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The stage was impressive, even without any further technical implementation.
It had
a big main frame of scaffolding with 9 video screens in a pattern
of 3 x 3 (rectangular longer base) and two big frames at both sides
with a
column of 4 up-down video screens.
Before entering to our seats I began to hear some incidental music.
I
clearly recognized "The family way"; other songs sounded vague
for me
sorr. Except "Junk"; another one sounded like Enya and other
like a
Woody Allen-esque theme from "Bullet over Broadway."
In the preshow appeared a DJ with a top hat who wore assorted fruit
hats like Carmen Miranda. It was like 'moving' upon a pirate handkerchief
tied
upon his head. Black sunny glasses and lots of sparkles from his red
brilliant suit.
He was at the right side of stage, and he moved his head and arms in
a pure
DJ style. He was sitting in front of a portable PC or something alike,
and he was feeling
the rhythm a lot!; it reminded me a personage of the Muppet show.
DJ played Venus and Mars; it was so neat "in the sports arena incluiding
few more.
Then a big mix in which I only recognized "Temporary secretary".
It was not easy to hearthe songs since the public began to do the Mexican
wave along the stadium and shouting a lot for "calling Paul"
I suppose.
There were some dancers and circus show enticing the ambient with a
multicolored display of clothing ranging from medieval costumes to 60's
Mary Quaint-esque miniskirts. Marching with six big balloons decorated
with moons, suns, and six-pointed stars. There were also flags -like
medieval ones, banners, and pennants.
At 22:20 p.m. There was a big light on screens and the vertical
Hofner shape in
psychedelic colours; a big impression spread everywhere, and Paul appeared
with a nehru blue (not navy blue but clear one), jacket with the same
shape
of the red one we already saw, red shirt, and jeans...not so baggy
my ladies!.This time and without any introduction the show started with
"Jet". Paul was
playing a Hofner bass, and the line-up was the already known Rusty,
Brian, Wix,
,and Abe.
The magnifical sound and the people glued to their seats.Then "Got
to get you into my life" with rather respectful arrangements.
After that Paul says "Hola Madrid, viva España" (Hi
Madrid, viva Spain) ,and he
was greeted hot way by the audience (really big one!). Still in his
blue nehru, he began "Flaming pie" sounding really well. Paul's
voice worked really well.
After that he began to talk some Spanish "Muchas gracias, amigos
y amigas", "I'm gonna try",..."yo sé pocas
palabras en español,.." (thanks so much friends (male ones)
and friends (female ones)."I know few words in Spanish."
Then he launched the great "All my loving"; people got delighted
as in the Barcelona concert.
We could see Paul managing his fingers on bass with an amazing economy
of movement but an impressive result of that marvellous 'rubber'. It
was a kind of sound that only Paul could get from the Hofner.
After that, Paul saluted lifting up the bass.He changed his bass for
the reddish Gibson Les Paul and started "Let me roll it",
and like a bonus he added the "Foxy lady" rendition to great
Jimi.
On the screens we could see part of Paul images increased and part
of moving psychedelic images.An image in lateral screen piles (4 screens
in height) was managed as a
unique one; two parts (of two screens each) one or just four independent
images depending of the case.
Paul introduced the next song in Spanish with "Esta es la primera
gira en la que toco en vivo esta canción en España"
(this is the first tour in
which I play live this song in Spain). "You won't see me."
Precious song
and delicious middle eight; Paul gesticulated underlining the 'You won't
see me' like pointing the audience and then backing his finger to himself
and expressing "no-no."
After that he says "Ok muchas gracias señores, señoras
y señoritas" (thanks so much gentlemen, ladies and misses").
Then Paul took the Hofner again and started the amazing "She's
a woman"; it was
fabulous!, poisonous!, dry!, all served with black and white Beatles
videos and the own image of Paul playing live in b/w too! with nice
detail!.
At that point the temperature was rising. Paul said "oh-oh"
and
people answered 'OH-OH!' then Paul retorted 'muchas gracias' (thanks
so much).
Paul continued "Me gustaría presentaros a nuestro fantástico
guitarrista Rusty
Anderson" (I'd like to introduce to all of you our fantastic guitarist
Rusty Anderson). Rusty said "Solamente se estas palabras de español.
ya se me han acabado todas" (I only know these Spanish words. Yet
I've get all of them finished) much to the laughter of the audience.
Paul pulled out his light blue jacket and began"Maybe I'm amazed".
The audience received it enthusiastically, and Paul really went up in
the song, especially in the piano "bang-bang-bangs!" in which
he stretched his shoulders in his red shirt -long sleeved one- normal
type.
Paul said "Muchas gracias".Then he continued with "The
long and winding road" which got many spontaneous choruses from
the public; meanwhile the videos show a road trip.
