Paul McCartney 9/19/17 Brooklyn NY - Review, Videos and Jimmy Fallon's Birthday

I definitely was looking forward to seeing Paul McCartney at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on September 19, 2017.  I'm not a Beatles freak, but I own about half of their catalog and know most of the rest of it from listening to classic rock radio growing up.  I figured I would also know a few big Wings hits, but evidently forgot just how many big hits they had.  I'd never seen McCartney before and I knew it would be a good time.

But it was much more than that.

 

We came up out of the subway to a huge mass of a crowd slowly working their way through the security gates in front of the Barclays Center.  We eventually made it inside the building and then finally through the metal detectors just before the 8 pm start time listed on our tickets.  Not to worry as the show wouldn't start for about another 40 minutes, so we had plenty of time for those of us that wanted to get some merch and then work our way up to the next to last row in the arena, but right next to the stage.

With his catalog, it would be hard not to open with a hit and things started off with "Hard Day's Night" to begin the 3 hour set.  Next up was Wings "Junior's Farm," which by the title I didn't think I knew, but recognized when they got to the chorus.




and the hits kept coming with "Can't Buy Me Love", then "Jet" and back to the Beatles for "All My Loving."

Another visit to the Wings catalog with "Let Me Roll With It" (another "Oh...that's what that song I've heard a million times on the radio is called" moment for me) which led into an instrumental jam of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady".  This was a bit of a tribute as Jimi had died 47 years ago the day prior.  McCartney told a funny story involving Jimi, Sgt. Pepper and Eric Clapton before then playing a great version of the Beatles "I've Got a Feeling."

Here's video I shot of Foxy Lady into I've Got a Feeling:

One of Paul's few solo songs of the night followed with "My Valentine" from his 2012 album "Kisses on the Bottom" before Wings' "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" into "Maybe I'm Amazed" from his first solo album.

At this point Paul acknowledged the signs the crowd brought to his show with messages and requests for him.  There was a 40th anniversary, someone else was just released from the hospital and came right to the show while another had escaped the hurricane damage of the South to make to Brooklyn for Sir Paul.   I'm not sure if this was a request from a sign or what is always played in this slot (although I do see Paul changes up a few songs each night), but we got a great version of "We Can Work It Out" and here's the video:

Next Paul went back to his pre-Beatles band The Quarrymen for "In Spite Of All The Danger" and then another Beatles classic with "You Won't See Me" (video below):

More Beatlemania with "Love Me Do", "And I Love Her" and then "Blackbird."



Paul then came out front, on a raised stage, alone with acoustic guitar for a poignant "Here Today" from 1983's "Tug of War." (video below):

Two more solo songs were next with "Queenie Eye" which is off of his 2013 album "New", the title track of which he played next, then back to the Beatles for "Lady Madonna."



"FourFiveSeconds", his collaboration with Kanye West and Rihanna was next and quite catchy and then "Eleanor Rigby" before telling a little story about how the Rolling Stones were looking for a song to record when they just got signed and Paul and John gave them "I Wanna Be Your Man"  (video below):

Next up was a song Paul said was from an album from 50 years ago, joking "before my time" before playing "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!", the first song to be played off Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band this night.   "Something" followed and then Paul revisited Sgt. Pepper saying this was one they didn't always play but liked to when in the New York City area and "A Day in The Life" was performed and morphed into "Give Peace A Chance" as a loving tribute to John Lennon.  (video below):

We now were entering the home stretch of the main set of the show with "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" into Wings "Band on the Run" back to the Beatles for "Back in the USSR" and "Let It Be."



Overall the stage show, for an arena, is relatively stripped down.  It has great lights and video, but where's the fire and explosions one often sees?  Well Paul saved it all for "Live and Let Die" at which point he went over the top and rocked out while filling the air with massive fireballs and explosions.  This led into a set ending "Hey Jude" with massive singalong.  (Video below):

The band left the stage for a short encore break before returning with "Yesterday" and one more visit to that album of fifty years ago with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" into an electrifying "Helter Skelter"

At this point Paul asked if there was anyone in the crowd celebrating a birthday and he noticed one specific fan up front - Jimmy Fallon!

As you'll see in the video I shot, Jimmy was there celebrating with Saturday Night Live mastermind Lorne Michaels as well as celebrity chef Mario Batali (who also happened to be celebrating a birthday).  Paul plays "Birthday" and then leads the crowd in a singalong of "Happy Birthday" to Jimmy who couldn't look happier.  (video below):

After that Paul told the crowd, "there does come a time when we gotta go home...yeah...and well it coincides with the time you have to go home."  He then thanked the crew and his band and played "Golden Slumbers" / "Carry That Weight" / "The End."  



I looked at the time and it was a few minutes after 11:30.  Paul had played just under three hours and the time flew by.  We raced (well shuffled with the thousands of other attendees) out of the arena onto a packed local subway that made about 15 stops before getting to Grand Central station with just a few minutes to spare to catch the 12:43am train home.  When I finally laid my head down on my pillow at 3:30am knowing I would have to get up soon for work, there was no question this show was absolutely worth it.

