Paul McCartney/On the Run Tour
Date: November 11, 2012
Venue: Scottrade Center, St Louis, Missouri
Even at age 70 Paul McCartney can bounce around like a youngster. Despite a trip off of a riser towards the end of the show (Macca quickly hopped up, struck a pose and began his guitar duel with Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on the solo riffs during “The End”) McCartney and company played for a solid 3 hours, introducing some 
new Beatles and Wings songs to their live catalog.
After taking the summer off, St. Louis saw the beginning of the second leg of the “On the Run” tour. The Fab Five (besides McCartney, Anderson and Ray the group included longtime members Paul “Wix” Wickens (Keyboards) and drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr.) kicked off the show with “Magical Mystery Tour.” before sliding into “Junior’s Farm.” After a rousing “Drive My Car” – with the audience supplying the “Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep YEAHS – McCartney removed his jacket. As the woman in the crowd began to “Woo” he smiled and informed them “That is the wardrobe change of the evening.”
With a playlist full of Beatles and Wings classics, the band managed to sneak in some lesser known songs, including “Sing the Changes” (The Firemen) and “My Valentine,” a song McCartney recently penned for his wife, Nancy. After the first group of songs McCartney held aloft what has to be the most recognizable musical instrument in the history of rock and roll: his Hofner 500/1 violin bass. Later in the show McCartney strapped on his old Epiphone Casino guitar to introduce the song he wrote on it, “Paperback Writer.” There were other song snippets played as well. “Let Me Roll It” ended with a quick, loud snippet of “Foxy Lady,” with McCartney giving a quick shout out to the other left handed musical genius, Jimi Hendrix. Later, during “A Day in the Life” the song evolved into an audience inducing “Give Peace a Chance.” He also paid tribute to his former Beatles mates no longer with us. A touching accoustic “Here Today,” a song he wrote to John Lennon, had him brushing away a tear at the end while a simple version of “Something” on a ukulele given to him by George Harrison ended as a full blown rendition.
As with everytime I’ve seen McCartney (this makes number six since the 1980s), his back up band was tight. But even they are not above reproach. Deducting that Rusty Anderson had made a minor mistake during his solo on “And I Love Her,” Paul admonished him and had him play just the solo over again. And I’m pleased to say that the one song I’ve wanted to hear live and never have, “Maybe I’m Amazed,” was finally played. I can now die happy!
The audience was packed with music fans of all ages – from senior citizens to teenagers to a young boy in his stroller whose parents were staying in the same hotel we were. He may not remember the music he heard but years from now he can proudly tell people that he saw Paul McCartney live!
SET LIST
Magical Mystery Tour, Junior’s Farm, All My Loving, Jet, Drive My Car, Sing the Changes, The Night Before, Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady, Paperback Writer, The Long and Winding Road, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Maybe I’m Amazed, I’ve Just Seen a Face, And I Love Her, My Valentine, Blackbird, Here Today, Dance Tonight, Mrs. Vandebilt, Eleanor Rigby, Something, Band on the Run, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Back in the U.S.S.R., I’ve Got a Feeling, A Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance, Let It Be, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude.
FIRST ENCORE
Lady Madonna, Birthday, Day Tripper, Get Back
SECOND ENCORE
Yesterday, Helter Skelter, Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
Photo Credit: Rob Pue
Paul Mcartney is a great singer. I enjoyed his concert performance.