing live in Brazil? Or maybe you'd just like to ask him something you've always wanted to? Send in your questions now!

To submit your questions (there is no limit to how many you can ask) just post them to Twitter using the hashtag #askPaul. We'll be collecting our favourites over the coming days and closer to Monday let you know what time he'll be online.

#askPaul (See the Twitter Transcript HERE)


October 19, 2014 -- PM.com

UPDATED:
Second São Paulo Date Added / Paul Gets Back #OutThere in Brazil!


PAUL McCARTNEY IS GETTING BACK 'OUT THERE' 
MUSIC ICON TO RETURN TO BRAZIL
Monday 10th November: Estádio Kléber Andrade ­ Vitória
Wednesday 12th November ­ HSBC Arena ­ Rio
Sunday 23rd November ­ Estádio Nacional ­ Brasilia
Tuesday 25th November ­ Allianz Parque ­ São Paulo
Wednesday 26th November ­ Allianz Parque ­ São Paulo
 
Due to overwhelming demand Paul has added a second night in São Paulo. The additional date at the Allianz Parque will take place on
Wednesday 26th November. 

Pre-sale tickets will be available this
Monday 20th October through PaulMcCartney.com. Keep checking the website for time details. 

Tickets go on general sale Tuesday 21st October. Fans are advised to check local listings for full details.
TICKET INFO: https://www.tudus.com.br/tudus/index.html


Monday 10th November ­ Estádio Kléber Andrade ­ Vitória
TICKETS ON SALE
GENERAL TICKET LINK: http://www.blueticket.com.br/12266/Paul-McCartney

VIP TICKETS - Click HERE!

Wednesday 12th November ­ HSBC Arena ­ Rio
PRE-SALE TICKETS - Click HERE! Password: OUTTHERERIO
VIP TICKETS - Click HERE!
GENERAL TICKET LINK: https://www.tudus.com.br/tudus/index.html

https://www.tudus.com.br/paulrj
Garanta o seu ingresso agora clicando AQUI! Código: OUTTHERERIO

Sunday 23rd November ­ Estádio Nacional ­ Brasilia
TICKETS ON SALE - Click HERE! Password: OUTTHEREBRASILIA
VIP TICKETS - Click HERE!
Garanta o seu ingresso agora clicando AQUI! Código: OUTTHEREBRASILIA

Tuesday 25th November ­ Allianz Parque ­ São Paulo
TICKETS ON SALE https://www.tudus.com.br/paulsp

Password: OUTTHERESP
http://www.paulmccartney.com
TICKET INFO: https://www.tudus.com.br/tudus/index.html
Garanta o seu ingresso agora clicando AQUI! Código: OUTTHERESP
VIP TICKETS - Click HERE!


Wednesday 26th November ­ Allianz Parque ­ São Paulo
TICKETS ON SALE https://www.tudus.com.br/paulsp
TICKET INFO:
https://www.tudus.com.br/tudus/index.html
Click HERE! Password: OUTTHERESP
VIP TICKETS - Click HERE!

Keep checking PaulMcCartney.com for further announcements including pre-sale details for Paul's concerts in Brasilia and São Paulo...
 
Paul is set to return to South America this November. In April of this year Paul performed his first concerts of 2014 in Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica. Today Paul has confirmed that he'll be taking his tour back to Brazil this November.

Paul launched his critically acclaimed 'Out There' tour in Brazil last year with historic concerts in Belo Horizonte, Goiânia and Fortaleza. Since then the tour has visited almost 40 cities across South America, Europe, North America and Japan. In August the tour made headlines around the world when Paul performed the last ever concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park, which was the same venue that The Beatles' last ever concert took place in August 1966.

Paul's first ever concert in Brazil smashed box office attendance records and gained him entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for Largest Concert Audience. Over 184,000 came to see him in Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium that night in 1990 and since then, Paul has performed in Brazil a total of 15 times. This will be Paul's first visit to Vitória and Brasilia and will be the first ever stadium concert Vitória have ever had. The São Paulo show will be in a brand new stadium opened this month.
However, this will be his first ever concert in both Vitória and Brasilia and his first time back in São Paulo since 2010.

The 'Out There' tour features music from one of the best loved catalogues in popular music. Paul will perform songs that span his entire career - as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course as a Beatle. The set list will also include material from Paul's most recent studio album 'NEW', which was a global hit upon its release last year.

The McCartney live experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity; in just three hours some of the greatest moments from the last 50 years of music are relived; music which for many has shaped the very soundtrack of their lives. The last decade has seen Paul and his band perform in a staggeringly impressive range of venues and locations, including outside the Coliseum in Rome, in Moscow's Red Square, Buckingham Palace, at the White House, a free show in Mexico to over 400,000 people and even into Space! Having played with his band (Paul 'Wix' Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass guitar/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums) for over ten years now, the show never disappoints.

The tour also uses state of the art technology and production to ensure the entire audience has the best possible experience. With massive screens, lasers, fireworks, unique video content and the best songs in the world a Paul McCartney show is so much more than just an ordinary concert. Paul's shows attract a multi generational audience from different backgrounds all brought together by his music.

Keep checking PaulMcCartney.com for further announcements.



October 19, 2014 - Daily Mail (UK)

Nancy Shevell highlights her slim legs in workout gear as she enjoys New York stroll with husband Paul McCartney

They tend to kick off their days with an early morning workout session.

And it was business as usual for Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell as they were spotted taking a stroll through New York on Wednesday.

The couple enjoyed the leisurely morning workout on Madison Avenue as Paul continues to keep fit during his current tour.

Nancy showed off her slender legs in tight-fitting navy leggings which she teamed with vibrant trainers and a blue puffer jacket.

The 53-year-old shielded her eyes with a pair of black shades while she carried a black bag and held onto a bottle of glaceau smart water.

She seemed to be wearing minimal make-up for the stroll and her brunette locks were left naturally wavy.

Sir Paul seemed to be in high spirits as he donned a grey top with a black and white Adidas tracksuit.

He covered up with a black jacket and completed the look with grey trainers and aviator shades.

The 72-year-old proved he was in tip top shape as he later took to the stage in Georgia.

The former Beatles star performed an energetic set at Philips Arena in Atlanta as part of his Out There tour world tour.

It was recently reported that Kanye West wanted to collaborate with Paul on his upcoming album.

The Yeezus rapper, who has reportedly become very good friends with the former Beatles lead singer has approached him as he puts the finishing touches to his latest material.

And it may surprise some fans that 72-year-old Paul has a big appreciation for rap. The Live And Let Die singer revealed in a Twitter Q&A in October last year that his most recent album purchases were Kanye and Jay-Z.



October 19, 2014 -- PM.com

Watch The Original 'Venus and Mars' TV Advert

For the original release of Venus and Mars, 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' film director Karel Reisz was commissioned to make the television commercial for the album. Shot on 35mm film in a house in west London in May 1975, the 60 second advertisement features Wings playing a game of snooker, with a soundtrack that includes snippets of 'Venus and Mars', 'You Gave Me The Answer', 'Listen To What The Man Said', 'Treat Her Gently' and 'Medicine Jar'.

Check it out below:


CLICK TO WATCH

VENUS AND MARS / AT THE SPEED OF SOUND
OUT- 3RD NOVEMBER (UK)
NOVEMBER 4TH (US)


Pre-order 'Venus and Mars' from Amazon HERE!
Pre-order 'Venus and Mars' from iTunes HERE!
 
Pre-order 'At The Speed Of Sound' from Amazon HERE!
Pre-order 'At The Speed Of Sound' from iTunes HERE!



Oct 17, 2014 - The Tennessean (VIDEO)

Paul McCartney greets fans in Nashville

Heads up, Nashville - The Beatle has landed.

Sir Paul McCartney waved to fans in Nashville Thursday evening as his motorcade made its way into Bridgestone Arena for his sold-out concert.

It was a thrilling six-second brush with fame for roughly two dozen McCartney diehards lined up on the sidewalk outside the loading dock at Music City Center - which connects underground to the arena.

The 72-year-old rocker didn't exchange any words with his audience, but smiled and pointed out fans as he drove by.

For Rick Glover of Atlanta, Georgia, the encounter was worth the wait.

"It's like a superhero zapping you with lightning out of his eyes," he said.



Oct 17, 2014 - Macca Report News

October 16 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena


PHOTO:
Bob Kern for The Macca Report


PHOTO:
Bob Kern for The Macca Report


PHOTO:
Bob Kern for The Macca Report

SOUND CHECK SETLIST
from Bob Kern and Robin Mawdsley, Macca Reporters

1. Matchbox
2. Honey Don't
3. Only Mama Knows
4. Junior's Farm
5. Drive My Car
6. C Moon
7. Celebration
8. March Of The Toy Soldiers (The Nutcracker) Paul started playing it on guitar, then Rusty joined in and then Abe. They probably did maybe a 30 second jam on it....
9. I'll Follow The Sun
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. Midnight Special
12. Ram On
13. Bluebird
14. Lady Madonna


PHOTO:
Robin Mawdsley for The Macca Report


PHOTO: Robin Mawdsley for The Macca Report


PHOTO:
Bob Kern for The Macca Report


PHOTO: Bob Kern for The Macca Report

CONCERT SET LIST

1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving 

4. Listen To What The Man Said
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Coda
6. Paperback Writer
7. My Valentine
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
9. The Long And Winding Road
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. I've Just Seen A Face
12. We Can Work It Out
13. Another Day
14. And I Love Her
15. Blackbird
16. Here Today

17. New
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. All Together Now
21. Lovely Rita
22. Everybody Out There
23. Eleanor Rigby
24. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back In The U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live And Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE ONE
32. Day Tripper
33. Birthday
34. I Saw Her Standing There

ENCORE TWO
35. Yesterday
36. Helter Skelter
37. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End


PHOTO: Robin Mawdsley for The Macca Report


PHOTO:
Robin Mawdsley for The Macca Report

THE CONCERT
Thanks to Laurel Gunderson, Macca Reporter

The opener, "Magical Mystery Tour" was a big surprise and had a visually gorgeous psychedelic light show.

The band still had their pink NFL breast cancer wristbands on. 
 
During the Jimi Hendrix story Paul said Hendrix did a "blinding version of Sergeant Pepper".
 
Wix was clutching his neck again during "Maybe I'm Amazed" to make Paul laugh.
 