If you dug this go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page by following this link and click the "Like" button to join (as shown below) to be kept up to date on future posts, to comment, share and take part in our giveaways and contests! 

Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

Paul McCartney sings "Birthday" & "Happy Birthday" to Jimmy Fallon LIVE in Brooklyn 9/19/17

Last night, September 19, 2017,  Paul McCartney played an amazing sold out show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

During the encore, before playing the Beatles' "Birthday" he asked if anyone in the house was celebrating a birthday and noticed one specific fan up front - Jimmy Fallon!

As you'll see in the video I shot, Jimmy is there celebrating with Saturday Night Live mastermind Lorne Michaels as well as celebrity chef Mario Batali (who also happened to be celebrating a birthday).  Paul plays "Birthday" and then leads the crowd in a singalong of "Happy Birthday" to Jimmy who couldn't look happier.

A very cool moment indeed.  I'll post a full review of the show as well as more videos later

If you dug this go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page by following this link and click the "Like" button to join (as shown below) to be kept up to date on future posts, to comment, share and take part in our giveaways and contests! 

Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

The Who in Brooklyn 11/14/12 - Quadrowhothewha...?

First saw The Who on their second farewell tour during the opening run of four shows at Giants Stadium back in 1989.  It was fantastic...so good I bought tix for another night of that run.  Since then I've caught a show on most of their US tours (including one of their six nights on the second - after the original - Quadrophenia tour run at Madison Square Garden in 1996).  Without reviewing my ticket stubs, I believe last night(November 14, 2012)'s stop in Brooklyn was Who show number seven for me. 

Would my first visit to the newly opened Barclays Center be lucky number seven and continue the run of great shows?

Sadly the answer was no.

Hopped on the train in Poughkeepsie and met up with my buddy Kevin (the biggest Who fan I know).  Good ride down to Grand Central where we grabbed the #4 Subway to the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays stop.  From there you get off the train, jump on the escalator and you are at the Barclays entrance.  Gotta love this set up!

Barclays itself is quite nice.  Super friendly and helpful staff in abundance.  Lots of food choices if you're hungry (including Juniors Cheesecake - nice!).  Maybe I need to investigate more, but the beer selection was limited.  Standard Bud, Bud light, Coors and Heineken I believe.  Some beer carts have Brooklyn Lager.  Prices were typical.  Our seats were the last row on the left side - you can see the view from the pics.  Went with the cheapest seats - $53 including all charges...pretty cheap for an arena show. 

Overall the actual arena area was nothing special - but the ease of getting and leaving there and food choices if you're running late and want to eat make it quite nice, but enough about the venue...

We did run a little late and got in a couple of minutes after 8:00pm (showtime was 7:30pm) so we missed opening band Vintage Trouble who's set ended as we were getting to our section after stopping for a beer.

We settled in and at 8:30 on the dot the lights dimmed.  The beach/sea video used throughout the performance came up on the video screen and as the "I Am The Sea" was played on an otherwise unlit stage to audience cheers.

Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and company then kicked in to "The Real Me" and the audience was up on it's feet rocking, this was then followed by the instrumental song "Quadrophenia" and the trouble with the show began.

Throughout the song, which is something of a prelude with teases of the songs to follow, the audience started to sit.  Let me add that much of this review regarding the audience does not apply to those on the floor, most of whom did stand for the entire show.  I'm describing my section which was typical of most of the above floor sections of this near sold out show.

This song also gave a hint that it appeared much of this audience did NOT want to hear Quadrophenia in it's entirety, but mostly just wanted to hear "Love, Reign O'er Me", the closing track from the album.  This song is teased right at the end of the song "Quadrophenia" and garnered a large cheer and people jumping up, only to sit down 20 seconds later when they realized The Who were not actually playing the song at this time.

The next song, "Cut My Hair" lost the majority of the rest of the audience with everyone just sitting politely.  I thought "The Punk and The Godfather" would get them back as while not a "hit", this song gets substantial play on classic rock radio (or at least on WPDH - the local Poughkeepsie "Home of Rock n Roll"), but overall it was as if the excitement had been sucked out of the room.  There was decent applause between songs but no electricity at all in the room.

This continued for the first 10 (of 17) songs of Quadrophenia.

I think part of the problem is that Quadrophenia is not necessarily "singles" friendly, but I know when I saw the band perform it in 1996 it was stellar and the crowd loved it.  Was the band lacking?

I say somewhat here.  In '96 you not only had the band, but also had the special guests (Billy Idol, Gary Glitter) who's appearances here and there throughout did add another level of excitement and cheers that would have helped immensely here.  And let me repeat that...it was 1996...this is 16 years later...Pete is 67 and Roger is 68 and I'm sad to say this is the first time I've seen age (mostly in the case of Roger) having an effect on a Who show.

