If indeed the "Up and Coming Tour" is over, evaluating the tour can't be anything but incredibly positive for Paul McCartney.
The reviews of the music from the mainstream critics were incredibly positive. (Check out the Hollywood Reporter on the Hollywood Bowl show, Miami Herald on the Miami show, Philadelphia Inquirer on Philadelphia show).
But the real highlight -- and probably an unexpected one - was how the concert reached out and touched fans -- and we're not just talking about the ones who were lucky enough to go on stage.
McCartney has always been an incredibly personable onstage. It's one of the things that fans love. So bringing fans on stage, as happened through the tour, were wonderful moments. Our story about the kids whose wish was to see him perform was another. The story we ran today about the couple who became engaged during his Pittsburgh show was another. None of this could really have been predicted.
Then again, as Rusty Anderson told us in a recent interview, "It’s just this great chemistry. We really enjoy ourselves. And there’s some sort of balance that seems to work."
How incredibly true.
There have been some indications, however, that the tour may continue a short time longer. In our opinion and that of many fans, why let such a good thing stop now?
(See pictures of Paul McCartney performing in Pittsburgh taken by Bob Gannon in the slideshow below.)
Related reading: Beatles 101: The most complete coverage of Paul McCartney's Up and Coming Tour
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Beatles Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner
Paul McCartney Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-34954-Paul-McCartney-Examiner
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Comments
Any reason why Macca avoided the Pacific Northwest?
I'm sure he will be back next year. Could be his demographic is stronger elsewhere.
Buy a thesaurus. "Incredible" isn't the only word to describe Sir Paul, his band, and this tour. Take it from someone who's seen this show numerous times on numerous locations.
It's so great that he is having fun, and us too! I do not understand, for the life of me me why he has not integrated some of his best songs such as: "Ever Present Past', "My Brave Face", "Night Before". I don't get it? There are so many other songs that are so strong and viable that he passes over . Having seen him every time, I don't really need to hear "Lady Madonna" again. There are so many other big and little songs he could mix in????
Actually he HAS changed the set; there were two different set lists he used on alterate shows in the middle of the show.
Don't forget, he is not putting a show together only for us "repeaters" he is putting together a show for the general public. Yes, he could include some of these other songs, but it is expected he will do certain songs and something from his most recent release. He HAS changed up things with Obladi Oblada, Mrs. Vanderbilt and Ram On just to name a few.
He's avoided the upper midwest since 2005 as well, which is odd since he gets some of his loudest crowds around here. He has more work to do! But I also hope he gets to some other countries this year...the rest of the world is getting mad at the US for being so greedy with Paul.
Well if he is done for this tour I hope he starts work on his own Anthology project. Cmon Paul. Give us part 1 1970-1979. Lots of b-sides, live, demo and unreleased material.
I'd rather you did it than someone else!
South America exists too
I am always surprised at the number of people I meet at Paul's shows that are going for the first time. They say they have wanted to go for years, but never could. I would think they would be crushed if he did not sing Yesterday, Hey Jude etc. I know the man next to me in Pittsburgh cried when he did the encores. It was his first time seeing him - someone gave him the tickets.
I think a pretty large percent of the audience has not seen him before. The ones I have met are totally blown away by the show. One young guy kept saying he was waiting for him to be 67 (last year), 'but he never was. He was relentless'. He was not a fan going in, but he was at shows end. He originally went because someone gave him a ticket and he said "what the heck, I'll see a pice of musical history".
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