Paul reads the signs: 

"Tattoo my Mom".  He laughed at that one

"It's River's 1st show and she's 16." 

Paul acknowledged with, "Hello River". One of the concert reviews said "Birthday" was dedicated to her.  It wasn't, it was for a girl's 16th birthday named Lizzy.
 
During the intro to "Here Today" Paul has been saying at every show to tell the person NOW how you feel about them before it's too late. That encourages people to shout out "I Love You PAUL!!!" In Nashville he cut that line out and just started the song after explaining that it was an imaginary conversation he had with John after he passed away. Paul obviously didn't like people shouting out and spoiling the mood during his John dedication.
 
Before "All Together Now" Paul said, "This song appeared in the film Yellow Submarine."
 
On "Lovely Rita" both Wix and Abe were blowing kazoos. I haven't seen Abe do this before.
 
Instead of "Hi Hi Hi", he substituted "Birthday" for Lizzy's 16th birthday and said "This is for you baby."
 
Also, LOVED hearing "I Saw Her Standing There" substituted for "Get Back".



October 17, 2014 - PaulMcCartney Twitter

Macca Nashville shout out

 

Nashville! Music City! Oh Yeah!!


October 17, 2014 - The Tennessean

Paul McCartney rocks Nashville with sold-out concert

Music City roared for a rock legend on Thursday night as Sir Paul McCartney brought his "Out There" tour to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. After opening the show with "Magical Mystery Tour," the former Beatle told his fans it was "great to be back."

"We love this place," he said. "And we are gonna have a party in this hall tonight."

Though it's now been 50 years since
The Beatles first took America by storm, Thursday night marked just the second time McCartney, 72, has taken the stage for a concert in Nashville. The first was also at Bridgestone in 2010. But his history with Nashville goes all the way back to 1974, when he and his family spent six weeks living on a farm outside Lebanon, Tenn.

"Some great memories of Nashville, because we did some recording here, you know?" he recalled from the stage. "It was great. Great music people, a couple of them are here tonight."

"And by the way," he added. "You've got to save these old studios, man. History."

It seems even Paul McCartney has heard of the saga of Nashville's historic RCA Studio A, which was recently saved from demolition.

The packed house ­ with fans of all ages ­ was a crowd that appreciated that kind of musical history, applauding five decades worth of tunes, from "All My Loving" to several cuts from McCartney's 2013 album, "New."

In between, he shared stories from his past: seeing Jimi Hendrix cover The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," and meeting Russian dignitaries when he became the first rock musician to play Red Square. He told those same stories when he headlined last year's Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn., and cracked many of the same jokes.

But sticking to the script might be best for an artist with at least a dozen tunes he can't leave a stage without playing ­ and there was still room to improvise. On most of his recent dates, McCartney has opened with The Beatles' "Eight Days a Week." In Nashville, it was "Magical Mystery Tour," a speedy psychedelic rocker that heads straight for the high notes ­ a few of which McCartney was not quite ready to reach.

His voice has developed a slight warble in the last few years, but for a 72-year-old, it's staggeringly strong, and he continues to sing all of his songs in their original key ­ a rarity among rock veterans, who often lower the pitch of their songs to give their vocal cords a rest.

He pulled out "Birthday" from the Beatles' "White Album" after a sign in the crowd asked him to wish a happy birthday to a 16-year-old girl named River, who was making McCartney her first-ever concert. Another dedication to an audience member came with recent cut "My Valentine." McCartney wrote the ballad for his wife,
Nancy, who was in attendance.

By the time he got to his acoustic tributes to late Beatle bandmates
John Lennon and George Harrison, his falsetto was pure and haunting, and the room was silent as he addressed Lennon through song on "Here Today."

In Nashville, one song that's often on the setlist still had some spontaneous charm, as the lesser-known Beatles tune "I've Just Seen a Face" may be the closest the
Fab Four ever came to bluegrass. The audience clapped along, and as the song hit its final chord, McCartney let out a spontaneous "Yee-ha!"

Other semi-obscure Beatles cuts were sprinkled through the set ("All Together Now," "Lovely Rita Meter Maid") along with songs by McCartney's post-Beatles band,
Wings ("Band On the Run," "Let Me Roll It").

But the 2 ?-hour set inevitably built up to a parade of Beatles favorites in the final hour, and soon the the volume of the fans singing in the stands almost rivaled the band on stage. McCartney invited their voices to take over for him on "Hey Jude," and had the men and women sing separately before joining together for several more massive choruses.

In the end, however, McCartney won the loudness war. "You said you want to keep rocking?" he asked the crowd at the start of his second encore. "You asked for it."

He and his lean-and -mean four-piece backing band then ripped into "Helter Skelter," the most raucous rock song The Beatles ever recorded. A three-way guitar solo battle on "The End" certainly resonated in Music City, too ­ though it signaled that McCartney was about to step off a Nashville stage for the second time, and hopefully not the last.

"Nashville, Tennessee," he told the still-capacity crowd as he bid them farewell. "I tell you what, you are fantastic. We'll see you next time."



October 17, 2014 - NashvilleScene.com

Paul McCartney's Triumphant Bridgestone Arena Return

Let's be clear: Nothing short of channeling the spirits of John Lennon and George Harrison via psychic medium for a surprise guest appearance could top the experience of witnessing the epic, 80,000-party-ready-festival-goer-strong outpouring of joyous, emotional release at Paul McCartney's 2013 Bonnaroo set. We caught that one, and loved it. And only that Bonnaroo show could top the excitement of seeing Sir Paul for the first time at The Beatle's Music City debut at Bridgestone Arena in 2010. We caught that one, too, and loved it.

So with that in mind, we entered the 'Stone giddy with excitement over knowing we were about drink in one of the best shows we'll ever see, yet knowing that all-important element of surprise was gone for good. Personally, subjectively, the returns would inevitably be diminishing in The Emotional Transcendence Department, but looking around the boomer-brimming arena, it was clear there were still many first-timers in the house, and the collective vibe was ecstatic.

That said, like last time and the time before, our hearts still grew a size or two and our eyes still welled during moments like "And I Love Her," "Here Today" (as a touching tribute to John Lennon), "I've Just Seen a Face," "Yesterday" and many others.

Seeing
Macca pluck "Blackbird" standing atop a giant screen rising toward the rafters like a chariot to heaven, while the crowd, transfixed, sings along in a warm, quiet chorus is just a true privilege. It's almost an out-of-body reminder that we get to exist at the same time as this man who changed the world with pop music, and we can go see him perform that music in person, in fine voice, with a band who not only does the music justice, but adds their own personality and nuances to keep it exciting and in-the-moment. Even with ticket prices as high as $450 (for something priceless), that opportunity itself is a gift. At 72 years old, McCartney doesn't have to give us that, yet he does with a dedication, grace, gratitude and congeniality that really makes it feel like getting to spend quality time with a goddamn Beatle. And he does it for the course of more than two-and-a-half hours and 39 songs.

That said, diminishing returns. McCartney's voice wasn't as close to flawless as it was at the 2010 Bridgestone show. He still sings two-dozen-plus Beatles songs and a handful of
Wings hits ("Band on the Run" was soul-clenching) and fan favorites ("Let Me Roll It" was the f*kin' sh*t!) in the original keys, but for the first hour of Thursday night's show we could tell Sir Paul struggled to hit some notes. It wasn't as effortless as before. But holy hell, he's 72 years old! That excuses any apparent seams we could nitpick. He can also still scream like a motherf*ker on rockers like "Helter Skelter," "Live and Let Die" (complete with pyro cues, of course) and "Day Tripper."

Macca's age also excuses how he tells the same affable anecdotes, almost verbatim, at every show. The "Foxy Lady" tag at the end of "Let Me Roll It" rolls into a story about hanging with Jimi Hendrix; he took off his coat a few songs in and quipped about it being the show's only wardrobe change; he regaled us with tales of living-room ukulele jams with George Harrison before paying tribute (to both George and ukuleles) on a stirring "Something" (still one of the best moments in the show) and so on. But when he does it, it's like grandpa going into a story the family's heard countless times at the dinner table. You just let him go with it and take it in while you still can. In this case, you're not just humoring The World's Greatest Grandpa - last night, after "Maybe I'm Amazed," Macca mentioned that the baby bjorned in his lumberjack coat on the cover of McCartney now has four kids of her own - you're humoring Paul Motherf*king McCartney! Again, priceless. There was, however, one bit of off-the-cuff, unique-to-Nashville banter Thursday night, and it was significant: "You gotta save these old studios, man," he said at one point, lending his support to the Save Music Row movement. "The history!"

Other differences from the last two Middle Tennessee Macca appearances were four songs from his latest long player, New. Both the could-have-been-a-Queen-song royal British jauntiness of the title track and the crowd-participation-enhanced, jangly, Celtic stomp of "Everybody Out There" were standouts at this show. And that's no small feat, seeing as how they appeared in the set list along such life-changers as "Let It Be" and "Eleanor Rigby."

"We'll see you next time," McCartney said when bidding the crowd farewell. In spite of age, a next time seems totally plausible. And we'll be there with bells on to sing "na-na na nas" at the end of "Hey Jude" and sit through old stories that will never lose their charm.

Long live, Sir Paul McCartney


October 16, 2014 - Paul McCartney Twitter

#Throwback Thursday Photo

Paul with Allen Ginsberg in 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Photo by Linda McCartney


October 16, 2014 - Macca Report News

October 15 - Philips Arena - Atlanta, GA

SOUND CHECK SETLIST

1. Jam instrumental
2. Honey Hush
3. Honey Don't
4. Junior's Farm
5. Got To Get You Into My Life
6. Flaming Pie
7. Let 'Em In
8. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
9. It's So Easy
10. Every Night
11. Things We Said Today
12. San Francisco Bay Blues
13. I'll Follow The Sun (3 reprises)
14. Ram On
15. Bluebird
16. Lady Madonna

CONCERT (Youtube Videos)

1. Eight Days A Week
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving 
4. Listen To What The Man Said
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Coda
6. Paperback Writer
7. My Valentine
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
9. The Long And Winding Road
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. I've Just Seen A Face
12. We Can Work It Out
13. Another Day
14. And I Love Her
15. Blackbird
16. Here Today
17. New
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. All Together Now
21. Lovely Rita
22. Everybody Out There
23. Eleanor Rigby
24. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back In The U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live And Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE ONE
32. Day Tripper
33. Hi Hi Hi
34. Get Back

ENCORE TWO
35. Yesterday
36. Helter Skelter
37. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End



October 16, 2014 - PaulMcCartney Twitter

Macca Atlanta shout out

HOTlanta!! You were amazing! See you next time!



