Just a follow up to the Hartford show...
Clear Channel's Jim Koplik, the promoter for the Hartford show, made some comments about Paul's show on his week's radio show on Thursday (He does a phone-in show every week taking questions about who is touring, who is or isn't coming to the area). He's a pretty up front guy, and is pretty accessible. First off, one of your posts was correct, it was Paul and his people who requested heightened security. Heightened security meant, according to Koplik, that all patrons had to be scanned with metal detector wands (he said they don't usually do this unless it's a band or artist notorious for having a rough crowd type of audience), and all bags had to be searched for cameras. People with cameras either had them taken away or were asked to lock them up in their vehicles, even small cameras and disposibles. Koplik says his organization doesn't own or manage the facility; I'm pretty sure the city owns it, but but Cablevision has the contract to manage the building (they also own and/or manage Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall). He said that if it were one of his facilities (the major outdoor venue and 7,000 seater theater are his), they would have only been rejecting patrons with professional type cameras and video and audio, and not bother with the people with point and shoot or disposible cameras, because it causes substantial delays. The fact that it was raining contributed to the delays as people went to the arena entrance inside the mall to get of the heavy rain (add a a very large merchandise stand outside the entrance in the mall, and that contributed to the crowd too). The facility security/management didn't direct people to other entrances to alleviate the queues at the mall entrance... Koplik said that he held the show for something like 30-40 minutes, and it cost him about $5,000 to do so (small potatoes compared to the take at the gate), but to his credit he felt they shouldn't start the show with so many people still waiting to get in. He also said in all his years of promoting (about 30 years!) when he walked around during the show he never saw so many smiling faces on so many people at a show, and he was really struck about the wide range of ages attending. He said promoting (promotion wise he pretty much has no competition in that arena for concerts...), Paul's show was by far the best ever put on in Hartford, and he's done over 600 shows at that arena. And he didn't agree that the crowd was not enthusiastic. He called them "reverent" and "awestruck" at times, that Paul finally played the state (no lack of trying on his part, the deal to get Paul in to the Yale Bowl fell through in 1990).
Update (10/8/02) From Ron Vazquez:
Not sure if anyone mentioned this before, a local tv reporter mentioned that Paul was singing "Hey, hey, we're the Monkees" as he was heading towards the stage.
Update (10/7/02) From Patti Murawski:
Paul arrived late to the Civic Center, at about 5:40, an hour later than expected. The weather may have delayed Paul's arrival as the remnants of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isadore rolled up the East Coast just in time for the day of the show.
Paul had the window nearly all the way down as they drove in off the street. Heather was sitting near the window closest to the curb, and Paul was leaning way over her, into the window with a very enthusiastic smile, waving to the fans. If you walked into the mall that wraps around the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, and stood at the entrance doors to the arena, you could hear the soundcheck. The show started late, as reported by others, but I believe two things contributed to the late start. Besides Paul arriving late and soundcheck going later than normal, there had been a major accident in the pouring (or is that driving?) rain out on one of the interstates that go through the Hartford area causing a backup which may have produced a large number of latecomers; the arena seemed to be only half full at 8:00 PM.Also, because of the rain, most of the crowd decided to enter through the mall entrance, where the crowd got backed up. I didn't think security was inadequate and slow to get people through, as someone else posted. I think it was just that people wanting to be out of the rain (and it was raining pretty heavily at times) crowded into the mall entrance to the arena causing the congestion at the gates there and delays in getting people inside.
The ironic thing is that I entered through one of the outer entrances (the one just outside the mall which was actually sheltered from the rain) and got through ticket takers and security in less than a minute; there were about 10 gates and no waiting. Though security was thorough at the entrance I used, it was speedy, and I was impressed with the efficiency.
The ages in the crowd varied greatly. To be sure, the baby boomers were a large part of the crowd, but there were plenty of kids, teens and twenties in the audience too, including 7 members of my extended family who ranged in age from 18 to 26, all very psyched that they were finally going to see Paul perform live.
Inside the arena, a handbill for the presale of Paul's upcoming live album was placed on each seat. A special presale card, which looked like a credit card, was being sold for $20 at the merchandise stands and is redeemable at FYE outlets when the CD is released in November.
The pre-show started around 8:35-8:40. Interesting changes to the preshow. I see two Degas ballerinas have been added to the tableau, striking poses and/or acting out scenes from his famous paintings. And what was that orgy scene of writhing bodies?!?
Paul hit the stage at about 8:50. He wore a black jacket with shiny mylar pinstripes, dark charcoal colored trousers, and red golf shirt. The crowd absolutely roared when he took the stage.
