Opening with “Drive my Car” Paul McCartney set up what was to be a memorable night at Piedmont Park. At two-and-a-half hours, McCartney’s energetic set was roughly 120 minutes longer than the 30-minute concert he did as a Beatle at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium nearly 44 years on Aug. 18, 1965. The 40,000 in the crowd was also larger than 1965’s estimated 34,000.The only song repeated from that original set list? The Beatles classic “I’m Down.”
In between songs, the 67-year old charmed the crowd with stories about Jimmy Hendrix learning “Sgt. Pepper” two days after it was released and how the Beatles could never hear themselves when they were playing because “all the girls were screaming,” so all the females in the audience took the hint and screamed away.
“Like that!” McCartney said grinning. “The difference now? We’ve got bigger amps!”
As he launched into “Blackbird,” it was then as Paul began to sing, a 20 minute downpour started. The mood of the crowd would not be dampened and everyone gladly sang along to everything from “Got to Get You Into My Life” to “Eleanor Rigby.” Paul spoke to the crowd by saying “The rain is really coming down, huh? I suppose it’s a nice cool down. We’ll keep on rocking through it.”
At one point during the show, Paul McCartney dedicated "My Love" to his late wife Linda and "all the lovers here tonight." This song is a new favorite of mine. Paul has a magical way of reaching out to his fans and connecting. He also lovingly paid tribute to his fallen band mates George Harrison and John Lennon during the concert. He opened Harrison’s classic “Something” playing a ukulele that Harrison had given him. He also riffed on Lennon’s famous anti war anthem “Give Peace a Chance” as the crowd sang along and flashed peace signs that were transmitted throughout the park via 50-foot video screens. McCartney also pulled out the acoustic guitar to perform “Here Today,” the heartbreaking tribute he wrote for Lennon in the wake of his 1980 assassination. He shared that you often don’t get to tell people how you feel when they are here. He wrote the song for John to help himself get through the pain of his former band members death.
The Beatle closed the evening with the finale “The End” from “Abbey Road,” the band’s final studio recording together with these words: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Hands down this was a truly astonishing show. With an amazing set list and venue, I will never forget my night with Sir Paul McCartney.
~Steph G. ~
8/15/09
Piedmont Park 8/15/09 Set List
Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You Into My Life
Let Me Roll It *with Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” mixed in at the end*
Highway
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 USSR
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
Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The End
In between songs, the 67-year old charmed the crowd with stories about Jimmy Hendrix learning “Sgt. Pepper” two days after it was released and how the Beatles could never hear themselves when they were playing because “all the girls were screaming,” so all the females in the audience took the hint and screamed away.
“Like that!” McCartney said grinning. “The difference now? We’ve got bigger amps!”
As he launched into “Blackbird,” it was then as Paul began to sing, a 20 minute downpour started. The mood of the crowd would not be dampened and everyone gladly sang along to everything from “Got to Get You Into My Life” to “Eleanor Rigby.” Paul spoke to the crowd by saying “The rain is really coming down, huh? I suppose it’s a nice cool down. We’ll keep on rocking through it.”
At one point during the show, Paul McCartney dedicated "My Love" to his late wife Linda and "all the lovers here tonight." This song is a new favorite of mine. Paul has a magical way of reaching out to his fans and connecting. He also lovingly paid tribute to his fallen band mates George Harrison and John Lennon during the concert. He opened Harrison’s classic “Something” playing a ukulele that Harrison had given him. He also riffed on Lennon’s famous anti war anthem “Give Peace a Chance” as the crowd sang along and flashed peace signs that were transmitted throughout the park via 50-foot video screens. McCartney also pulled out the acoustic guitar to perform “Here Today,” the heartbreaking tribute he wrote for Lennon in the wake of his 1980 assassination. He shared that you often don’t get to tell people how you feel when they are here. He wrote the song for John to help himself get through the pain of his former band members death.
The Beatle closed the evening with the finale “The End” from “Abbey Road,” the band’s final studio recording together with these words: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Hands down this was a truly astonishing show. With an amazing set list and venue, I will never forget my night with Sir Paul McCartney.
~Steph G. ~
8/15/09
Piedmont Park 8/15/09 Set List
Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You Into My Life
Let Me Roll It *with Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” mixed in at the end*
Highway
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 USSR
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
Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The End
too cool
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had an awesome time Steph! Thanks for posting about this concert. I'm sure you will remember it forever :)
ReplyDeleteHe was SO adorable. I loved when he took of his jacket and said "there you have it the big wardrobe change for the evening" and his impromptu rained soaked bra song. . . absolutely the best concert. The band was great and Paul was amazing!
ReplyDeleteHe is too cute! Jumps around on stage like a teenager. He's got it down!
ReplyDeletecool recap!! I bet it was so awesome. Paul is the man!
ReplyDelete