It started a true highlight of the concert because Paul changed to acoustic
guitar, and he began to say "Así que hablo un poco de inglés"
(so, that i
speak a little of English), yeah! "Esta canción fué
nuestro primer disco antes de
los Beatles" (this song was our first record, before the Beatles),
Then he switched to English and remembered the little studio Kensington
and put
one pound for recording each shellac; he named John, George and a
couple of guys. It's a really emotional explanation, and I was completely
absorbed by Paul's speech. Paul asked to follow his 'ohh-oh' before
starting and
people answered a giant chorus 'oh-oh!' to which Paul answeedr in Spanish
"perfecto!".
He started the beautiful "In spite of all the danger" with
people completely
rendered to him and accompanying with giants 'OH-OH'; it was really
beautiful.
He continued with his acoustic, and Paul told us in English about
the racial problems with blacks, and he mentioned that birds were girls,
so he wrote
"Blackbird." Paul brought us a delicious Blackbird with all
detail at guitar.
He also played "We can work it out" much to the pleasure of
everyone who did
sing along with the song title. Paul kept a marvellous change of time
to
waltz section with his left hand while playing!, superb!
He said "Escribí esto después de la muerte de
mi amigo John" (I
wrote this after the death of my friend John). People lifted their arms
and saluted half Paul, half John like pointing the Madrid sky. Really
touching. Then Paul added in English that sometimes when something happens
it's too difficult to find the words to express, and also one can say
some
words that doesn't fit exactly to which one really feels. Whatever the
thing Paul started "Here today" with all his sentiment poured
on the guitar and
the voice too.
Paul mentioned "Esto es en memoria de mi amigo George" (this
is in memory
of my friend George) and started a 'rounded' and fulfilled "All
things must
pass" with a beautiful work of the sliding guitar with Brian with
bottleneck; I
think that a metal one not the glass type-When finishing Paul said"Ringo!?
Ringo!?"
and started "Yellow submarine","in the town where
I was born."
The audience was delighted and a giant singalong of"we all
live in a yellow submarine,..." refrain. After that Paul crossedhis
arms above his head like expressing "finish now" .and people
continued.
"Esta es la primera gira en que toco esta canción en directo"
(this is
the first tour in which I play this song live) and stareds the wonderful
"I'll follow the sun" with a precious voice and sharp strumming
(nice chords hey!).
After that it seemed that Paul was going to play a new song, and he
started
a reprise -again- of "I'll follow the sun", causing an amusing
reaction.
He did the introduction of Wix on keyboards "Gracias Madrid! me
gustaria presentaros a nuestro gran pianista Wix Wickens" (Thanks
Madrid! I'd like to introduce to you our great pianist Wix Wickens).
Paul sat at the magic piano and started the delicious "For no one"
fulfilled
of exquisite sentiment and great arrangement. People really enjoyed
it!
Newly Paul says oh-oh, and when people answeedr he added 'perfecto!'
. He
picked the acoustic, and he started "I'll follow the sun";
people cracked after
the third start, and although it's an snippet the effect was really
amusing
like only Paul could do.
"Calico skies" arrived perfect with all the beautiful quick
chord sequence; after that Paul went to "I've just seen a face"
(I imagined him at auntie Jin garden). Paul made some pouting with his
lips and seemed to feel that's was really a c&w theme. Even telling
some words briefly
with Rusty, he really looked pleased and turned up some American for
a minute.
"Eleanor Rigby" received with pleasure and accompanied with
a giant
singalong in the refrains.
Paul changed to Hofner again and started an energetic "Drive my
car"; it's widely noticed that people were "wetted in Beatles
spirit" to their bones. Lots of fun and big "beep-beep"
by everyone.
"Penny Lane" pushed up closer to heaven, a really wonderful
piece that made us to
travel in time at past decades, really careful arrangement and a British
flag
zig-zagging on two screens.
The rapture arrived with "Get back"; people stood up and all
were
clapping their hands even dancing. Areal authentic blast in the audience.
Curiously the sound wasn't so good then, perhaps people choked the zillions
watts
blaring!
Paul introduced "Ahora un disco. comprendo si español, un
músico
extraoordinario, Brian Ray" (Now a disc,..i understand yes Spanish
(?), an extraordinary musician, Brian Ray!" Brian Ray who spoke
barely in
Spanish said 'felicidades al novio y a la novia' ('Happiness to the
suitor
& the fiancee') (I didn't got it at first but my sisters told me
that was
a clear reference to the recent wedding of our Prince Borbon and Laeticia).
"Band on the run" with a beautiful stage imitating flames
with fabric
stripes and lights.