October 16, 2014 - AJC

Concert review: Paul McCartney is a marvel in return to Atlanta

We can never root against Paul McCartney.

We want him to always be healthy and safe. To be immortal, even. To claim victory at every turn and to never leave us, even though we know his musical creations of the past five decades will outlive us all.

We want to forever wonder what drives him, now at 72 and a comfortable multi-multi-millionaire, to endure the rigors of touring that even the plushest accommodations can't mitigate.

Frankly, we want time to stop and for someone to freeze the musical genius portion of his brain so that even when he's gone, the part of him that changed pop music will remain.

A McCartney-less world is inevitable, which is why his agreeable stance on touring is so appreciated by fans.

Returning to Atlanta on Wednesday for the first time since 2009 ­ and a few months later than planned after a virus forced the postponement of his original June date ­ McCartney demonstrated the joy he has for performing with a nearly three-hour, 39-song set that placed sprightly memories over musty nostalgia.

He entered the Philips Arena stage, all thumbs-up and peace signs in a royal blue blazer, dark pants and pink NFL wristband, and immediately thumped into the bass line of "Eight Days a Week."

McCartney's concert is stocked with gems from the equivalent of three careers ­
The Beatles, Wings and his solo material ­ and he knows that fans primarily want to hear the work of the first two. But he isn't about to turn his performance into strictly a festival of reminiscence.

Last year's "New" album is among the finest in his catalog, and McCartney parked the release's rollicking "Save Us" into the No. 2 spot on his set list, a direct signal to fans that he's proud of his musical vitality.

Three other "New" tracks were sprinkled among classics including "We Can Work It Out," "Another Day" and "Let it Be" as well as the deeper album cuts aimed at the die-hards, such as the always-welcome groove of "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" and the cutesy romp "All Together Now," from the "Yellow Submarine" soundtrack.

While McCartney's voice sounded a bit muffled during the opening handful of songs, particularly a flat "All My Loving," his charismatic delivery overpowered any shortcomings.

And really, who is going to begrudge a septuagenarian for losing a notch of mid-range ability when he can still unleash the unfettered howls of passion and pain that power "Maybe I'm Amazed"?

Aiding McCartney is his superlative band ­
Rusty Anderson on guitar, Brian Ray on guitar and bass, Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards, accordion and anything else a song requires (like the kazoo in "Lovely Rita") and the great Abe Laboriel, Jr. on drums.

This is a group well-versed in McCartney perfectionism, and, having performed together for 12 years, they are, believe it or not, McCartney's longest tenure with the same core players.

Whether adding jagged guitar chords to "Paperback Writer" or cascading harmonies to a truly stunning rendition of "Eleanor Rigby" (Wickens somehow extracts a full symphony sound from his keyboards), this foursome allows McCartney to indulge in every musical possibility.

Still, it is the man himself who is quite a marvel. He doesn't use a TelePrompTer (unlike many peers decades younger). He doesn't preach like Springsteen or move like Jagger. In fact, aside from hopping between pianos and center stage and approaching an amplifier for a burst of feedback at the end of "Paperback Writer," McCartney isn't even excessively mobile on stage.

None of that matters, though, because what he can do to an audience with the wistful declarations in "The Long and Winding Road" or the simple poignancy in "Blackbird" and "Yesterday" requires an innate ability to bond emotionally.

Plus, he's, you know, a Beatle.

But a McCartney show always finds a pleasant balance between hushed sincerity and visual stimulation.

You'll hear a dedication to wife
Nancy (who was present at the show) with the ballad "My Valentine" and an acknowledgement of forever-love Linda before "Maybe I'm Amazed."

It's all about that bass.

Then you'll experience the trippy haze of swirling lasers during "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" ­ anchored by McCartney's defining bass ­ and the almost comical excess of pyro and fireworks that punctuate "Live and Let Die."

McCartney's concerts are filled with more highlights than any review could capture. For some, the endless sing-alongs of "Let it Be" and "Hey Jude" are the magic moments. For others, it's the rock crunch of "Get Back" and "Helter Skelter."

But there is something about McCartney's version of "Something," that moment when the song swells from the
George Harrison-inspired ukulele version and the full band kicks into the sumptuous melody that is the sound of the heavens parting.

For that elegant rearranging, we thank McCartney. And we thank him for encouraging the sold-out crowd to shout along with everyone's favorite wedding jam ("Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da") and for reminding us that the love we take is equal to the love we make.

And we continue to root for him for as long as time will allow.



October 16, 2014 - Creative Loafing Atlanta

Paul McCartney at Philips Arena

It's hard to imagine a 20th century musician with more memorable melodies lodged in the collective consciousness than Paul McCartney, and this couldn't have been more elaborately illustrated than at his Oct. 15 performance at Philips Arena on his "Out There" Tour. Over two and a half hours and 39 songs, Sir Paul took the sold out crowd on a voyage through his immense catalog from early Beatles singles to choice tracks from New. The range of sentiment spread from playful ("All Together Now," "Obla-di Obla-da") to classic psychedelia ("Paperback Writer," "Lovely Rita"), piano ballads ("The Long and Winding Road," "Let It Be"), gorgeous love songs, ("Maybe I'm Amazed") deep cuts ("I've Just Seen A Face"), and orchestral rock 'n' roll bombast ("Live and Let Die").

The between-song anecdotes ranged from funny to serious and included stories behind the songs, as well as proper tributes to both John Lennon and George Harrison. For Lennon, "Here Today" was performed as a solo acoustic number, placed just after "Blackbird" in the set for maximum significance. It came with the advice; "If you have something to say to someone, say it now, because you may never get another chance." For Harrison, "Something" was played solo by Paul on ukulele until the second chorus, when the band kicked in taking the emotional impact to a high point, that they would continue to top for the next 14 songs.

Not everyday do you hear "this next one's from the Sgt. Pepper album." Nor is there a comparative feeling of an 18,000+ crowd that ranged in age from 5 to 75 singing along to "Hey Jude." McCartney's voice was as apt as ever and the five-piece band somehow delivered every overdub from the records. It was absolutely phenomenal.



October 14, 2014 -- Macca Report News

October 13 - American Airlines Center - Dallas, TX

SOUND CHECK SET LIST
Thanks to Laurel Gunderson, Macca Reporter

1. ROCK JAM
2. MATCH BOX
3. HONEY DON'T - ("Thank you fellow Texans.")
4. DRIVE MY CAR - ("Is the room making the bass swim a bit?" Discussion followed by restarting song)
5. COMING UP
6. C MOON
7. WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON - (slower boogie-woogie piano version with Wix playing sax on keyboard)
8. EVERY NIGHT - (feedback on the acoustic guitar - had to restart the song)
9. SAN FRANCISCO BAY BLUES - for Shelly Lazar
10. THINGS WE SAID TODAY
11. JAZZ JAM - (Wix on accordion - guitar played with a Spanish sound) "Thank you jazz fiends.
12. MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
13. RAM ON
14. BLUEBIRD - (song request by Laurel Gunderson) Afterwards, Paul made a hand gesture of a bird flying,.
15. LADY MADONNA - Before starting the song he played lounge piano music and said, "I'm not practicing anything here, I just like doing my massage music."

THE SOUND CHECK
Thanks to Laurel Gunderson, Macca Reporter

When he stopped during sound check to read signs, the only one he acknowledged was the older lady who had a sign that read "Original Beatles Fan Cavern Club Cement Mixer".

Paul explained to the rest of us that the various groups of girl fans at the Cavern Club would give their groups names, and they would write notes and pass them to the stage with song requests on them.  He seemed really blown away by her sign, and asked if she was really a "Cement Mixer".  She said yes, and he seemed just in awe and made a comment "that was really far away".  I don't know if he meant Liverpool was really far away from Dallas, or that those Cavern Club days were really far away from now. Or both? I wondered if maybe she got to go backstage to meet him, but I didn't hear anything about it. He acknowledged her during the concert as well and had to explain what a "Cement Mixer" was for the crowd.
 
There was another lady at the sound check who had made a quilt out of all her old McCartney t-shirts. (I couldn't help thinking that it was an expensive quilt because of the cost of all the tour t-shirts it took to make it!) It looked really nice. One of Paul's employees took it backstage for him to look at. The lady was sitting near me at the concert. I asked her if he had signed it, and she said no, but that the employee said he had held it and said he just didn't know where to sign it. 

 


PHOTO: Sherry Childress-Heard for The Macca Report

CONCERT SETLIST

1. Eight Days A Week
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving 
4. Listen To What The Man Said
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Coda
6. Paperback Writer
7. My Valentine
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
9. The Long And Winding Road
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. I've Just Seen A Face
12. We Can Work It Out
13. Another Day
14. And I Love Her
15. Blackbird
16. Here Today
17. New
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. All Together Now
21. Lovely Rita
22. Everybody Out There
23. Eleanor Rigby
24. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back In The U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live And Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE ONE
32. Day Tripper
33. Hi Hi Hi
34. Get Back

ENCORE TWO
35. Yesterday
36. Helter Skelter
37. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

NOTES ABOUT THE CONCERT

From Sherry Childress-Heard,
Macca Reporter

Paul and the band wore pink wristbands for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Paul also noted the results of the Dallas/Seahawks game on Sunday, saying "They weren't suppose to win. How 'bout them Cowboys?" The crowd erupted with cheers.

Of course, as a Texan, I loved the interplay with the Texas flag - Paul paraded around fiercely!

From Laurel Gunderson,
Macca Reporter

To add to what Sherry said about the concert, the pink wristbands had NFL logos on them. He said normally you don't talk about football teams in case there's rivals in the audience, but commented on the Cowboys twice.
 
After "Maybe I'm Amazed," he explained that the baby in his jacket (Mary), now had four babies of her own, and said "That's how it happens."
 
Almost everything else was usual standard story. A highlight was Paul's back-to-the-audience butt wiggle during "And I love her" as Abe went wild on bongos.

At the end of the show a fan in the front row held up a Beatles 'Revolver' 8-track. Paul noticed and motioned to the fan to toss the 8-track on stage. The fan threw it and Paul caught it. Macca signed the 8-track and tossed it back to the very happy fan.