There was an oomph missing to many of the tracks.  It would come back here and there...for instance I thought "The Dirty Jobs" was very strong and it woke the audience up a little - but most of the audience didn't know it so they could only get so excited.

This was just the wrong tour for most of this audience to attend - other than Kevin, no one sitting around me knew any of the songs that don't get radio play.

Back to the age issue.  I don't think this was an issue for Pete.  Pete was very strong both on vocals and guitar, particularly in the second half of the show, and Roger can still sing - but some of the songs just seemed too much of a vocal work out which we'll get to in a bit.

I wonder if the issue with Roger was the main reason for doing a "Quadrophenia" tour as opposed to a Greatest Hits tour as Roger has nothing to do during much of this part of the show.  There are numerous 5 and sometimes almost 10 minute stretches where there are either no vocals or Pete (or Simon Townshend) is handling the vocal duties.

At an hour into the show, as The Who was performing "I've Had Enough", it was obvious that's how much of the audience felt.  Let me note that it didn't help that there was absolutely NO interacion with the audience at all, not even a "Hello Brooklyn" when they came out.  The Who would not acknowledge the audience until after Quadrophenia was complete.

I turned to Kevin as "I've Had Enough" was ending and said if anything will get them back into it, it would be the next song "5:15" with it's horns and plenty of airplay.  This song would prove to be a bit of a turning point in the show.

Much of the audience did recognize the song and were into it, but then it started going into an extended outro and John Entwistle appeared on the video screen playing along with the band which turned into him playing a video bass solo jamming live with Zak Starkey on drums.  I have to say it was very cool and the audience LOVED it and went nuts.  It was the first time in the show since the opening that everyone was fully engaged.

At this point in the show, Pete stepped up his game partly because more of the remaining songs allowed for him to play power chord guitar God.

A strong "Sea and Sand" followed into "Drowned" and the audience was definitely more into it, but were slipping.  Next up was "Bell Boy" were the video screen was another hit.

Roger sang the verses and then during the spoken parts, Keith Moon appeared on the video screen to perform with the live band on stage.  Like with the video of the Ox in "5:15", the audience loved it and went wild.

We were now getting towards the end of the the main Quadrophenia set with another tune that gets some good airplay, "Dr. Jimmy."  This also had the advantage of riding the Moon wave from "Bell Boy."  I have to say this was one of the biggest songs Daltrey had issues with all night - I literally thought he might pass out and not make it through the song - he looked in pain trying to keep up and get the vocals out (although it did sound okay).   "The Rock" was next and then the lights all went down and the big hit on the album, "Love Reign O'er Me," started.

This was another one Roger seemed to strain through to the point he took about a 1 second attempt at the final "LOOOVVVVVVVEEEEE" scream at the end and just gave it up - but the audience knew this one and as it closed out "Quadrophenia," they stood and cheered wildly.  Out of the previous 90 minutes (which is exactly how long this portion of the show lasted), it was what they came to see (along with the 40 minutes to follow).

After this many of the stage lights came up and the band FINALLY addressed the audience for about 5 to 10 minutes while introducing the band.

The band would not leave the stage at all, it was now into the "Other Hits" part of the show.

They kept all of the audience on their feet through "Who Are You" but then suprisingly everyone started sitting down again for "Behind Blue Eyes".  Both sounded fine, but that was the problem - I've seen them perform these and most of the remaining songs at every Who show I've ever attended and these did seem to have something missing.   They were good, but not great.

Pinball Wizard was next and to me the best song of this set.

Then it was the one two punch of "Baba O'Riley" into "Won't Get Fooled Again."  Everyone was up for these and they were again good versions and I'm guessing if I didn't have 6 other times seeing them to compare them to I would have liked them much more.  The audience loved screaming "It's only teenage wasteland" in Baba and I didn't hold much hope for Roger to do what I consider the best rock scream in any song ever at the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again",  but while he might have had some issues earlier in the show, he saved up and nailed that scream!

At this point the rest of the band left the stage, and as they've done of late, Roger and Pete end the show with "Tea & Theatre" which I think is a beautiful way to say goodnight.

So overall, I'm always glad to see The Who, but if this turns out to be their last tour, I wish they had not picked "Quadrophenia" and went with a career spanning show instead.  At the same time, I knew what I was buying a ticket for and was glad to buy it (and let me strees - I LOVE the album "Quadrophenia") - I just don't understand why so much of the rest of the audience reaction was so tame when you go in knowing this.  But again, out of the two hours and 10 minutes, about an hour was bonafide hits and that alone could be worth the price of admission.  Perhaps they were thinking, to steal from the Stones who I'll see again in a month, that this could be the last time for The Who.

So it was a show of maybe's for me...maybe if I was young and just discovered the Who and loved Quadrophenia in particular and never saw them before and this was my first show of theirs...maybe, I think probably, I would have loved this show (if I was in a more excited section especially or on the floor especially).  But of the seven times I've now seen The Who - it's the first time I left not loving it and thinking at times the band was going through the motions.

or maybe it was just a bad night.