A Fab Time in Fargo
We just returned from Fargo after a whirlwind 24 hours of music and fun... and I just have to write about it. [ed. note: you don't have to read it... but if you do, that's great, too!]
Our evening with Sir Paul started with a celebratory drink (and pizza) at Old Chicago. July 12th also happened to be my in-laws' 46th wedding anniversary, which made the evening even more special.
We got to the Fargodome relatively early, but there were already hundreds of people lined up to get in.
The show started at precisely 8:00 p.m. (I guess it's that English punctuality). Paul's appearance was preceded by a 30 minute video montage of his life/career accompanied with a funky Beatles/McCartney music mix.
By the time the video was finished, the audience was getting restless -- the timing was perfect for the appearance of a former Beatle.
An image of the iconic Hofner violin bass appeared on the video screens as the pre-recorded mix built to a crescendo and the Fargodome houselights blacked out.
Show time.
And there he was.
Funny, because the first time I saw Paul McCartney I thought to myself, "He looks just like him!" The same thing happened this time. This guy in a suit jacket casually walked on stage and he looked just like him.
Paul's first words were "Good evening, Fargo! Yah, ya betcha!"
The 17,000 fans were instantly won over (as if they needed to be!).
One of the endearing things about seeing McCartney live is that he loves to chat. All he would have to do is stand on stage and play hit after timeless hit and the audience would get more than their money's worth, but Paul is a storyteller.
He read many signs in the audience, including one that said "I HAVE HOME MADE COOKIES!"
For some reason, I thought that was pretty funny.
Paul told a story about Jimi Hendrix (after finishing a kick-ass cover of Hendrix's "Foxy Lady," which was tagged on at the end of an equally ass-kicking version of the Wings classic "Let Me Roll It"). Paul explained Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released on a Friday night. Two nights later, on Sunday night, Hendrix opened his own show with "Sergeant Pepper." Hendrix then asked if Eric Clapton was in the audience (he was), because Hendrix wanted Clapton to tune his guitar for him.
Clapton told him to tune his own damn guitar.
For some reason, I thought that was pretty funny, too.
After strapping on a beautiful Epiphone Casino, Paul pointed to it and said, "This is the actual guitar I used to record this next song," before the band launched into "Paperback Writer."
Perhaps the most amusing story came after "Back in the USSR." "We played Red Square a few years ago," he explained. "They really liked that song."
Then he continued, "I got to meet all these Russian government officials. And the Minister of Defense of Russia came up to me and said, 'I learn English from Beatles. Hello, Goodbye.'" Paul shrugged his shoulders and said, "That's a true story!"
We were treated to all sorts of Beatles gems and many rarities, such as "Lovely Rita," and "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" from Sergeant Pepper's, "And I Love Her," from A Hard Day's Night, "I've Just Seen a Face" from Help!, "All Together Now" from Yellow Submarine, and a rousing version of "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da," from The Beatles.
The show climaxed with a terrific pyro/laser display during "Live and Let Die," a moving version of "Let It Be," and an epic sing-along of "Hey Jude."
That was the first two hours and twenty minutes. He then came back out for two encores lasting 30 more minutes. All told, he performed for nearly three hours.
Did I mention he's 72 years old? Unbelievable.
He ended his final encore with the medley that closes side two of Abbey Road and an all out jam session with his amazing band, Rusty Anderson, Brian Ray, Wix Wickens and Abe Laboriel, Jr. What a terrific band.
The show ended with Paul singing those immortal words:
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make..."
A perfect ending to a perfect night.
Our evening with Sir Paul started with a celebratory drink (and pizza) at Old Chicago. July 12th also happened to be my in-laws' 46th wedding anniversary, which made the evening even more special.
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| My attempt at a group selfie. Old Chicago in Fargo, 12 July 2014, before the show. |
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| The Wife and myself, ready for Sir Paul! |
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| Waiting in line with a bunch of other McCartney maniacs. |
The show started at precisely 8:00 p.m. (I guess it's that English punctuality). Paul's appearance was preceded by a 30 minute video montage of his life/career accompanied with a funky Beatles/McCartney music mix.
By the time the video was finished, the audience was getting restless -- the timing was perfect for the appearance of a former Beatle.
An image of the iconic Hofner violin bass appeared on the video screens as the pre-recorded mix built to a crescendo and the Fargodome houselights blacked out.
Show time.
And there he was.
Funny, because the first time I saw Paul McCartney I thought to myself, "He looks just like him!" The same thing happened this time. This guy in a suit jacket casually walked on stage and he looked just like him.
 |
| A view from our seats, although stage seemed closer than this. McCartney opened with "Eight Days a Week," from Beatles for Sale. |
Paul's first words were "Good evening, Fargo! Yah, ya betcha!"
The 17,000 fans were instantly won over (as if they needed to be!).
One of the endearing things about seeing McCartney live is that he loves to chat. All he would have to do is stand on stage and play hit after timeless hit and the audience would get more than their money's worth, but Paul is a storyteller.
He read many signs in the audience, including one that said "I HAVE HOME MADE COOKIES!"
For some reason, I thought that was pretty funny.
Paul told a story about Jimi Hendrix (after finishing a kick-ass cover of Hendrix's "Foxy Lady," which was tagged on at the end of an equally ass-kicking version of the Wings classic "Let Me Roll It"). Paul explained Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released on a Friday night. Two nights later, on Sunday night, Hendrix opened his own show with "Sergeant Pepper." Hendrix then asked if Eric Clapton was in the audience (he was), because Hendrix wanted Clapton to tune his guitar for him.
Clapton told him to tune his own damn guitar.
For some reason, I thought that was pretty funny, too.
After strapping on a beautiful Epiphone Casino, Paul pointed to it and said, "This is the actual guitar I used to record this next song," before the band launched into "Paperback Writer."
Perhaps the most amusing story came after "Back in the USSR." "We played Red Square a few years ago," he explained. "They really liked that song."
Then he continued, "I got to meet all these Russian government officials. And the Minister of Defense of Russia came up to me and said, 'I learn English from Beatles. Hello, Goodbye.'" Paul shrugged his shoulders and said, "That's a true story!"
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| A shot from the video screen during "Let It Be." |
The show climaxed with a terrific pyro/laser display during "Live and Let Die," a moving version of "Let It Be," and an epic sing-along of "Hey Jude."
 |
| They say the show wasn't quite sold out, but the Fargodome looked packed to me. This is during "Hey Jude." |
That was the first two hours and twenty minutes. He then came back out for two encores lasting 30 more minutes. All told, he performed for nearly three hours.
Did I mention he's 72 years old? Unbelievable.
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| "Yesterday" |
The show ended with Paul singing those immortal words:
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make..."
A perfect ending to a perfect night.
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| I had to post this picture. Paul is leaving the stage and crossed right in front of us. The Wife snapped this just as somebody raised their hand in the air (because Paul was waving at us), totally blocking him out of the pic (the guy with the flashlight is guiding Paul's way). What a cool shot this would have been. Damn! |
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| The aftermath with about a ton of confetti on stage and floating in the air. |