Paul turned his back to the audience. He extended his arms balancing
from
one side to another like doing the "plane". "Back in
the USSR"; people again
stood up and enjoyed the raucous straight rocker!, fabulous.
Paul introduced Abe Laboriel Jr. "Y aquí está nuestro
fabuloso batería"
(and here is our fabulous drummer). Abe started to speak like a evil
tail
storyteller to kids..."Hola Madrid!,..cómo están?,
están listos
para el rock? y lo más importante, están listos para el
fuego?" (Hello
Madrid!, how are you?, are you ready for rock?, and what's more important,
are you ready for the fireworks)."Live and let die", really
impressive and lots
of firecrackers.
Paul switched to Gibson Les Paul and played "I've got a feeling"
with a
millisecond delay (volunteered not from machines) on the "I've
got
a feeling" shout, curious sensation!
After that Paul said "Muchas gracias yo estudié español
en la
escuela cuando yo tenía 11 años, en Liverpool" (Thanks
so much, I've
studied Spanish in school when I was 11 years old, in Liverpool) and
recited "Tres conejos en un árbol, que sí que no,
que los he visto yo" (Three
rabbits upon a tree, it's 'yes' , it's no, that I saw them). People
were
completely surrendered. It's always fantastic to hear Paul speak in
Spanish.
Paul played the energetic "Lady Madonna" really rocking!,
people got
delighted. Still at the magic piano Paul attacked a wonderful "Hey
Jude" people
lifted and some lighters (just a few! since it's bad seen to smoke,
nobody had
lighters at hand). His plenty voice and great performance (even the
shout before the
long refrain and fade out is neat!) his performance lasted minutes and
Paul included his "orchestra director" role pointing "ahora
los hombres"
(now the men) "ahora las mujeres" (now the women). Meanwhile
he moved
his waist like a woman and kept a hand at the back of his head "Ahora
todos" (now
everybody) The audience was in a true mantra session really captive.
The concert seemed to get to the end (yeah, we all know that's false!),
the band was gone after salutes and lights are off. People began to
shout
"Otra!, otra!" (another one, another one!). After few minutes
Paul
reappeared and this time with the acoustic guitar (no, not the black
one!, which I
didn't see during this concert). He played "Yesterday" with
so much sentiment
very impressive. We never know if it's the memories or just that Paul
played better each time.
After that he sat on the piano and played "Let it be" with
people doing a giant
singalong and a few lighters too, really moving.
Using his hofner, he played "I saw her standing there", blasting,
energetic,
curiously reminded me more the "Hamburg" version than the
album one. The touch
of heaviness made of the song really a raucous rocker making people
to dance.
Again, seemed all finished and new salutes abandoning the
stage and lights off. People asking for more.
This time Paul appeared carrying a big Spanish flag up and down the
stage; people were nervous. Paul wore the "no more landmines"
red
t-shirt.
Paul got his Hofner and started "Helter skelter", wow!, sounded
terrific, and the images of Paul on video turned fuzzy (intentionally)
of course
with images of a helter skelter trip running fast. Guitars and bass
sounded really impressive and Paul's voice really nice; not exactly
the white album one, but it was so efficient.
After that "Sgt Peppers/The end" with reddish Gibson and a
great guitar duel'; the end have a perfect feeling for to transport
us to
the mythical time of Abbey Road and most of all for feeling that
Beatles finished' there their work just for opening wide the gates of
legend.
At that point Paul began to point somewhere in the audience, and
everybody
turned their eyes to the right corner of stage..someone handed over
to Paul a strange item, what's that?; Paul got it pleasantly and mounts
it
above his head.The camera focused it and resulted a fluffy dolls of
*three
rabbits one at other side in a line; the rabbits were playing a drum!
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New Paul McCartney US 2005 Tour Itinerary
September 16 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
September 17 - Tampa/St. Pete, FL - Times Forum
September 20 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
September 22 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
September 23 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
September 26 - Boston, MA - Fleet Center
September 27 - Boston, MA - Fleet Center
September 30 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
October 1 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
October 4 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
October 5 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
October 8 - Washington DC - MCI Center
October 10 - Toronto, Canada - Air Canada Centre
October 14 - Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
October 15 - Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
October 18 - Chicago, IL - United Center
October 19 - Chicago, IL - United Center October 22 - Columbus, OH -
Value City Arena
October 23 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
October 26 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center October 27 - Des Moines,
IA - Wells Fargo Arena
October 30 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
November 1 - Denver, CO - The Pepsi Center
November 3 - Seattle, WA - KeyArena
November 4 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
November 7 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
November 8 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
November 11 - Anaheim, CA - Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
November 12 - Anaheim, CA - Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
November 16 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
November 19 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
November 20 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
November 23 - Phoenix, AZ - Glendale Arena
November 25 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
November 26 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
November 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
November 30 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
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