Concert Review: Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field, Chicago, 7/31/11

[Miguel]

Review from last night's show. Haley was supposed to have attended tonight's show. She ought to have found it inspirational.

Paul McCartney delivered a message to the cheering audience at Wrigley Field on Sunday, July 31:

This is how to rock.

Visiting Chicago for the first time since 2005, McCartney showed fans that age is nothing but a number, as he played over 30 songs with no breaks. Backed by his excellent band-drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, and keyboardist Paul "Wix" Wickens-he charged hard through songs covering his Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, leaning more toward the uptempo numbers than his signature ballads. Blazing guitars ruled the evening, with McCartney's strong voice hitting the same high notes as on the original recordings.

...The enthusiasm continued with Band on the Run's "Let Me Roll It," which sounds even blusier live than it does on record. McCartney's growling voice effectively conveyed the song's passion, and demonstrated his love of blues as well as rock. In another nod to his influences, the band played a segment of Jimi Hendrix's Foxy Lady," with McCartney treating the audience to a blistering guitar solo. The hits just kept on coming: "Paperback Writer," which fit in perfectly with the overall harder tone of the night, only to be followed by "The Long and Winding Road," with McCartney's voice sounding clear.

...Sweating through his shirt but not slowing down in the least, McCartney showed off his love for rootsy rock and roll with "Back in the USSR," and "I've Got a Feeling," with Anderson and Laboriel taking over Lennon's singing parts. As if that weren't enough, the band roared into an extended jam, with McCartney performing a scorching guitar solo. Another surprise, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," inspired a spirited sing-along, with McCartney stepping away from the microphone to let the audience take over.

...Despite the concert's length, McCartney remained in fine voice for the second encore, which included an exquisite version of "Yesterday." Ending the evening with a bang with the one-two punch of "Helter Skelter" and the finale of the Abbey Road medley ("Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End"), he definitively answered the question: Can one still rock over age 30? The answer: without a doubt. "Helter Skelter" approached metal territory with Laboriel's pounding drums, the crunch of the guitars, and McCartney's screaming vocals.

I have seen McCartney at least five times, and this show rocked harder than any other concert I've attended.

Full review: http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogc...z1Tqf5XBCU