October 14, 2014 -- Paul McCartney Twitter

Paul's shout out to Dallas

@PaulMcCartney

A big Texas thank you to Dallas!


October 14, 2014 - Popcultureblog Dallas

At 72, Paul McCartney proved at the AAC that he can still amaze - and still surprise

Thirty minutes before showtime at the American Airlines Center came the history lesson. Images began to scroll down the screens bracketing the stage. There was the baby boy who becomes the grinning toddler who becomes the tousled young man who becomes the mop-topped pop star, and the accomplices who become bandmates who become icons. The banner headlines streamed by; so too the faces of other icons of their era (Hendrix, Townshend, McGraw and McQueen). The montage came with a wry, winking soundtrack: an early-days cover of "Besame Mucho," the Muzaked rendition of "I Wanna Be Your Man," the dance remix of "Twist and Shout," Esther Phillips' so-slinky "And I Love Him," the solo what-the "Temporary Secretary."

Then, finally, it was time for The Man himself:
Paul McCartney, 72 in June but looking and sounding and carrying on like a much younger man. He opened with "Eight Days a Week," recorded by the Beatles in the first week of October 1964. Surely its presence at the starting line of this Monday-night marathon was intentional, an anniversary present to the young-and-old-and-in-between audience that sang along with every word.

But on this 50th anniversary (and a few weeks) of
The Beatles' performance at Memorial Auditorium, this was not just a magical mystery tour through the ancient scrolls we've long taken for granted like something that's always been there. Just as suddenly McCartney and his band ripped into "Save Us" off last year's New, and what plays on record like a bouncy pop toss-off storms the live stage. The flab is excised in concert, where it's every bit as sinewy as McCartney's 2013 Nirvana joint "Cut Me Some Slack." It holds its own against the proto-punk that flared its nostrils late into the night: the still-vital "Helter Skelter." McCartney can still shriek-snarl-spit it out like the 26-year-old who wrote it. He makes most young comers sound, and look, like pale pretenders.

Back and forth and back and forth he went during the course of a three-hour, 39-song set (!) - from the beloved old songs ("Day Tripper," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Eleanor Rigby," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Let It Be," Hey Jude," "Golden Slumbers" and on and on) to the unfamiliar-to-most new ones ("Queenie Eye," "New") to the sorta-forgotten ones (1971's "Another Day,"
Wings' "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five") to the still-sharp deep cuts ("All Together Now" and, from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, "Lovely Rita" and John Lennon's "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!") Though the set lists seldom change from city to city on this "Out There!" tour - Dallas received almost the same show as Lubbock two weeks ago, without the Buddy Holly homage, sadly - McCartney can still surprise, still dazzle, still wow.

Those who would dismiss him as the old man selling pre-packaged, pre-chewed history are missing out; this is far more than just hearing a Beatle sing Beatles songs to collect a check and skip town. When he sings
George Harrison's "Something" - first alone, on ukulele, then with the full band behind him - it's a rousing tribute. And when, alone, he performs 1982's Tug of War offering "Here Today" - a tribute to John Lennon written less than a year after his murder - it's wrenching. Its performance Monday night was the only time McCartney's voice appeared to crack, right around the time he got to the words "what about the night we cried because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside."

Even at this late date he's unafraid to play to the packed arena all by his lonesome. He offered solo, acoustic renderings of "Blackbird" and "Yesterday," the most-covered song of all time that only matters when performed by its author. If you think you never want or need to hear these songs again, McCartney and an acoustic guitar are there to set you straight.

Yet he also remains the good-time showman: He told stories about writing songs with Lennon and hanging with Hendrix (after a little "Foxy Lady," no less) and glided back and forth between bass and guitar and keybs and remarked repeatedly about how the Dallas Cowboys never should have been able to beat the Seahawks in Seattle (his "How 'bout them Cowboys" comment may have been the night's most astonishing moment). And "Live and Let Die" popped off more flame, fireworks and fury than an entire KISS show.

"Do you wanna keep rocking?" he asked after opening the first encore set with "Day Tripper." He answered his own question: "I do." He meant it. He means it.



October 14, 2014 - DFW.com

Review: Paul McCartney at American Airlines Center, Oct. 13, Dallas

Paul McCartney
stood, wreathed in light, his hands on an acoustic guitar, fingers plucking out a melody as if by reflex.

"Yesterday/All my troubles seemed so far away "

And it was Yesterday - the song as well as memories from the past - that pulled a sold-out crowd to American Airlines Center on Monday night for an eagerly anticipated make-up date (McCartney's ongoing "Out There" tour was originally scheduled to hit DFW in June, but an illness forced a postponement).

His first North Texas gig in five years, following a 2009 date at then-Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, was comparatively scaled down, but really only when it came to capacity.

As before, the nearly three-hour set list packed in favorites from all phases of the Cute One's career - even wedging in some satisfyingly spiky selections from his recently released LP New - and never scrimped on showmanship. ( Live and Let Die remains an eye-popping high point, full of fire, fury, smoke and lasers, practically built up to the point of parody.)

Backed by his ace quartet, including the ferociously talented drummer
Abe Laboriel Jr., McCartney's voice was occasionally ragged - his upper register, in particular, was rough throughout. But the infrequent vocal harshness was the only evidence he's aged at all since last appearing in North Texas.

The 72-year-old isn't afraid to recast the familiar, dosing Paperback Writer with a furious squall of feedback, or wrapping up Let Me Roll It with a sizzling interpolation of Jimi Hendrix's Foxy Lady.

That flexibility is key to understanding how McCartney, for all the weight of expectation he bears, performs as if burdened by nothing.

It's quite remarkable, particularly given how labored or leaden some legacy acts can seem in concert.

McCartney relies on no TelePrompTer and moves easily from bass to guitar to piano to ukulele and back again, keeping up a steady patter ("Normally you don't talk about football teams, in case there's rivals in the audience, but how 'bout them Cowboys?" Sir Paul asked early on) and making an epic event feel utterly approachable.

You're in the presence of a Beatle - a living, breathing god of pop music; a molder of cultural clay - but his disarming enthusiasm and ability to let the past mingle freely with the present reminds you just how durable so many of these songs are.

They start to pile up, an endless mountain of melodies melded with our shared DNA: Eight Days a Week, All Together Now, Lovely Rita, Hey Jude, Get Back, All My Loving.

The night feels like it may never end, a catalog of greatness not treated as something precious, but something vibrant and real and happening in front of you.

And that may be McCartney's greatest gift.

As the songs are passed down from one generation to the next - parents stood alongside children Monday, just as those who were young when the
Fab Four first invaded America held each other tight - it's easy to put them behind glass, to be admired and appreciated, but not necessarily enjoyed.

The Beatles are Important Artists, and sometimes, that Important Art is only observed, instead of engaged.

Paul McCartney has no use for that.

Whether it's the familiar chords of Yesterday, ringing out from the soft white glow around him, or the serrated madness of Helter Skelter, he grabs hold of what he has made in his life, shakes loose the cobwebs of memory and thrusts it back into being.

The words fall out of our mouths, as if by reflex, and an abiding, marrow-deep love is rekindled anew.


October 13, 2014 -- PM.com

Paul Gets Back #OutThere in Brazil!

PAUL McCARTNEY IS GETTING BACK 'OUT THERE' 
MUSIC ICON TO RETURN TO BRAZIL 

Monday 10th November ­ Estádio Kléber Andrade ­ Vitória, Brazil
Sunday 23rd November ­ Estádio Nacional ­ Brasilia, Brazil
Tuesday 25th November ­ Allianz Parque ­ São Paulo, Brazil

Fans registered with PaulMcCartney.com will be eligible to purchase pre-sale tickets by signing up to the mailing list. If you are not signed up you can register by clicking HERE! 

Pre-sale times coming soon...

Keep checking PaulMcCartney.com for further announcements.
 
Paul is set to return to South America this November. In April of this year Paul performed his first concerts of 2014 in Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica. Today Paul has confirmed that he'll be taking his tour back to Brazil this November.

Paul launched his critically acclaimed 'Out There' tour in Brazil last year with historic concerts in Belo Horizonte, Goiânia and Fortaleza. Since then the tour has visited almost 40 cities across South America, Europe, North America and Japan. In August the tour made headlines around the world when Paul performed the last ever concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park, which was the same venue that The Beatles' last ever concert took place in August 1966.

Paul's first ever concert in Brazil smashed box office attendance records and gained him entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for Largest Concert Audience. Over 184,000 came to see him in Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium that night in 1990 and since then, Paul has performed in Brazil a total of 15 times. This will be Paul's first visit to Vitória and Brasilia and will be the first ever stadium concert Vitória have ever had. The São Paulo show will be in a brand new stadium opened this month.

However, this will be his first ever concert in both Vitória and Brasilia and his first time back in São Paulo since 2010.



October 12, 2014 -- Macca Report News

Paul rocks New Orleans

October 11 - New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center 

CONCERT SETLIST

1. Eight Days A Week
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving 
4. Listen To What The Man Said
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Coda
6. Paperback Writer
7. My Valentine
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
9. The Long And Winding Road
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. I've Just Seen A Face
12. We Can Work It Out
13. Another Day
14. And I Love Her
15. Blackbird
16. Here Today
17. New
18. Queenie Eye
19. Lady Madonna
20. All Together Now
21. Lovely Rita
22. Everybody Out There
23. Eleanor Rigby
24. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
25. Something
26. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
27. Band On The Run
28. Back In The U.S.S.R.
29. Let It Be
30. Live And Let Die
31. Hey Jude

ENCORE ONE
32. Day Tripper
33. Birthday
34. Get Back

ENCORE TWO
35. Yesterday
36. Helter Skelter
37. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

Macca Reporter, Ron Lavallee reports, a 14-year old girl named Mackenzie was brought on stage because of her sign which read "Hello Paul, I'm 14 and my parents said I'm too young for a tattoo, so can I have a hug?" Mackenzie got a hug.

Paul noticed something attached to the back of her sign and said, "What's that lurking behind the sign Mackenzie?" It was a "Sgt. Pepper" vinyl LP. Paul said, "Is that for me?" Mackenzie said, "No." Paul said, "Well, what would you like me to do with that? She said, "Sign it?" Brian Riddle got a Sharpie and Paul signed the album. Then Paul handed her the album and said something to her off-mike and waved his finger at her.


Elsa Buckingham (right) with her sign in New Orleans

Congrats to Elsa Buckingham for having her sign (written in French) read by Paul, "Laisses les bons temps rouler" (let the good times roll).



