There are not many musicians around these days that can sell out a baseball field one day let alone two days in a row, unless of course you are a “mop-top” from Liverpool, England. Paul McCartney is the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music (according to Guinness World Record) from the early days of Beatlemania to his career into the 70s with Wings and multiple solo albums since; Paul McCartney has earned the title of rock legend.
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Paul McCartney
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Wrigley Field
Chicago, IL
July 31, 2011
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Understandably, tickets for his shows at Wrigley Field were being sold at what could be considered astronomically expensive prices. A quick look on Stubhub showed the nosebleed seats, that were labeled general admission, were going for as much as $250 dollars. Some of these seats were at such a angle you couldn’t even get a good view of the stage nor a clear view of the Beatle himself. Of course if you did want to venture closer onto the field, those funds might have to be taken out of your kid’s college fund. Under those circumstances I chose the next best option, I listened to the concert from the streets.
All the pictures I’ve seen from people on the inside looked as if the stage was so small, in comparison to Wrigley Field, no one could actually make out McCartney the whole night aside from views of the jumbotron anyway. In moments like that it is the sound that really matters. Hanging outside the main entrance I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could hear the show clearly. Perhaps the only parts I couldn’t make out were his in-between song banter that was few and far between.
This is not a new concept by any means. Deadheads made a career of following their favorite band around the country just to appreciate the show from the parking lot; this is about the same approach. The only difference here, is it families instead of just college kids on a kick for a summer trek or your wayward transients on a psychedelic trip.
I was far from the only one either. Dozens of loyal fans joined me, pleased to have what they considered their own personal concert. Some, like me, were there by choice. Others were there out of necessity. Many had tried scalping tickets and refused to cave into prices that were outside of their price range. One man was insistent that he could get a ticket for $20 dollars and tuned down every offer below that price. In the end, he spent the entire night outside with me.
Undeterred by the odds he confided in me that if we both rushed at the ticket booth one of us would probably make it into the show. I quickly talked him out of it, noting the logistical problems of showing up at a gate without a ticket, and the 50 or so security guards currently staring at us versus the two of us – the odds were not in our favor.
That was about the time the man dressed in a hotdog costume made his appearance. Clearly not his job of choice the man made no attempt to actually sell the product he was sent out there to promote. With a constant eye on his watch, he walked around the stadium about 10 times, occasionally stopping to flirt with a nearby female without much success. Still you had to give him points for trying; it’s hard enough to pick up someone you don’t know much less trying to do it dressed as a hotdog.
While all this is going on I can hear the concert blast in front of me. Making his way through the classics McCartney opened with the cheery “Hello Goodbye” and made his way through a steady mix of both Beatles and Wings songs. It was hard not to get giddy when he played songs like “Paperback Writer” and a riveting instrumental version of “Foxy Lady.” Many of the fans outside could be seen tearing it up on air guitar as McCartney showed that he still has it after all these years.
On the opposite side of the main entrance, four floors up on a roof top that requires a ladder to reach, our Editor-in-Chief was watching the show from behind the score board. Even though you were facing the back of the stage, the sound was equally clear. Here you had a view of The Cubs logo and a look at all of the people way back in the “cheap seats.” The bird’s eye view was picture perfect with a wonderful soundtrack to make this one of the best nights to live in the Windy City.
“Foxy Lady” and “Paperback Writer” were only songs 9 and 10; we still had 26 more songs to go before the historic night would end. Tonight Paul would reach back into his catalog and play deep cuts only the true fan would know. Songs like “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” and “Mrs. Vandebilt” from the Band of the Run album. Both tunes are perfect little rockers to get you off your feet whether you are familiar with them or not. “I Will” and “Blackbird” off of The Beatles’ White Album, was a nice welcome surprise that balanced well with more known songs live “Eleanor Rigby” and “Let it Be.”
As he has in past tours, Paul also took the time to pay tribute to his band mates that are no longer with us. For George Harrison, he covered “Something” on ukulele and added a bit of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” at the end of “A Day in the Life.” Both sweet moment with the later being a little cheesy and ruining the momentum of the Sgt. Pepper tune. None the less, even from the roof top you could see the sea of fans swaying back and forth singing along to “Give Peace a Chance.”
Of course, the highlight watching from the roof top came during song 29. Arguably the best James Bond song from the movie series would have to be the first one staring Roger Moore. Anyone that has seen Paul McCartney in the last few decades knows what to expect from the moment the first notes of “Live and Let Die” are played. When Paul and the band reached the chorus, fireworks ignited, literally, and it looked like the score board exploded. Even with some of Paul’s and The Beatles greatest hits still to come, this was the highlight and the reward for the evening.
As the smoke cleared, it was time for not one but two encores. This would be a smorgasbord of Beatle hits to close out an evening that should have already satisfied most rabid fans. The Last six songs covered all eras of Beatlemania. First up, two hits that were shockingly only released as singles back in the day and never offered on an official Beatle album. “Lady Madonna” and “Day Tripper” got the same fans on their feet where they stayed as “Get Back” closed out encore one.
Of course I was listening from the roof top, but my guess is Paul came out alone for the second encore to play the beautiful ballad “Yesterday” on acoustic guitar. The band then re-joined him for a blistering rendition of “Helter Skelter” and closing with the Abbey Road medley of “Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End.” A fitting conclusion to a perfect night under the stars perched on a rooftop and hearing some of the greatest songs ever recorded by the man responsible for it all.
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