To see a Beatle

To see one of the Beatles play live is a dream come true, but that he was still so incredibly good, was even better!

I was expecting British punctuality, but he made us wait: a whole hour and a half! Sir Paul did compensate by giving us almost 3 hours of great music and entertainment. He seemed very down to earth and easy to relate to, as if he didn't have a 40 year long music career filled with money, fame and unprecedented success. He reminded the audience that the first concert The Beatles gave in the United States was in Washington DC. That day, the girls were screaming so loudly that they could not hear themselves play at the Washington Colosseum. Of course that comment got nothing short of an avalanche of screams for him, yet again.


McCartney masterfully combined songs from The Beatles catalog, songs from Wings, and his more recent solo career including his latest CD under the "Fireman" pseudonym. He gave us a wonderful rendition of George's Something played in a ukelele the late singer gave him as a present, and also a song he wrote for Lenon when he died, Here Today. That was the most sentimental moment in the night.

Unexpectedly, we even got some pyrotecnics when he played Live and Let Die. And got got not one, but two encores! Finally sending us home after saying goodbye the Sargent Pepper's way.


I had to pinch myself several times during the evening and til now, I can't stop smiling. This has been without a doubt the best concert of this summer and very possible the best one I've ever seen.

Here is the full Set List from the August1, 2009 concert in Washington DC

1.Drive My Car
2.Jet
3.Only Mama Knows
4.Flaming Pie
5.Got To Get You Into My Life
6.Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
7.Highway
8.The Long and Winding Road
9.My Love
10.Blackbird
11.Michelle
12.Here Today
13.Dance Tonight
14.Calico Skies
15.Mrs Vanderbilt
16.Eleanor Rigby
17.Sing the Changes
18.Band on the Run
19.Back in the U.S.S.R.
20.I'm Down
21.Something
22.I Got A Feeling
23.Paperback Writer
24.A Day In The Life
25.Give Peace A Chance
26.Let It Be
27.Live and Let Die
28.Hey Jude

Encore:

29.Day Tripper
30.Lady Madonna
31.I Saw Her Standing There

Encore 2:

32.Yesterday
33.Helter Skelter
34.Get Back
35.Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
36.The End Play Video

I found some good videos online:

Drive My Car ~ video
Let it be ~video
Hey Jude ~video
Elenor Rigby ~video
Get Back ~video
Band on the Run ~ video
Back in the USSR ~videoDay Tripper ~ video
Blackbird ~video
Live and Let Die ~ video

Original Beatles concert in Washington DC 1964 footage