October 12, 2014 -- Macca Report News
by John Cherry for
The Macca Report

PAUL McCARTNEY IN CONCERT - OCTOBER 11, 2014 - THE SMOOTHIE KING CENTER - NEW ORLEANS, LA


I admit to being apprehensive before
Paul McCartney and his band took the stage around 8:30 on Saturday night in New Orleans. My concern was whether the "illness" that had caused a delay in a portion of the tour from June to October would be a factor in Paul's performance. My uneasiness disappeared in short order. Paul looked even better than when I saw him last, and his energy level was not affected in the least.

Prior to the show, I saw some of the longest lines ever to scoop up the tour novelties, shirts, etc. I did not stop for a purchase, but wondered if the lines were affected by personalizing the offerings to the venue. I think this is an effective idea.

The pre-show video shown on the two screens seemed to have a bit of new material. The DJ playing the music of The Beatles and McCartney songs performed by many others, as well as the original Beatles and solo performances, also now had a video screen on the front of his platform showing his handling of the device producing all of the sounds. The screen also showed some crowd shots.

Arriving on stage after the familiar digital version of the Hofner bass appeared on the two video screens, Paul, attired in a navy blue jacket, saluted the crowd twice before opening with "Eight Days a Week." The crowd was enthusiastic, especially those on the floor. Lead guitarist Rusty Anderson, showed his own enthusiasm in the second number, "Save Us," via his leg kicking and dancing. After the song, Paul addressed the crowd. As he would do throughout the night, Paul spoke warmly about New Orleans, and shared his knowledge of local expressions, such as "How's your Momma doing?" and "Who dat?" He also noted that the fourth song of the night, "Listen to What the Man Said" had been recorded in the city.

"Let Me Roll It" was highlighted by the solos of Paul "Wix" Wickens on the keyboards, and Paul's electric guitar solo. After the song, the instrumental "Foxy Lady" coda began, and following it, Paul saluted Jimi Hendrix. He told of Jimi playing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" on stage only two days after the official release by The Beatles, and how his hard guitar playing causing the instrument to become badly out of tune. Before starting "Paperback Writer" with the original 1962 Epiphone Casino guitar played on the recorded version in 1966, Paul noted that he hoped his guitar was not out of tune after showing some of Jimi's use of the vibrato on the instrument.

Heading next to the piano, Paul dedicated "My Valentine" to his wife, Nancy, who he said was in attendance. This was the first song for those in the floor seats to return to the chairs. Next was the always fantastic "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five," which is my favorite addition to the song list from the last few years. A McCartney standard, "The Long and Winding Road" followed, and then Paul dedicated "Maybe I'm Amazed" to his late wife Linda. The song written for Linda, was very emotional for Paul who focused on the amusing antics of Wix to distract him throughtout the song, and the crowd was standing again.

Back to the guitar went Paul for "I've Just Seen a Face," which seems to bounce in and out of the setlist. His fondness for New Orleans was again expressed, calling it a "great place," and he recalled coming to Mardi Gras and dressing as a clown. Despite the costume, he was recognized immediately.

After "We Can Work it Out," Paul took a number of bows. Before "Another Day," where Paul played his 12-string guitar, he took some extra time to gaze out over the crowd, while asking how each area of the arena was doing. After the song, he took time to comment on all the signs he could see from the stage, noting a fan from Australia and a sign in French. He spoke of how it was sometimes difficult to read the signs while also trying to sing and play, and stated that any mistakes that occurred were caused by the distraction of the signs.

After a version of "And I Love Her" that was quite similar to the original version, Paul walked to the edge of the stage to acknowledge those in the front rows. Before his stage began rising during "Blackbird," Paul told of the genesis of the song as a nod to those struggling with civil rights issues in Arkansas in the 60's. Although he started the opening chords before stopping to talk about John Lennon, "Here Today" seemed more emotional than some previous shows, as Paul saluted his band mate. Perhaps, it was because there are a number of stories that note that John seriously considered joining Paul in New Orleans in 1974-5 to write some songs. A standing ovation met both songs.

As noted in the excellent show review in the "New Orleans Times-Picayune" by Keith Spera, it is a damn shame that the next two songs, "New" and "Queenie Eye," from Paul's latest album, do not receive their proper recognition. Yes, the die-hard Macca fans love it, but it is a pity that more people did not show their appreciation. As I have noted in my published books, it is sad that the quality of today's music pales in comparison to the music of McCartney. And yet, Paul receives minimal publicity, outside of his own promotion via performances and occasional musical reviews. Nevertheless, huge kudos to Mr. Spera for noting how the significant value of the more recent McCartney releases. Much of the same thought came to me when Paul followed "Lady Madonna," "All Together Now," and "Lovely Rita," with "Everybody Out There," from the "New" album. Paul tried his best to engage the crowd in the song, but there was not significant participation in the appropriate sing along portions.

By contrast, "Eleanor Rigby" then received long applause, which Paul noted in appreciation. After telling the crowd it was receiving the first time airing in New Orleans of "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," Paul performed his best version of the song I have seen on this tour. After saying "thank you good folk of New Orleans," and "where you at darlin'?," Paul began his tribute to George Harrison on the ukulele for "Something," that progressed into the electric version. Most of the crowd was standing after the song.

Imploring the crowd to "sing along gloriously," Paul launched into "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," and followed the song with his own clapping in appreciation of the excellent participation. The crowd was then amped up by vigorous performances of "Band on The Run," and "Back in the U.S.S.R," the latter that saw Paul exchange several expressions with drummer, Abe Laboriel, Jr. With the crowd still standing, Paul returned to the piano for "Let it Be," acknowledging the numerous lights provided by the crowd.

Prior to the raucous "Live and Let Die," there was a short and deliberate instrumental opening, which seemed unusual, but appealing as well. I detected more fire than usual during the combo fire and fireworks show during the song. As usual, the crowd stood and roared at the finish. Also, as usual, the fans sang along for most of "Hey Jude," before the first encore of "Day Tripper," (Brian Ray on lead guitar), and "Birthday," which Paul noted was played due to the fact that a number of people in the crowd were having birthdays. The first few notes of "Hi, Hi, Hi" were played before Paul stopped the song, and apparently told the band that they would switch to "Get Back" to end the first encore.

The crowd was loud as Paul and Wix returned for "Yesterday," which is always a crowd singalong. After toying with tour assistant John Hammel in switching instruments, the 14-year-old girl named MacKenzie was called up on stage to receive the crowd's universal wish, a hug and an autograph. It was then back to the music, leading with Paul's "Let's rock," as the loud, rollicking "Helter Skelter" filled the air. Returning to the piano for the medley finale, Paul told the crowd it was time to go home, which was booed by a number of those in attendance. The band enthusiastically concluded the show with their guitar solos from Paul, Rusty, and Brian, and then Paul ended the night with the comforting "See you next time." As Spera wrote, it was "A Knight to Remember."

John Cherry is the author of "Better Than Lennon-The Music and Talent of Paul McCartney," and "Paul McCartney's Solo Music Career 1970-2010." Visit betterthanlennon.com for more information.



October 12, 2014 -- The Times-Picayune

Paul McCartney's career-spanning New Orleans concert celebrated the old and the 'New'

Five songs into Paul McCartney's marathon at New Orleans' Smoothie King Center on Saturday (Oct. 11), he hauled out an invaluable rock 'n' roll relic: The guitar he used on The Beatles' recording of "Paperback Writer." It was not encased in protective glass, or handled with white gloves. Instead, McCartney used it for its intended purpose: He played it. By the song's conclusion, he had it up against an amplifier, howling with feedback.

For three hours, he treated his songs ­ a staggering 39 of them, spanning his entire 50-year career ­ just like that guitar: Not as sacrosanct museum pieces, but as rock 'n' roll raw material meant to be manipulated and played, preferably by a band as lean and virile as his.

If anyone could rest on his laurels, it is Paul McCartney. He co-authored arguably the greatest catalog of late-20th century popular music. He is fabulously wealthy, yet consistently gracious and engaged. He has dealt with personal and professional trauma, yet maintained his dignity in public. And he is 72 years old.

Yet
Sir Paul refuses to rest, on his laurels or elsewhere. He continues to globetrot, presiding over epics that might give that other rock 'n' roll marathoner, Bruce Springsteen, pause. (In addition to Saturday's three-hour concert, McCartney also banged out an hour-long sound check that afternoon, which reportedly featured "Ram," "Jet" and other songs he didn't include in the "official" concert.)

He obviously still delights in making music and making an audience happy. "You want some more?" he asked Saturday, already 33 songs deep into the show. "OK, me too." He meant it.

Perhaps most tellingly, he is determined to intermingle the old with the "New," his aptly titled and well-received 2013 album. After leading his band onto the sleek but not ostentatious stage at 8:30 p.m. with smiles, waves, and upraised thumbs, he launched "Eight Days a Week," the urgent "New" cut "Save Us," and "All My Loving'." Later, "Lovely Rita" and "Eleanor Rigby" bookended the "New" song "Everybody Out There." The message was clear: He considers his new music worthy of standing alongside his classics. (The Beatles-esque "New" title track, at least, certainly is; "Queenie Eye," a song inspired by a childhood game, maybe not as much.)

After more than a decade together, he, lead guitarist
Rusty Anderson, drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr., guitarist/bassist Brian Ray and keyboardist Paul "Wix" Wickens are as much of a band as a band of equals-except-one can be. They are a finely honed unit not afraid to get their hands dirty, as in the "Foxy Lady" coda tacked onto the raucous Wings track "Let Me Roll It," a mass of sleazy guitars and slinky organ fills.

All four bandmates dressed up arrangements with details. They stacked sunburst harmonies in "Paperback Writer." Laboriel, in addition to continuously tumbling over his drums with loose-limbed strikes, slipped the "a-hah-hah" laugh into the background of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Wickens inserted a kazoo into "Lovely Rita" and draped accordion over "We Can Work It Out." Anderson's many highlights ranged from his flamenco-tinged solo in "My Valentine," to his letter-perfect "Maybe I'm Amazed" electric solo, to his extra flourishes in a full-bore "Back in the U.S.S.R."

McCartney, meanwhile, alternated his trademark Hofner bass, electric guitars, six- and 12-string acoustic guitars, ukulele, electric piano and grand piano. His voice has lost very little of its range or dexterity. He nailed the scalded lines in "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Helter Skelter" as well as the falsetto in "Blackbird" and the delicate "And I Love Her."

