A Living Legend

Last night, we were able to attend a concert at Citi Field (the new Mets stadium) like no other. Sir Paul Mccartney gave 3 separate concerts at Citi Field to break in the new stadium. The last time he played at the last Mets stadium - Shea Stadium, was when he was still with the Beatles. Some how, miraculously, we managed to get tickets for the 3rd show and fulfill a lifetime dream of seeing Paul Mccartney in person.

We arrived at Citi Field at about 5:30, just in time for the gates to open, and joined the mass of people waiting in line. After a relatively short wait, we walked in, purchased some t-shirts, got some food, and found our seats by 6:30. Here's a shot of the stage from where we sat:

At about 7:30, the opening band finally began. The Script from Dublin, Ireland, played for about 30 or 40 minutes to get us warmed up. Another 30 or 40 minutes later, the sun had set, the lights had come on, and we were ready for him to come out. Then the lights went out in the stadium, except for the stage, and the band appeared on stage to the wild applause of everyone there. He opened up with Drive My Car. From the very first chord played you could tell Paul never lost a step, he sounds as good as he ever did, if not better. As awesome as Paul was, his backup band was just as good. Abe Laboriel, Jr. on the drums was amazing, Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray were awesome, Paul Wikckens on keys was just as good. He went straight into the next song - Jet, another one of my personal favorites.

Throughout the show, Paul would tell jokes and stories in between songs. At one point he pointed out a sign in the audience that said "Last Chance Marry Me Paul" - to which he gave a bewildered "No!". At one point, he decided he hadn't taken the chance to "drink it all in" so he stopped in just looked around the stadium for a minute while everyone cheered.

Paul switched instruments constantly throughout the show. Starting on his old Beatle bass, he moved on to electric guitar, back to the bass, on to piano, back to guitar, then acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukelele even. The ukelele was probably the most interesting part. He told a story about writing a song with a ukelele given to him by George Harrison, then bringing that song back to George to see what he thought, apparently he liked it. He started playing simple chords on the ukelele and began singing "Something in the way she moves..." The rest of the band kicked in around the 2nd verse.

I wondered the whole show exactly when it was coming though. When was he going to do my favorite song? Was he going to do it at all? He started heading in that direction with Paperback Writer, then A Day in the Life. After that, he made his way over to the piano and I knew it was coming. He played Let it Be, the backup vocals were awesome throughout the whole song. And then it finally came...

When you were young

and your heart was an open book

You used to say live and let live

(We all chimed in a) "You know you did, you know you did, you know you did"

But if this ever changing world in which we live in

Makes you give in and cry

Say Live and Let Die

Giant flames shot up from the stage when those chords were struck. Then the chaos began with fireworks shooting up out of the back of the stage.

The second chorus of the song started again with Rusty pretending to fall over and die. And more chaos ensued with flames and fireworks throughout the song. It was by far the best performance I've ever seen. I think Melissa would agree.

He followed that up with the first last song of the evening - Hey Jude. We of course sang along for the na na na Hey Judes. He then exited the stage, I stopped Melissa from leaving just yet. He then came out of course for an encore which included Day Tripper, Lady Madonna, and I Saw Her Standing There, then the concert ended.

But two people in front of us had inside information and stopped us for the 2nd encore - including Yesterday, Helter Skelter, Get Back, and Sgt. Pepper.

Then the concert actually ended. We got on the train and went home, barely able to sleep after what we had just seen. If we ever get a chance to attend to another concert like that, we will be sure to spare no expense to get floor tickets. All in all, it was without question the best concert experience of our lives.

Here's the entire setlist for the night...

Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You Into My Life
Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
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 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
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Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There
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Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End

And some videos of one of the performances at Citi Field