Concert review: Paul McCartney at Cowboys Stadium (August 19)

by Susan Kandell, guest reviewer

ARLINGTON — Forty something years ago, my parents refused to let me attend a concert at Shea Stadium just a few short miles away, thinking that The Beatles would be a bad influence on me. Little did they know that the incident steered me into becoming a voracious Stones fan, who were infinitely more malevolent.

So here I am forty something years later and hundreds of rock concerts under my belt (thanks to my buddies in the music biz) and thought it was time to witness Paul McCartney sing in person before all The Beatles disappeared forever. Not that Paul’s going anywhere anytime soon (judging from the vitality he amply displayed). And if I could only see one Beatle in concert, Paul would be the one. Under the grand new dome, rock royalty bestowed his greatness upon his loyal fans.

Commencing at exactly 9 p.m., Paul appropriated the stage for 2 ½ hours and took us on a nostalgic stroll down (and up) memory lane. Beginning with “Drive My Car” and continuing with “Jet,” Paul sang while the crowd sang along, watching his every move on two giant screens. Then came low-key Paul where he chatted with audience, taking off his black jacket to reveal a white shirt with red suspenders. That was it for costume changes. Looking pretty damn good for 67, he inquired if we were ready for some fun. Gee, if only my mom had known he was so polite! Clearly we were ready, especially those who were seated on the floor. Actually, they weren’t seated at all – they stood for the entire show, resembling the Xian terra cotta warriors.

Continuing on through 35 more selections and spanning The Beatles, Wings, The Fireman, and homages to John, George, Linda, Jimi Hendrix, and Buddy Holly, Paul sang his Liverpudlian heart out, occasionally pausing to change guitars or chat with the audience.

Although we had kick-ass seats if we were attending a Cowboy game, the location for a concert on the 50 yard line were just fair. And the acoustics rank a “fair” rating as well. But I’m not complaining – after all, this was a concert and I came to hear him sing and not chat. The large screens gave us a semblance of a front-row seat.

Just as things began to lag, somewhere in the 24th song range, the concert picked up with a delightful rendition of “Paperback Writer.” This was followed by “A Day in Life” which segued into a rousing sing-along of “Give Peace a Chance.” Paul, the consummate musician, abandoned his guitar for some keyboards and delighted the audience with a quiet version of “Let it Be.” But it wasn’t quiet for long, as explosions and fireworks rocked the house during the Bond tune, “Live and Let Die.”

Now we were all on our feet while the hits just kept coming; “Let it Be,” “Hey Jude,” “Day Tripper,” “Lady Madonna” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” With sweat streaming down his cheeks he bade us farewell. But we weren’t going anywhere and were amply rewarded with an encore consisting of “Yesterday,” “Helter Skelter,” and “Get Back.”

Since this was the last stop on a tour that traveled internationally from Tel Aviv to Quebec City, Paul kindly thanked the lighting and sound crew. Oddly, he never introduced the other members of the band.

Off he went into the “Wings” and back again for a second encore. “The End” from Abbey Road and “Sgt. Pepper” was truly the end. At 11:30 p.m., it was time for the aging boomer crowd to leave, confident in knowing that rock and roll is still alive and well. Thanks, Sir Paul.

And just one more observation, if I may ... I hope the Cowboys get the cupholders in place before the first game is played. I could have used one last night!

Susan Kandell, in addition to being a PegNews user, writes movie reviews for Pop Syndicate.

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