Surprises at Paul McCartney’s “Up and Coming Tour” (videos)
Is a re-release of his solo albums next?
Paul McCartney finished his somewhat unofficial “Good Evening” concert tours a couple of months ago, but his fans have spent that time speculating about what songs he would perform for his next concert tour. Last night, the rumors were put to a rest as the first night of the “Up and Coming” tour went underway at Phoenix, Arizona’s Jobing arena.
Thirty-six songs were performed, ranging from the Beatles’1963 hit “All My Loving” to last year’s Emmy nominated “(I Want To) Come Home”. Though most of set list was identical to that of the previous tour, some of his newer solo tunes, like “Only Mama Knows” and ”Flaming Pie” got cut along with some Beatles classics, like “Drive My Car” and “I Saw Her Standing There”. Those songs were replaced by well-loved Wings gems like “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” and “Venus and Mars/Rockshow”.
Perhaps there is a specific reason behind this. Ever since the earlier Paul McCartney solo albums disappeared from iTunes last summer, it has been speculated that they will be remastered and re-released in a similar fashion as the Beatles albums were on 9-9-09. Further evidence of this is the news that McCartney has moved the rights of his back catalog from EMI to One Little Indian, who released Electric Arguments. Plus, it was rumored that his other label, Hear Music, was re-releasing both Wingspanand All the Best.However, the biggest moment in last night’s show was his performance of “I’m Looking Through You”, which neither The Beatles nor he has ever performed live in concert. He might make changes to his set list later on, but as for now, here’s the whole thing.
Venus and Mars/ Rock Show
Jet
All My Loving
Got To Get You Into My Life
Highway
Let Me Roll It/ Foxy Lady
The Long and Winding Road
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
(I Want To) Come Home
My Love
I’m Looking Through You
Every Night
Two of Us
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Mrs. Vandebilt
Eleanor Rigby
Something
Letting Go
Sing the Changes
Band on the Run
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Back in the USSR
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
Day Tripper
Lady Madonna
Get Back
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) / The End
I'm one Paul's biggest fans. Since 1964. Glad to see he's added some songs to his TIRED set list. He's been touring off and on for the last 20 years and he tends to play the SAME songs over and over again. I saw WINGS at the Kingdome in 76, again in 90, and twice here in Portland. I vowed never to pay the money again unless he really updates that set list !!
Posted by: Mr. Beatle | March 30, 2010 at 08:16 AM
Paul played three hours of high-energy rock n' roll this past Sunday night here in the desert. He really brought the house down doing "Helter Skelter" for a second encore! And... he played his Hofner bass for most of the night!!
Posted by: John Ross Hart | March 30, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Wish I could have been there John! Must have been a blast!
Posted by: Bob Karm | March 30, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Paul hasn't been this good in years!
Posted by: John Ross Hart | March 30, 2010 at 03:05 PM
I love this set list! The first 2 songs are identical to the "Wings Over America" tour. I am glad that he is mixing things up also. But really, who gets tired of hearing Beatles classics by the fellow who co-wrote them? And my god.......for a man pushing 70 the number of songs that he covers in a concert puts to shame a lot of rockers who are half his age.
Which reminds of another British Invasion act, The Moody Blues, who seem to be on a perpetual tour ever since about 1981. They never struck me as a band that would like the life on the road but my god do those guys ever stop? I really don't know how older rock bands do it.
Posted by: Macky Wacky | March 30, 2010 at 11:19 PM