He dug up deeper cuts, such as the country-tinted "I've Just Seen a Face," released on the British edition of "Help!" but the American edition of "Rubber Soul"; "All Together Now," from the "Yellow Submarine" soundtrack; "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!," one of the less-familiar titles on "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"; his early solo single "Another Day"; and "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five," from Wings' "Band on the Run."

He saluted the women in his life. He dedicated "My Valentine," from his 2012 album "Kisses on the Bottom," to current wife
Nancy Shevell, who was in attendance. He acknowledged writing "Maybe I'm Amazed" for his late first wife, Linda. (Not surprisingly, ex-wife Heather Mills didn't merit a mention, much less a song.)

Personable and chatty, he filled the moments between songs with stories and crowd interaction. Shedding his jacket, he announced, would be "the one and only wardrobe change of the whole evening." He asked how many people in the audience had tried to decipher "Blackbird" on guitar.

Big cheer.

"How cool does that make me feel?" And then: "You all got it wrong."

He summoned a 14-year-old fan to the stage whose banner proclaimed that her father believed she was too young for a tattoo, but she'd love to have a hug from McCartney. He both agreed with her father and gave her a hug, along with an autograph on the copy of "Sgt. Pepper's" she happened to have with her.

Given his history, resume and the opportunities it has afforded him, he's got some great stories. Like the time he went to see Jimi Hendrix in London two days after "Sgt. Pepper's" came out, and was flattered that Hendrix had already learned to play it (but had to ask Eric Clapton to come out of the audience and retune his guitar). Or the time he played Moscow's Red Square ("the Ruskies were rockin' ") and met the head of the Russian defense ministry ­ "a really good job, you know?" ­ who said the first record he ever bought was "Love Me Do."

He clearly knew where he was. He noted that "Listen to What the Man Says" was recorded in New Orleans at Allen Toussaint's SeaSaint studio for the 1975 Wings album "Venus and Mars." He recalled costuming for that year's Mardi Gras as a clown that wasn't as incognito as he'd hoped. He threw out admirably enunciated local catchphrases ("How's ya mama and dem?" "Where y'at, darlin'?" "Who Dat!"). The city's music gets all the attention, he said, "but the people in New Orleans are very special."

He rendered the first half of
George Harrison's "Something" alone on ukulele, just as he'd once done at Harrison's house; black-and-white images of the pair, with varying degrees of facial hair, flashed on video screens. The full band fell in just in time for Anderson to replicate Harrison's electric guitar solo. A joyous "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and a brash "Band on the Run" followed, in one of the show's strongest segments.

As impressive as was the bombast ­ the literal and musical pyrotechnics of "Live and Let Die," the brazen guitars and howls of "Helter Skelter" -- the quiet moments underscored the real power of McCartney and his music. He wrote "Blackbird" at the height of Civil Rights era's unrest, as a sort of balm. Alone on an elevated platform, he finger-picked an acoustic guitar, holding the arena rapt. "Here Today," an imagined conversation with
John Lennon recorded barely two years after his death, was presented the same way, with similarly emotional results.

"Let It Be" ended up almost too intense; a lovely, more restrained "Yesterday" featured only McCartney's acoustic guitar and Wickens' synthesized strings. For "Carry That Weight," near the close, McCartney, Anderson and Ray stood side-by-side, trading guitar licks, looking and sounding like a very good band with a very special frontman.

McCartney's long and winding road won't go on forever. But he's determined to travel as long and as far as possible, while still hauling around his enormous legacy. On Saturday, he carried that weight well.


October 9, 2014 -- PaulMcCartney Twitter

#Throwback Thursday Photo

Can you name the video? Photo by Linda McCartney



October 9, 2014 -- PM.com

Go Behind 'Venus and Mars' and 'At The Speed Of Sound'

Did you know that Linda wrote 'Cook of the House' for At The Speed Of Sound while in Australia? The song is, in-part, based around a plaque she and Paul bought whilst in Niagara Falls which hung in their kitchen and read, "No matter where I serve my guests. They seem to like the kitchen best."

'Cook of the House' was recorded with an intentional rockabiliy feel. Paul is quoted in the Deluxe Edition saying the fifties "was when her music taste buds awoke" and the track is an homage to that period.

Linda's 'Cook of the House' also features the strangest instrument to appear on the album; a frying pan!

You can hear Linda frying a pan of oil during the intro to 'Cook of the House'. At the end of the song you can hear chips (fries) being dropped into the hot fat.

In celebration of the forthcoming
Wings reissues, Venus and Mars and At The Speed Of Sound, we have created a new interactive microsite telling the story of Wings; its members, their influences and of course ­ the music!

Explore the band
 
You'll discover that Paul played Bill Black's bass on 'Cook of the House' (Black had used the same instrument on Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel'). Find out more info on the band members by clicking each member's photo.
 
Albums/Tracks
Scroll down the album's tracklistings for information, facts and lyrics. You'll find Venus and Mars on the left and At The Speed Of Sound on the right, click on the track title to hear the song or check out the music player at the bottom of the screen.
 
Photos
 
Scroll through promotional and candid photos from the album's original releases.
 
Videos
  
Watch the new lyric video for 'Call Me Back Again', created by artist Thomas Hicks and featuring hand-painted frames throughout. You can also look inside the forthcoming deluxe packages by clicking to play the unboxing videos. 

Check out the Wings microsite by clicking HERE!

VENUS AND MARS / AT THE SPEED OF SOUND
OUT- 3RD NOVEMBER (UK)
NOVEMBER 4TH (US)

Pre-order 'Venus and Mars' from Amazon HERE!
Pre-order 'Venus and Mars' from iTunes HERE!
 
Pre-order 'At The Speed Of Sound' from Amazon HERE!
Pre-order 'At The Speed Of Sound' from iTunes HERE!

 



October 9, 2014 -- PM.com

Paul Gives A Big Thumbs Up To Liverpool's 'Bombed Out Church'

Following the success of the Bombed Out Church's Crowdfunder campaign the group have raised over £20,000 ($32,252) towards the continued opening of this iconic city venue on Leece Street, Liverpool. Dance music promoters Club Freeze were so impressed with the venue after their recent event there that they contacted Paul to let him know what is going on in his home town. This was his response:

PAUL:"St Luke's Church - better known as 'The Bombed-Out Church' to the people of Liverpool - is a place that encourages people to express themselves. The people of Liverpool should do everything possible to keep this venue open for the use of the people and run by the people. It is a place that is regularly staffed by students from LIPA and every-day people of all ages, religions and backgrounds. It would be a terrible shame if we lost this cultural icon."

Paul joins Yoko Ono in praising the work being done over the last 7 years at St Luke's. Ambrose Reynolds, the Curator of St Luke's, says: 

"It means the world for us to have the support of this international legend. The tremendous support we have received from the public means that we can continue to open the city centre ruined church for music, theatre, art exhibitions and outdoor movie screenings."

If you would like to follow Paul's example, visit Saint Luke's Wednesdays to Sunday 12- 6pm.

Telephone 0771 432 8415 for more information www.BombedOutChurch.com


MORE...
Ultimate Classic Rock.com

Paul McCartney Joins Fight to Save Hometown Arts Venue

Paul McCartney wants to save a hometown arts venue that was once reduced to a roofless shell during the blitz of Liverpool in 1941.

Called the Bombed-Out Church, St. Luke's later became a space for local exhibits and events, as well as a memorial to those lost in World War II. But budget issues have forced the town council to list the venue for sale, in the hopes of saving upkeep costs.

McCartney would like to see St. Luke's remain a publicly funded arts facility. "The people of Liverpool should do everything possible to keep this venue open for the use of the people and run by the people," he writes on his official website. "It is a place that is regularly staffed by students from LIPA [Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which was co-founded by McCartney] and everyday people of all ages, religions and backgrounds. It would be a terrible shame if we lost this cultural icon."

Representatives from the St. Luke's have already raised more than $30,000. But the bill for exterior repairs is said to soar past half a million dollars, with the mayor agreeing only to put up a fraction of that cost.

As such, curator Ambrose Reynolds said it "means the world for us to have the support of this international legend. The tremendous support we have received from the public means that we can continue to open the church for music, theater, art exhibitions and outdoor movie screenings."

Yoko Ono, widow of McCartney's former bandmate John Lennon, has also called for officials to keep the venue in public hands.


October 4, 2014 -- Macca Report News

October 2 - Lubbock, TX - United Supermarkets Arena


LUBBOCK SOUND CHECK - PHOTO:
Susan Rains-Lowery for The Macca Report

CONCERT SETLIST (
Youtube)

1. Eight Days A Week
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving
4. Listen To What The Man Said
5. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady Coda
6. Paperback Writer
7. My Valentine
8. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
9. The Long And Winding Road
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. I've Just Seen A Face
12. It's So Easy
13. We Can Work It Out

14. Another Day
15. And I Love Her
16. Blackbird
17. Here Today
18. New
19. Queenie Eye
20. Lady Madonna
21. All Together Now
22. Lovely Rita
23. Everybody Out There
24. Eleanor Rigby
25. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
26. Something
27. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
28. Band On The Run
29. Back In The U.S.S.R.
30. Let It Be
31. Live And Let Die
32. Hey Jude

ENCORE ONE
33. Day Tripper
34. Hi, Hi, Hi
35. Get Back

ENCORE TWO
36. Yesterday
37. Helter Skelter
38. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End


PHOTO:
Susan Rains-Lowery for The Macca Report


VIDEOS

How the Beatles got their name and Buddy Holly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFAkJzgQxXw

Buddy and John's horn rimmed glasses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbiiCbPq_Sw

Waving Flags
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNtmgG-6aLw

PAUL'S LATE ARRIVAL IN LUBBOCK


CLICK TO WATCH
Paul's plane didn't land in Lubbock until 6:15pm because of bad weather in San Antonio. The plane was temporarily grounded until the bad weather cleared out.

Local TV station KCBD got the first interview with Paul.

During the drive by interview, Paul described his visit to Lubbock as a "lifelong dream" to visit the "birthplace of my hero."

He said Buddy Holly meant "A lot," and that he was "a big, big influence on the beginning of The Beatles."

The interview had to be cut short, because Paul was so late for his show.

Paul did do a sound check before the concert.

