High Life: Macca In Edmonton

"Let's go, let's go
Down to Junior's Farm where I wanna lay low
Low life, high life, oh let's go!" ~ Junior's Farm

I knew we were in for a good night the moment Sir Paul hit the stage dressed in an iconic collarless suit with red-piping while clutching his 1963 Höfner bass in his left hand.  No Beatle boots, alas - just a pair of sneakers. Times change.

As the woman in front of us leapt to her feet waiving her neon-yellow sign exclaiming, "I've Waited 50 Years To Meet You!" the band kicked into "Magical Mystery Tour." The temperature may have been an icy -16°C outside, but inside it was just right.

Highlights included jubilant romps through "All My Loving," "Band on the Run," "Back in the USSR," as well as tributes to Jimi Hendrix (a "Foxy Lady" jam), John Lennon ("A Day In The Life/Give Peace a Chance") and George Harrison ("Something" on ukelele).

(Back in the USSR)

The first Beatles album I owned was Let It Be and to this day George's blistering solo on the title track still feels like pure euphoria and guitarist Rusty Anderson nailed it. The pyrotechnics on "Live and Let Die" were so intense we felt the heat in our seats and when the Edmonton Police Pipe Band joined Macca for "Mull of Kintyre" I didn't know if I should weep or wail.



For the first encore Paul invited a fan onstage to grant her her wish - an autograph on her torso for "the only tattoo her father would allow" before the band launched into "Day Tripper" and "Get Back."

The evening finally finshed over three hours later with Paul, Rusty and Brian Ray trading riffs on the classic medley from Abbey Road: "Golden Slumbers/ Carry That Weight / The End":

"And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make"

Not too bad for a 70-year-old Beatle in suspenders.
 

It was McCartney's first time in Edmonton and the city rolled out the red carpet with Mayor Stephen Mandel making an official proclamation in honour of his visit. The "On The Run" tour wraps up in Edmonton with its second show Thursday.

Set List

Magical Mystery Tour
Junior's Farm
All My Loving
Jet
Got to Get You Into My Life
Sing The Changes
The Night Before
Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
Paperback Writer
The Long & Winding Road
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
My Valentine
Maybe I'm Amazed
I've Just Seen A Face
And I Love Her
Blackbird
Here Today (For John)
Dance Tonight
Mrs. Vandebilt
Eleanor Rigby
Something (For George)
Band on the Run
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Back in the USSR
I've Got A Feeling
A Day In The Life / Give Peace a Chance
Let It Be
Live & Let Die
Hey Jude

Encore

Lady Madonna
Day Tripper (Paul signs a woman's torso for her future tattoo)
Get Back

Encore 2

Yesterday
Mull of Kintyre (w/ Edmonton Police Pipe Band)
Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End