Concert Review: Paul McCartney at the Target Center

Paul McCartney at Target Center, Minneapolis, performing "Let's Go Crazy" in tribute to Prince, May 4, 2016.

I’ve seen Paul McCartney in concert five times. I reviewed his shows in 2013 and 2014 on this blog. So, what more is there to say about him in 2016? He’s still the same amazing, energetic, engaging performer he’s always been. He seems ageless, as he looks and sounds pretty much the same as he did back in his Beatles days. He’s still able to hit all of those high notes on “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.” 

McCartney’s current tour is called “One On One,” which doesn’t seem to have any deep meaning, since it’s not a solo tour, but he’s Paul McCartney, and he can call his tours whatever he wants to. McCartney has toured with the same band since 2002, and they are all well-versed in bringing his timeless songs to life on stage. Keyboardist Paul “Wix” Wickens has been with Macca since 1989, and he is an expert at capturing the diverse sounds of the Beatles songs that Paul plays. Guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray and drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr., have all been with McCartney since his 2002 tour.

While the set list features many familiar McCartney classics like “Live and Let Die,” “Hey Jude,” and “Maybe I’m Amazed,” Paul has been performing some songs he’s never sung before in concert, like “You Won’t See Me,” from Rubber Soul, and the Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do.” It’s a treat to hear these songs live for the first time. Incredibly enough, Macca even started playing one of his oddest songs, “Temporary Secretary,” from 1980’s McCartney II, in 2015, and it’s made the set list for the “One On One” tour.

Some of the highlights of the concert included a beautiful version of “Here, There and Everywhere,” played by Paul on the piano, “Here Today,” and “Something,” the always touching tributes to John Lennon and George Harrison, and the rocking “Back in the USSR.” As a nice touch for the hometown crowd, Paul played a little bit of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” at the end of “Hi, Hi, Hi.” Paul also shared a story about staying at the same resort as Prince on New Year’s Eve 2015, and watching Prince perform to bring in the new year. 

To sum up, Paul McCartney always puts on a great show, and I’m very happy that he included the Twin Cities on his tour itinerary for 2016.

Setlist:

• A Hard Day’s Night
• Save Us
• Can't Buy Me Love
• Letting Go
• Temporary Secretary
• Let Me Roll It
• I've Got A Feeling
• My Valentine
• Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
• Here, There And Everywhere
• Maybe I’m Amazed
• We Can Work It Out
• In Spite Of All The Danger
• You Won't See Me
• Love Me Do
• And I Love Her
• Blackbird
• Here Today
• Queenie Eye
• New
• Fool On The Hill
• Lady Madonna
• Four Five Seconds
• Eleanor Rigby
• Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
• Something
• Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
• Band On The Run
• Back In The U.S.S.R.
• Let It Be
• Live And Let Die
• Hey Jude

Encore:

• Yesterday
• Hi, Hi, Hi
• Let's Go Crazy (Prince tribute)
• Birthday
• Golden Slumbers