Sir Paul McCartney returned to Syracuse on Saturday, June 4th to open up the first concert at the JMA Wireless Dome (formerly Carrier Dome). With a near full capacity crowd of over 35,000 in attendance, Paul McCartney was ready to rock Syracuse with a nearly three hour set.
With mounting anticipation, the show began around 8:20 p.m., as Paul McCartney took the stage to a massive roar of applause alongside his backing band which included Brian Ray, Rusty Anderson, Paul Wickens, and Abe Laboriel, Jr. Seeming to really take in the Syracuse welcome, McCartney walked around the stage briefly waving to the crowd and smiling before putting his hand up into the air behind the mic and kicking off the set with The Beatles classic, “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
Throughout the set, fans were treated to his versatility in playing multiple instruments which included piano, bass, guitar, and ukulele. When McCartney wasn’t singing or playing an instrument, he engaged the audience with stories and memories with other members of the Beatles.
The concert featured tons of Beatles hits, including “Lady Madonna”, “You Never Give Me Your Money”, “Blackbird.” The energy of the crowd only grew as the set progressed later into the evening with the audience singing popular tunes, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “Get Back.” Continuing on with some of the biggest hits including “Band on the Run” into a sing along of “Let it Be” followed by a fiery display of pyrotechnics and fireworks during “Live and Let Die.”
The climax of the performance this evening was during “Hey Jude” when the entire audience sung along for several minutes to the “Na na na Na Na Na Na!” This was one of the most amazing experiences to be a part of with just a feeling of unity among everyone, especially given vast struggles currently in the world.
Paul McCartney left the stage saying goodnight, however not many people were so easily convinced that he was done. As if his 30-song set wasn’t enough, the band returned to the stage with thundering applause waving the Ukranian Flag, UK Flag, Pride Flag, and New York Flag.
With a massive 6-song encore that included favorites such as “I’ve Got a Feeling” which McCartney performed essentially a duet with John Lennon. The screens broadcast footage of Lennon performing on a rooftop from Peter Jackson’s “Get Back” documentary, which sounded as if he were on stage performing right there with Paul and synched perfectly. Finishing out the encore with “Helter Skelter”, “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry That Weight”, and ending with the fitting Beatle song “The End.” Paul McCartney delivered what many can consider the greatest concert they have ever seen.
Being able to witness the inspiration for just about all modern music was awe-inspiring. Paul McCartney has a way about him that just commands your attention, and the performance he continues to give over a 60-year career as he pushes 80 years old cements his legacy as an all time great. This was truly a unifying and magical music experience that I would recommend anyone to see if given the chance.
Setlist
Can’t Buy Me Love (The Beatles)>Junior’s Farm (Wings) >Letting Go (Wings)>Got to Get You Into My Life (The Beatles)>Come On to Me>Let Me Roll It (Wings)>Getting Better (The Beatles)>Let ‘Em In (Wings)>My Valentine>Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five (Wings)>Maybe I’m Amazed>I’ve Just Seen a Face (The Beatles)>In Spite of All the Danger (The Quarrymen)>Love Me Do (The Beatles)>Dance Tonight>Blackbird (The Beatles)>Here Today (tribute to John Lennon)>Lady Madonna (The Beatles)>Fuh You>Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (The Beatles)>Something (The Beatles)>Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (The Beatles)>You Never Give Me Your Money (The Beatles)>She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (The Beatles)>Get Back (The Beatles)>Band on the Run (Wings)>Let It Be (The Beatles)>Live and Let Die (Wings)>Hey Jude (The Beatles)
Encore
I’ve Got a Feeling>Birthday (The Beatles)>Helter Skelter (The Beatles)>Golden Slumbers (The Beatles)>Carry That Weight (The Beatles)>The End (The Beatles)
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