THE CONCERT

The concert started 50 minutes later at 8:50pm because of Paul's late arrival. It was speculated that Paul would shorten the setlist, but Paul did a full concert set with the addition of Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy." He talked several times during the night about Buddy's influence on The Beatles.

Paul called up two women to sign tattoos on their arms.



October 4, 2014 -- KCBD.com

McCartney fan has signature tattooed on her arm

When Beth Ferrara from Los Angeles and her best friend Brittany Chipman from Dallas got tickets to the Paul McCartney concert in Lubbock, they had a plan.

They formed it by listening to a joke McCartney makes at many of his concerts about the fans' posters.

"He says, 'I'm not going to sign your butt,'" Chipman said, "but no one's poster says 'Sign my butt.'"

Out came the poster boards and markers, where Chipman wrote "Sign my butt! (just kidding) Sign my friend!" with an arrow on her poster pointing to Ferrara's sign, which read "I'm the friend! Please Paul, sign me for my only tattoo!"

These posters would be the only ingredients needed for the onstage moment of a lifetime.

"He thought it was pretty funny," Ferrara said, "and he ended up bringing us onstage and doing what we asked for, which was not to actually sign her butt, but to sign me for a tattoo. She got signed as well."

Ferrara has loved McCartney since she was a young girl, and said it was a dream come true to finally meet him.

Chipman said Ferrara got emotional when two security guards told them to join McCartney onstage.

"She started crying," Chipman said, "and I told her to calm down."

McCartney signed both of their arms, but only Brittany's will wash off.

"The memory of being on stage." she said. "You just can't top it, so I'm okay with not having it permanent."

Beth went to Inkfluence, a tattoo shop in Lubbock, to make sure hers will stay forever.

"I can't believe I'm here," Beth said inside Inkfluence. "Everything just came together."

McCartney's signature will be Beth's first and last tattoo, she said.

"I mean, it hurts," she said. "It doesn't feel good."

Even though Chipman just wanted Ferrara in the spotlight, Beth is glad she had her best friend with her every step of the way.

"I'm the happiest girl on the planet right now," Ferrara said as the artist finished her tattoo.



October 2, 2014 -- Macca Report News

from DebG, Macca Reporter

Paul rocks the Tobin Center

Reportedly, there was no public invited to the sound check in San Antonio.

October 1 - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts - San Antonio,TX

CONCERT SETLIST (Youtube)

1. Eight Days A Week
2. Save Us
3. All My Loving
4. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady
5. My Valentine
6. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
7. The Long And Winding Road
8. Maybe I'm Amazed
9. I've Just Seen A Face
10. We Can Work It Out
11. Another Day
12. And I Love Her
13. Blackbird
14. New
15. Lady Madonna
16. All Together Now
17. Eleanor Rigby
18. Something
19. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
20. Band On The Run
21. Back In The USSR
22. Let It Be
23. Live and Let Die
24. Hey Jude

Encore One
25. Day Tripper
26. Get Back

Encore Two
27. Yesterday
28. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/ The End

The concert was shortened and lasted about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Many songs were cut for this show including "Queenie Eye", "Everybody Out There", "Lovely Rita", "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!", "Listen To What The Man Said", "Paperback Writer", "Helter Skelter", "Hi Hi Hi" and "Here Today". No new songs were added to the setlist.

For "Live And Let Die" the fireworks were not as intense as at the larger venues. For Tobin it was mostly 'flames' behind Paul's piano. And there was no platform for "Blackbird."

The crowd for the most part was OK except for several up in front who sat in their seats most of the night. they finally gave in towards the end of the concert. Also there were rude people talking rather loudly during a few songs, ruining the listening experience for many.

Paul was in good spirits and worked to win those people over.

He looked around at the venue and said, "In a theater like this, I feel like I should be doing Shakespeare or something.." The crowd egged him on and he recited Hamlet's, "O that this too solid flesh would melt... "(fans might remember that from "A Hard Day's Night" without "ZAPP!")



CHECK THIS OUT:
Alan Weinkrantz's review of Paul's concert at the Tobin Center LINK

October 2, 2014 -- San Antonio Express

McCartney magical at Tobin

 

Two songs into his momentous concert Wednesday at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Paul McCartney looked out into an audience of 1,754 - the largest crowd in the young venue's life - and asked for a "a little moment to drink this in all for myself."

A teenager in the front row who had just met the ex-Beatle backstage needed a moment to drink it in, too.

"He looked like Paul McCartney," Sam Turner, 16, son of Richard Turner, the longtime host of "The Best of the Beatles" on KSYM 90.1 and one of the sponsors of the concert, said about his backstage moment with a legend. "He also looked a little like my granddad."

That same granddad had that stunned teenager, his dad, and everyone else inside the Tobin Center rockin' out and on their feet many, many times.

But McCartney's concert, an intimate one by his usual arena standards, was just as memorable for its moments when one could hear a pin drop.

And that happened during some pretty cool and touching unplugged moments like "I've Just Seen a Face" (a pivotal song for the Beatles in 1965, one that charted a direction away from the mop-top image), and during "Blackbird," which completely hushed the audience - including McCartney's wife, Nancy.

He gave shout-outs to George Harrison (singing "Something" while playing ukulele) and to John Lennon.

McCartney, backed by his energetic four-man band, also delivered the first-ever fireballs to the Tobin Center, unleashing "Wizard of Oz" and Kiss-worthy pyrotechnics during "Live and Let Die."

The explosions were deafening, as were the screams for them. This audience members were into it - as well they should be. It was a rare moment to see the superstar in such close confines on his "Out There" tour - or on any other.

The majority of fans had dished out from $250 to $3,500 for tickets. Tickets also had been priced at $1,000, $1,250, $1,750 and $2,500 for this concert to benefit the Tobin.

It's yet to be seen how much the Tobin will benefit. But maybe that wasn't completely the point.

McCartney, who was in excellent voice, sang 28 songs, plus the ending medley from "Abbey Road."

He praised the Tobin Center: "In a theater like this, I feel I should be doing Shakespeare."

"We made a lot of people happy," said Richard Turner, who could barely speak after meeting his hero.

"I would never have paid this much for a ticket, except for Paul McCartney. Paul McCartney changed my life," said Tom Frost III, Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation board member who paid $2,500 for his ticket. "This was a risk. But only the Tobin could have pulled this off."

Before the concert, Shelley Chadwick, 19, explained why she loves Paul.

"He's a Beatle, that's like my favorite band," she said. "He's my favorite Beatle, of course. He was the hottest."

Jonah Durdan, 20, echoed his friend's sentiment.

"The music is better then modern music," he said. "It's the peace part, the love and the spirit is so free."

Guitarist Steve Owens, co-founder of the Mo-Dels and glam pioneers Bees Make Honey summed up McCartney's lasting appeal.

"He sings like a bird," Owens said. "He's the most natural singer I've ever seen in my life."

Another fan had this to say: "That was the best money I've ever spent." Of course, that was after she said, "Wow!"



October 2, 2014 -- hollywoodreporter.com

Tobin Center concert


Given that
Sir Paul McCartney regularly sells out arenas that seat 50,000 people, it was anyone's guess what his production -­ usually filled out by giant graphics screens, pyrotechnics and plenty of moving parts -­ would look like in San Antonio's 1,750-capacity H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, where he played a gig to benefit the newly renovated venue Wednesday night.

Amazingly, it was nearly the same setup but on a smaller scale. For those familiar with his recent Out There tour, which has been moving full-steam ahead since just before McCartney released sixteenth studio album New in late 2013, the only things really missing were side-stage jumbotrons, the rising platform during his tear-jerking solo acoustic run of "Blackbird" and about a dozen tunes, which cut his set down from the typical 40 to 28 and shortened it by nearly an hour. They even managed to light off enormous plumes of pyro during
Wings mainstay "Live and Let Die" without torching the ceiling (though not without making more than a handful fans nearly leap out of their seats in fright).

While audience members, who paid anywhere from $200 to $3500 for tickets, were loath to stand up and participate in any way for the bulk of the night, the massive impact of those elements -­ combined with the 72-year-old
Beatle's still unyielding on-stage charisma -­ finally took effect around song 20, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," which injected enough adrenaline via massive handclaps and sing-alongs to keep the people on their feet for the remainder of the night.

Macca, however, was feeling the momentousness of a show in such an intimate space much earlier on. "In a theater like this, I feel like I should be doing Shakespeare or something," he said after a magnificently executed take of the Beatles "And I Love Her." He then did just that, spouting a few lines of Hamlet's "O that this too solid flesh would melt " soliloquy before wild cheers drowned him out.

Earlier, during "My Valentine," he likewise underscored the exquisite charm of the small space by dedicating the song to his wife
Nancy Shevell, present this evening, by pointing to her and making a heart with his hands, a gesture she could surely see with the naked eye.

Still, the tiny auditorium had its disadvantages. Errantly rude chatter spilling over from the balcony interrupted the otherwise splendid beauty of "The Long And Winding Road," and similarly marred "I've Just Seen a Face," and close-quarter acoustics made it more obvious when McCartney struggled with a few higher notes on "Let Me Roll It," "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Blackbird."

Yet, during the latter tune and a ukulele version of "Something" dedicated to
George Harrison -­ despite the odorous irreverence of a few bozos who decided to light up indoors -­ utter, humbled silence once again drove home the magic and rarity of watching this living legend perform at a locale smaller than some of the Beatles first U.S. gigs.

Yes, it had the same ending as any McCartney concert -­ the final hat-trick of Abbey Road, "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight" and "The End." Yet, to this day, that roughly 5-minute '69 medley -­ with its final, cathartic line, "And in the end / the love you take /is equal to the love you make" -­ is still one of the most galvanizing pieces of poetry in rock 'n' roll history. That, of course, was sung in fervent unison, and when just under 2,000 voices resound more deafeningly than the typical 50,0000 you know you're witnessing a show for the ages.

October 2, 2014 -- Paul McCartney Twitter

#Throwback Thursday Photo

Wings en route to rehearsals at Elstree Studios... More Wings HERE



October 1, 2014 -- Showbiz411

Barbara Walters 85th Birthday: Paul McCartney Sang While Her Guests Did the Twist


Barbara Walters threw herself quite an 85th birthday party at the newly refurbished Rainbow Room over the weekend fit for a queen. The star of the party, according to sources, was
Paul McCartney, who came with wife Nancy, Barbara's second cousin. The M's were seated at Walters' table along with venerated columnists Liz Smith and Cindy Adams, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg and gf Diana Taylor, and Henry and Nancy Kissinger. Yes, Barbara's friendship with Kissinger from the 1970s persists to this day.

