Given the current state of the Mets, I think it is safe to say there hasn’t been much to cheer for at Citi Field so far this summer. This weekend that all changed when Sir Paul McCartney returned to the Big Apple and delivered the best performance you’re likely to see this year at the Mets new home.
The show I attended was the Saturday show, so for those keeping score at home; that would be the 2nd concert ever in the new stadium (the first being Paul’s show the night before). After an entertaining but mostly forgettable performance by the opening act, McCartney hit the stage at about 8:50 and didn’t quit rocking until after 11.
Rocking Out
Paul led off his set with the Beatles’ classic, “Drive My Car” before going into some older solo material. Other early highlights included “Got to Get You Into My Life” and a Jimi Hendrix-inspired jam to close the “Band on the Run” track, “Let Me Roll It”.
McCartney paid musical tribute to some of his lost loved ones throughout the course of the night which contained some extremely touching moments. First, he dedicated the Wings song “My Love” to his wife Linda, as well as any other “lovers” in attendance. He followed that song with a beautiful rendition of “Blackbird” before dedicating a truly touching moment to former bandmate, John Lennon. Sir Paul commented (and we, the crowd noticed) that he got a little bit choked up while performing the song “Here Today” and you could almost feel the crowd getting choked up with him. Later on in the set, McCartney continued his tradition of dedicating his performance of George Harrison’s “Something” to his late friend, which he played on a ukelele given to him by the man himself. It was very nice, and fitting, to see McCartney pay tribute to his two late friends who shared the stage with him at Citi’s predecessor Shea Stadium so many years ago.
Sir Paul with his vintage Hofner Bass Guitar
McCartney played all of his songs with so much youthful energy that you would think this was a rock and roll performer in the middle of his prime. However, the 67 year old singer continues to defy the odds and put on performances that would put many acts half his age to shame. Songs like “Paperback Writer”, “I’m Down” and “Live and Let Die” (which featured an impressive fireworks display as accompaniment) showed that Paul McCartney can still put the pedal to the metal and put on a gritty rock ‘n’ roll show. After all of his many years of performing, he has lost virtually nothing in terms of his stage presence or his ability to sing and hit the high notes.
Macca closed out the evening with a sing-along version of “Hey Jude” in which the audience was more than happy to participate, followed by a seven song encore including “Yesterday”, “I Saw Her Standing There”, and a blistering version of “Helter Skelter”. Though Billy Joel made a cameo on Friday, and there were rumors of an appearance by former Beatle Ringo Starr, Saturday’s set did not include any surprise guests. Despite this fact, Paul McCartney can probably rest easy knowing that not a single person left Citi Field on Saturday disappointed. If only the same could be said on the many Saturdays that the Mets inhabit Citi.
Pictures and complete set list below:
“Drive My Car”
“Jet”
“Only Mama Knows”
“Flaming Pie”
“Got To Get You Into My Life”
“Let Me Roll It”
“Highway”
“The Long and Winding Road”
“My Love”
“Blackbird”
“Here Today”
“Dance Tonight”
“Calico Skies”
“Mrs. Vanderbilt”
“Eleanor Rigby”
“Sing the Changes ”
“Band on the Run”
“Back in the U.S.S.R.”
“I’m Down”
“Something”
“I’ve Got a Feeling”
“Paperback Writer”
“A Day in the Life”/”Give Peace a Chance”
“Let It Be”
“Live and Let Die”
“Hey Jude”
Encores
“Day Tripper”
“Lady Madonna”
“I Saw Her Standing There”
“Yesterday”
“Helter Skelter”
“Get Back”
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”/”The End”
The "cavernous" Citi Field is actually just the right size for a rock concert
Tags: Citi Field, NY Mets, NYC, paul mccartney, Shea, The Beatles
