FormerBeatle's show 'carries weight'

by Michael A. Kazanjian staff writer

Catching a glimpse of an exBeatie is like catching a glimpse of Haley's Cornet. First, it's hard to believe that you actually saw it, and second it's gone much too fast. On Tuesday, April 16, however, Paul McCartney extended that glimpse into a two and a half hour musi_cfest and jammed with songs he has written over the last 35 plus years.

In his first tour in nearly 10 years, Sir McCartney has gotten over his fear of relying heavily on

Beatles' tunes.

Opening the show with "Hello, Goodbye" the stage was set for an eclectic mix of songs that many of the 20,000 people in attendance will likely never hear played live again. He followed left McCartney standing alone. McCartney was. optimistic and quipped, "I think I can handle it."

McCartney, grasping the nakedness of the acoustic guitar, played beautiful renditions of "Blackbird," "Mother Nature's Son" and his tribute to John Lennon, "Here Today."

Playing a ukulele that George Harrison had given him as a gift, McCartney played "Something," in memory of his recently passed band mate.

The band came back about five or six songs later and picked up right where they left off.

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Extremely vibrant and fresh versions of "Band on the Run" and "Can't Buy Me Love" were soon to follow.

McCartney rounded out the show with "'Live and Let Die," which there are even hints of a ~bly slightly erotic dimension in the relationship between the brother and sister.

The playe,s in "The Curse of the Starving ClasJ;· portray~ characters set against a backgt()Ulld of:contrt>v¥sial themes.

Though a live, wooJlylamb is brought on stage, this play is far from cute. "The Curse of the Starving Class" is not a play for

The acting fo this play was, give you on life rnake it all for the most part, phenomenal. worthwhile. The themes it The performances by Christian addresses are important to sociLisa.k and Amanda Schoonover ety today, and the play's treatin the parts of Wesley •••and ment of the theme <>falcoholism Emma were remarkable. Lisa.k J believe could teach everyone portrayed the confused, idealis- valmible lessons. tic character ofWe.5ley wonder- You can still catch ''The fully. and Schoonover was won- Curse of the •Starving Class" derful as ••the teenage rebel this weekend at the Emma. They both did good j9bs Montgomery County Cultural <>fplaying characters that are Center in Norristown. The theyounger than their own ages, ater is located at 208 DeKalb and the way they interacted with Street in Norristown. The show each other created a truly believ- is April 26, 27 and 28 at 8:00 able brother/sister relationship. PM. Tickets are $16.' pyrotechnics that left McCartney clutching his heart. McCartney and the band finished the concert off with number one Beatie singles, "Let It Be" and "Hey Jude." was accompanied by thundering up "Hello, Goodbye" with "Jet," one of Wing's many signature songs. McCartney's voice was right on target, hitting the high notes where the high notes went and transforming his voice into the menacing growl that we heard on the White Album's "Why Don't We Do It In the Road," when the occasion called for it.

Paul McCartney recently came to Philadelphia on tour supporting his latest CD, "Driving Rain" (above).

During "Carry That Weight," McCartney forgot the words to the middle eight and substituted them with, "This is the bit where I don't know the words," proving that, yes, even Beatles are human.

The 59-year-old rocker waved or bowed after each song and the audience was with him every step of the way. Jumping between his Hofner bass, electric and acoustic guitar to piano and keyboard, McCartney seemed to be at home with whatever he was playing.

About 45 minutes into the show, the band left the stage and

McCartney and the band left the stage, but were back before people started chanting -"Paul, Paul, Paul" and the encore started. As far as encores go, this was as grand and fantastic as they come. The encore included hits like "The Long and Winding Road," "I Saw Her Standing There," "Yesterday," "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "The End." The energy in his voice and the excitement in his body and his face would be enough to make you think that this was the first time he had ever played these songs.

McCartney made sure that this wasn't just a concert, it was an experience.