The hostesses for the party were Princess Firya of Jordan, Annette de la Renta (wife of Oscar), Marie Josee Kravis (wife of Henry), and Nicole Seligman (wife of former NY Schools Chancellor Joel Klein).

Guests included not only the Russian ambassador but the Israeli one too, as well as Frank Langella, Charlie Rose, Gayle King, David Geffen, Peggy Siegal, Mort and Linda Janklow, former ABC News chief David Westin and wife Sherry, super lawyer David Boies, Patricia Duff and Richard Cohen, and Allen and Debbie Grubman.

Not spotted: anyone from "The View" or Diane Sawyer or anyone from the current regime at ABC. (Or Richard Nixon, who was out of town.)

The big show stopper: the band­ there was a band, 'natch, it's the Rainbow Room­ played McCartney's "I Saw Her Standing There." The ex Beatle scooped Walters up onto the dance floor, took the mic from the bandleader, and sang his famous song to her! "Barbara was shaking she was so excited," says a source. "One hundred fifty 6o to 80 years old got up and started Twisting and shrieking. Paul woke up his fan base."

Barbara shares birthday - September 25th­ with Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, who've celebrated with her in the past but couldn't make it. Their other 9/25 pal was the late Christopher Reeve.


October 1, 2014 -- Lubbock Avalanche - Journal

Boren spends five years trying to book Paul McCartney - makes sure city, local business, tech write to McCartney

Gary Boren, having served District 3 as a Lubbock city councilman from 2002-07, knew what his next venture would be.

He wanted to chase
Paul McCartney.

His mother had begun G. Boren Services in 1960, and he continued to help run it, serving as vice president of a company that had grown by providing most of Lubbock's major occasions - everything from concerts to revivals - with personnel staffing, event staffing and licensed security.

That might be enough to satisfy most men, but Boren wanted to expand the company's music production division.

He called their music production company Llano Estacado Music.

And even as Llano Estacado Music began promoting concerts in Lubbock featuring ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pat Green, Willie Nelson and Alan Jackson, there was one musician he most wanted to see on a Lubbock stage.

That was McCartney, the former
Beatle who had been inspired by the late singer-songwriter and Lubbock native Buddy Holly.

Booking McCartney, Boren said over his mostly ignored lunch at a local restaurant, would provide a completed circle for the musician, allowing McCartney to return to the roots of his idol (Holly).

Boren knew it would not be easy.

Major markets across the globe already had opened their arms to McCartney; he could literally choose wherever he wanted to perform on any night.

Even teaming up early with internationally respected producer Barbara Hubbard, who already had lured George Strait and many other huge recording acts - including McCartney on April 20, 1993 - to a stage in the comparatively small market of Las Cruces, N.M., Boren knew he would need the support of his entire city if he were to stand a chance to book McCartney.

Starting in late 2009 and working hard until 2013, he came very, very close.

Told he would be gambling with millions of dollars, Boren said Lubbock had been settled by gamblers, specifically every cotton farmer, each one banking on unpredictable weather for their crop.

Boren depended on Hubbard for sources, finding out who to call.

Hubbard, now a spry 87, remains the president of ACTS, or American Collegiate Talent Showcase.

Each musician knows she invests every dime she earns into scholarships for students wanting to work in the music business.

In fact, it was Bob Hope long ago who dubbed her "Mother Hubbard."

Yet Hubbard alone could not make McCartney's representatives excited about Boren or Lubbock.

So Boren took a giant step toward respectability on Aug. 8, 2009.

Before that date, Texas Tech athletic department officials listened to another concert promoter make a pitch to use Jones AT&T Stadium for a concert. Yet for the first time in 30 years, they were impressed with his research and said, "Yes."

In 1980, an ill-planned Jones Stadium concert by Willie Nelson and The Maines Brothers Band had flopped.

But before Aug. 8, 2009, Boren had scaled the field before meeting with Tech's athletic officials. He bought insurance, guaranteeing protection of the field.

He also covered the entire part of the field being used, set up his stage facing the west stands, and made sure there were two expensive backup generators on hand just in case the first one failed.

Beer was sold inside the stadium. In fact, a Lubbock law official taking the stage with a beer in hand to personally praise the entertainers was a surreal site.

It is traditionally extremely hot in August on the South Plains, and college students had not returned from their own summer breaks.

But a three-pack of Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan attracted 14,000 appreciative music lovers anyway.

The show encountered no problems and no breakdowns. Those in the music business, from London to New York and Los Angeles, all noticed. In fact, all showed more respect afterward to concert promoter Boren.

Indeed, when he began promoting concerts, he had to produce the money to pay each act up front, which, said Boren, "was never easy." After the Jones Stadium concert, he was treated, and trusted, like other experienced promoters.

Now was the time to start writing to McCartney's people again.

In early 2011, Boren joined Hubbard on a trip to Nashville to attend a meeting for music executives. Thinking back, Boren said, "I had nothing to lose. I thought, why not pitch Lubbock in person? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Barbara showed me who to talk to, and I asked what would it take to get Paul to Lubbock?"

What he was told was that he would have to show proof of support (for the concert) by the Lubbock community.

Boren said, "I know, that sounds easy. But it's not."

Over the next year, he found out that Lubbock's ticketing agency, Select-A-Seat, is considered a prize. Boren said, "It has great credibility and, considering the way they handle the money at each show, many people at the top prefer them to Ticketmaster. I know I do."

It was about that time that Hubbard was able to introduce Boren to Dennis J. D'Amico, a member of her ACTS board of directors who also serves as executive chairman of MPL (McCartney Productions Limited).

He made it clear that what Boren had to show next was "financial credibility."

Meanwhile, Boren needed some encouragement. He finds it relatively easy to find in Lubbock, but he never expected Graham Nash to bring his photography show to the Buddy Holly Center on July 10, 2011 - and then wind up singing Crosby, Stills & Nash songs with Lubbock musician Mike Pritchard at a local nightclub.

"That was so exciting," said Boren.

Mayor Tom Martin and City Councilman Paul Beane were very quick to write personal letters to McCartney, promising a huge turnout. City Manager Lee Ann Dumbauld, according to Boren, "worked with Mayor Martin and Councilman Beane, getting the city ready to provide infrastructure and have the city ready to join in on prep work."

"Then Eddie McBride caught me by surprise, promising support from local businesses if I booked Paul McCartney."

Boren added. "In fact, he also wrote a personal letter, which I turned in with the others."

Throughout the year, Boren met a number of other concert promoters. He said, "I saw that some were making payments under the table. But I never was tempted; I decided to stick with the direct approach."

When he talked with banking officials, he found not one, but two, Lubbock banks willing to offer him whatever line of credit he would need to book McCartney.

"We're talking a million dollars," said Boren, who mentioned that a third bank was waiting in the wings in case it was needed.

By this time, the Lubbock rumor mill was working overtime. Boren heard he was over his head; others said the McCartney show already had been confirmed. Neither conclusion was true.

Boren simply stated, "And the 12th commandment states: There is no such thing as a secret in Lubbock."

(Asked for the 11th commandment, he quickly noted: When walking through the feedlots of life, don't step in it on purpose.")

From 2011 to 2012, Boren was uncertain where McCartney might perform in Lubbock. Boren already had scaled Jones AT&T Stadium, sending pictures of the stadium full of 60,000 fans.

"I pointed out that was without the covering allowing chairs on the field," said Boren.

Then-head football coach Tommy Tubberville agreed to move practices to another location on campus if McCartney opted to play at Jones AT&T Stadium. In fact, when Boren planned a stadium show with Bob Dylan earlier, Tech football coach Mike Leach also promised to make the field available for the concert.

Then Athletic Director Gerald Myers wrote a letter to McCartney, inviting him to Lubbock.

Boren said, "I was so pleased when Chancellor (Kent) Hance also took time out to write a personal letter, inviting McCartney and pledging the support of the university. And, wow, even the Avalanche-Journal wrote an editorial inviting Paul McCartney to perform in Lubbock.

"I had been sending McCartney's office copies of every concert review in the A-J, copies of the newspaper's coverage of every event at the Buddy Holly Center, every mention in print of McCartney," Boren said.

"It took every single person I met with in Lubbock helping out for me to get so close. But the letter that Hance wrote, and the newspaper's editorial, both also carried a lot of weight."

Boren thought a stadium show would work best, but he also began to scale the United Supermarkets Arena, coming up with ways that even more people could see the show.

Then, in the spring of 2013, after a visit to Las Cruces to visit Hubbard, Boren received another message from MPL.

It was as close to a Dear John letter as he'd ever read.

"They told me, 'The concert is not going to happen,' " said Boren. "I was crushed.

"I think it was the first time in my life that I had tried so hard, and for so long, to make something happen. And I lost. I got my hopes up way too high. They told me that they were worried whether there were enough people in the region. That was even after I showed them the population base that would be drawn to the show.

"And if they wanted to play at the arena, I had showed them how many people already had been squeezed in for George Strait's farewell concert. But I heard the same phrase: 'It's not gonna happen.' I felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck.

"I'd done everything I knew how to do. This is when you just pray for divine intervention. It was like that Beach Boys song 'God Only Knows.' But no answers came.

"I'd done all I could. So I dropped it."

Not even a year later, it was announced that McCartney was headed to Lubbock in mid-June. (His illness saw the concert moved to Oct. 2.) This time, the concert was being promoted by three entities: TMG (The Messina Group), of Austin; Marshall Arts, of London; and yes, Barbara Hubbard's ACTS (American Collegiate Talent Showcase), of Las Cruces, N.M.

One would be foolish, however, to conclude that McCartney would be performing anywhere in Lubbock without years of effort put in by Boren.

All Boren says, however, is, "Believe me, it took work by a lot of people to pull this off, to bring Paul to Lubbock. I am just happy that Paul is coming."

Paul in Lubbock
Attraction: Paul McCartney
When: 8 p.m. Thursday October 2nd
Where: United Supermarkets Arena, 1701 Indiana Ave.
Paul's band: Rusty Anderson, lead guitar; Abe Laboriel Jr., drums; Brian Ray, bass and guitar; and Paul "Wix" Wickens, keyboards
Tickets: Sold out. Possible scattered singles.
Information: 770-2000 or toll free (800) 735-1288





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