Videos: Paul McCartney Charms Brooklyn With Beatles Songs Galore At Barclays Center

Ben Yakas

Published Jun 9, 2013

Modified Jun 9, 2013

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Ben Yakas

Published Jun 9, 2013

Modified Jun 9, 2013

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Paul McCartney has been carrying some serious weight for a long time now: as the last living member of The Beatles not named Ringo, he has become The Beatles ambassador to the universe. He's expected to travel the world every few years providing millions of people with the chance to ob-la-di ob-la-da for a couple of hours to their hearts' content. It's a role he's embraced since the late 1980's, and he very clearly loves it. Which is why he paused several times between songs last night at Barclays Center to soak in the adoration of the crowd, or recall a story of people telling him The Beatles' music had changed their lives. "At an event this cool," he said early on in the evening, "I just want to take a moment to myself to drink it all in."

And while no one could argue that he hasn't earned the right to that adoration, McCartney doesn't skimp on presentation or content in his latest set. McCartney and his four completely adequate younger bandmates (drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. deserves a special shout out for handling the toughest harmonies while keeping time) played a 38-song set (including 26 Beatles songs!) over 2 & 1/2 generous hours to the delight of boogying moms and hollering dads. McCartney's voice is a shadow of the crisp, melodic instrument it once was, but he and the group make up for it with the reverential treatment of songs like "We Can Work It Out" and "Let It Be." Despite the fact that McCartney clearly relishes rocking out with the younger lads ("Helter Skelter" and "Back In The USSR" were both particularly raunchy), he actually sounded his best on the quieter songs like "And I Love Her" and "Here Today."

There were anecdotes about Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, there was an amazing fireworks and flames display during "Live And Let Die," there were lots of dedications and tributes to friends and family long gone: "Maybe I'm Amazed" to Linda McCartney, "Here Today" to John Lennon, a ukulele take of "Something" to George Harrison, "My Valentine" to wife Nancy Shevell, and "Another Day" to producer Phil Ramone.

The best part of these recent McCartney tours is his willingness to dive into his unbelievably deep back catalogue and pull out some rarities and never-played-live classics. On the current "Out There" setlist, the premieres have included jubilant set opener "Eight Days A Week," the children's ditty "All Together Now," the horny "Lovely Rita," the nostalgic "Your Mother Should Know," and an unexpected take on Lennon's somewhat forgotten "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!"

Of the non-Beatles tunes, "Listen To What The Man Said" revealed itself as a herky jerky proto-New Wave song when stripped of its schmaltzy production; it's also ridiculously catchy, despite the cheesy synth sax-like lead instrument. But the best part of the Wings portion of the show was being reminded that the songs from Band On The Run are just as strong as anything he did with The Beatles—the title track, "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five," "Mrs. Vanderbilt" and "Let Me Roll It" were some of the strongest performances of the night.

It's hard to imagine any Beatles fan not being extremely satisfied coming out of the show—McCartney would never fuck up "Get Back," "Day Tripper," "Blackbird," "All My Loving," or the closing Abbey Road medley. Who knows how many hundreds of times he's played "Hey Jude" over the years—when it gets to the extended outro, nothing matters to him but those 'na na na's.'