Rain doesn't phase fans at Paul McCartney's Atlanta concert

More than 40,000 people packed into Atlanta's Piedmont Park on Saturday for a concert most of them wouldn't surely forget. Sir Paul McCartney took the stage at about 8:40 pm and launched into The Beatles' tune "Drive My Car."

The show did not let up as he tore through some of his solo and Wings hits including "Jet," "Flaming Pie, "Let Me Roll It" and others. Some of the lesser known tunes really shined in the set though. The Band on the Run tune "Mrs. Vanderbilt" grooved along and got people singing "Ho, hey ho!" and "Sing the Changes" from The Fireman's new album Electric Arguments was incredibly phenomenal and uplifting. Images of Barack Obama formed in swirling lights behind the band throughout the song.


Ominous clouds had circled the park prior to McCartney's set, but did not produce rain until the end of "My Love." The rain got heavier and seemed quite fitting during the following songs, "Blackbird," about the civil rights movement, and "Here Today," a moving tribute to John Lennon. Eventually, the rain tapered off, but not until everyone was thoroughly drenched.

The show marked the 44-year anniversary of The Beatles 1965 show at Shea Stadium, which McCartney noted before playing a song from the Shea set, a rocking rendition of "I'm Down." It was followed by one of the most touching tributes of the night, a beautiful version of "Something" by George Harrison. The song started as a solo ukulele tune before the band joined in to finish the song as it sounds on Abbey Road.

The song of the set I was most skeptical of was "Paperback Writer." My skepticism was quickly squashed when the band pulled off the complex harmonies flawlessly. That led straight into the much-loved classic "A Day in the Life" which turned into into a rousing version of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."

McCartney closed the main portion of the set at the piano with three classics starting with "Let It Be," "Live and Let Die" and "Hey Jude." "Live and Let Die" was accompanied by huge fire pyrotechnics when the song kicked in and fireworks on stage followed throughout the heavier parts of the song. Once "Hey Jude" started, flashy pyrotechnics were replaced by the sheer jubilance of thousands of people singing along to the outro.

McCartney and the band only left the stage briefly before returning for three foot-stompers, "Day Tripper," "Lady Madonna" and an amazing version of "I Saw Her Standing There."

The band left and quickly returned as McCartney played a beautiful version of "Yesterday" before entering into the home-stretch of rockers. He and the band blew the proverbial roof of the park with "Helter Skelter" before hitting "Get Back." The show closed with the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)" which led into the closer "The End."

McCartney may be 67 years old, but his voice sounds as great as ever. He may not bound around the stage like a younger performer, but he is still an incredible showman and can still evoke more emotion with his voice than most performers could ever hope for. It was a concert that I'll certainly never forget.

[photos courtesy of loveyousave]

Set list:
Drive My Car
Jet
Only Mama Knows
Flaming Pie
Got To Get You Into My Life
Let Me Roll It > Foxey Lady
Highway
The Long and Winding Road
My Love
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Calico Skies
Mrs. Vanderbilt
Eleanor Rigby
Sing the Changes
Band on the Run
Back in the U.S.S.R.
I'm Down
Something
I've Got a Feeling
Paperback Writer
A Day In the Life > Give Peace a Chance
Let It Be
Live and Let Die
Hey Jude
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Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
I Saw Her Standing There
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Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Get Back
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)
The End




Irish band The Script opened the show and played an appalling set of bland pop music. They make Maroon 5 and The Fray look like Arcade Fire. Fortunately, the set was short. Most of the crowd did in my immediate sight-line did not seem amused by band's cheesy antics and bland sound. I'm sure the band will never forget the experience of opening for Paul McCartney, but most of the crowd will forget they ever saw The Script.