Paul McCartney rocks out on stage during his “Out There” tour at the Amway Center on Saturday, May 18.
ORLANDO — Paul McCartney brought a far out sound to start off the U.S. leg of his “Out There” tour at the Amway Center on Saturday, May 18. This master musician and songwriter displayed the musical paradigm of his classic tunes from The Beatles and Wings, some that were performed live for the first time in America on this night.
McCartney’s vocal sound and music have been greatly refined in quality 49 years after taking the world by storm with his landmark performance with The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Since then he has gone on to be recognized by Guinness World Records as the “most successful composer and recording artist of all time,” selling over 100 million albums and 100 million singles, all while maintaining an ever-growing and devoted fanbase around the world.
Concertgoer, Diane Reis, was in attendance for this opening night performance in Orlando.This was only the second time she has seen McCartney perform live after originally seeing him perform with The Beatles at Olympia Stadium in Detroit on Sept. 6 1964. “It was solid screaming the entire time,” said Reis. “You couldn’t even tell what the songs were. I think one time I heard them sing ‘she loves you ya ya ya,’ but I’m not sure.”
Beloved songs from The Beatles made up a majority of the 38 songs performed on this tour but were also balanced with equally classic songs from Wings, the band he formed with wife Linda. Early Beatles songs “Eight Days a Week” and “All My Loving” started the show intertwined with Wings songs “Junior’s Farm” and “Listen to What the Man Said.” McCartney performed “Maybe I’m Amazed” from his first solo album “McCartney” that he dedicated to his late wife Linda, and also featured “My Valentine” from his 2011 album “Kisses on the Bottom,” which he wrote for his current wife Nancy Shevell.
McCartney’s onstage persona still embodies all the cool confidence and playful attitude that his fans love and adore. With over 40 years of performing, the 70-year-old singer-songwriter still produces a dynamic show throughout the three hour concert with no intermission and two encore sets. Jokes and detailed accounts of nostalgic memories from his life experiences bring a unique and truly enjoyable addition to his live performance.
“I really found it amazing, he had a lot of vocal power and was very charismatic on stage,” said concertgoer Courtney Senecal.
The Beatles and Paul McCartney changed pop culture history and rock ‘n’ roll music throughout the world, but the group broke up in 1970 before many of their later songs could ever be performed live. The “Out There” tour features several of these songs including “Lovely Rita,” “Your Mother Should Know,” and “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!”
McCartney honored his former Beatles bandmates with a tribute to John Lennon before a performance of “Here Today,” which he wrote after Lennon’s death, and in the memory of George Harrison, he performed a touching and unique rendition of Harrison’s’ song “Something.” McCartney started the song with a solo performance on a ukulele and the rest of his band members joined in as the song built to a rousing full rendition featuring a slideshow of images with a young Harrison in the background. McCartney turned around after the song was over holding his acoustic guitar in the air as a musical salute to his dearly departed friend.
Overall this live show was more about the music than all the technological theatrics seen at most modern arena concerts. Simple and appropriate visual accompaniments and subtle lighting changes gave a becoming addition for each song. It isn’t until they perform Wings’ “Live and Let Die,” that you get to experience a mind blowing exposition of fireballs, laser lights and wild pyrotechnics, befitting of the 1973 James Bond film for which the song was written.
The tremendous triple tune melody from the end of the album “Abbey Road” ended the performance with “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End.”
Melissa Thomas, 18, had floor seats for this opening night performance whose screams were reminiscent of the previous generation of Beatles fans. She was most inspired by the end arrangement saying “This show was everything I could hope for and more.” Thomas was raised a Beatles fan by her late mother who has the final words from “The End” on her gravestone, “The love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Experiencing the love and admiration shown for the legacy of Paul McCartney, The Beatles and Wings, makes any of his live performances an occasion that is uplifting and inspiring for all. Tickets and more information on McCartney’s 2013 “Out There” tour can be found at www.paulmccartney.com/live