One of the people posting said the Hartford crowd was a disappointment, but I don't agree with that assessment. The audience was psyched (after being somewhat impatient that the show had started late with their clapping and cat calls). Even if there were some folks sitting, everyone I saw was enjoying the show and they were LOUD. Even Brian, who normally doesn't say much, commented on the audience's enthusiasm and said "I heard Hartford was a ROCKIN town!"
If people sat, for the most part it was during the slow songs, or just to be polite so others could see. I had a floor seat and people didn't bother me and mine when we stood up or danced at any time during the show.
Paul was clearly relaxed, and getting a buzz off the audience energy. He was chatty, and varied from the usual patter between songs. If you have seen Paul more than a few times you can tell when he's having a hard time connecting with the audience, and in my opinion, this was not the case.
After Jet, Paul said "Hello, Hartford and Hello, Connecticut" and said it was the first time he's been here. Later on he called us "Connecticutians" (which he pronounced like Lilliputians), trying to come up with something to call us.
In addition to the purposeful mistake on the words in "You Never Give Me My Money," he made a real mistake, singing "I never give ME YOUR money." He knew right away he messed it up, started laughing, and to close the song sang "You break down... or I break down... maybe!!".
The massage story, he added that he was telling the story so that maybe it would get around and the guy in New Orleans would stop doing what he was doing. I recall him mentioning that they would be going to New Orleans.
He elaborated a bit more on George belonging to the George Formby fan club; when this elicited a cheer in the crowd he said something like, "There's always one in the crowd who knows who George Formby is!"
Introducing "Live And Let Die," Brian said you'll be able to toast marshmallows on the next song - did you bring marshmallows and sticks and s'mores? You'll see why." Of course it was a reference to the changes in pyrotechnics, the flame-throwers at the end; very cool effect, and unexpected.
On "Maybe I'm Amazed," it was great fun to watch Paul and Wix trading keyboard licks, both of them having a great time; it looks like it is Wix's favorite song to play in the show.
Don't remember which song this was after, but his latest trick with John and the guitars -- he stood the Les Paul up on end holding it in place by putting his palm on top of the headstock, then takes it away while John dashes over to grab it before it hits the boards...
He also mentioned the guitar he uses on "Yesterday" was the one he used on The Ed Sullivan Show."
As everyone has mentioned, "She's Leaving Home" was utterly fantastic. Abe and Paul together on the vocals, left me speechless. Wix introduced it with a story about making changes in the set list, how to decide what to put in, and said, "Let me let you in on a little secret. There is NO lack of material."
Definitely a great time!
BTW, the assessment of the 18-26 year olds in my family who though growing up with the Beatles music listen to Incubus, Creed, Metallica, and Phish and others? "Awesome" ... "I can't believe he's 60 years old" and "The best!".
Update (10/4/02) From John Shea:
Hi Steve,
Let me first say your website is the best. Keep up the great work. After seeing Paul on Long Island in April (from the first row, which was arguably the happiest day of my life, (of course except for my wedding day, and my 3 kids births) I did back to back shows in Hartford (seventh row) and Atlantic City(section 106). All I can say it the road trip was well worth it. The band sounds crisp.Rusty and Brian are much more animated than in April, when they understandably looked like deer in headlights. Abe again looked like he was having a ball, and Wix blew people away with his talent on "SHE'S LEAVING HOME". Security in Hartford was very tight at the entrance we chose, everybody got the wand, but at 7:30 it didn't take more than ten minutes to get in. In AC however, we could have brought in a reel to reel recorder and video equipment. We were never checked by anybody at and time.We entered with a mass of people at 8:00 from the main entrance off the boardwalk. I think they were late moving the crowd in and just turned people loose. We were cursing once inside that we didn't bring a throw away camera. The crowds for the two shows were polar opposites. The Hartford crowd was asleep at the wheel. I couldn't believe everybody sat down until the last six or seven songs. I doubt heavily that Paul would ever come back to Hartford. Atlantic City on the other hand was rocking the whole time. Other differences were, in Hartford Paul came out with this bright purple jacket. In AC he opened with the standard black jacket with a long sleeve red shirt. In AC Paul didn't mention the 1964 appearance, but he did say sorry it took so long to return. Paul knowing that nobody actually comes from AC got a big laugh when he asked the crowed, "is anybody from New York,(cheers from the crowd) New Jersey,(cheers from the crowd) Philly,(cheers from the crowd) Liverpool" (silence then laughter as he raised his hand). The highlights for me from both shows were "HELLO GOODBYE", "GETTING BETTER", "SHE'S LEAVING HOME" and "MAYBE I'M AMAZED" On "SHE'S LEAVING HOME" they absolutely nail the vocals, but look funny all standing there with guitars on, pretending to sort of play them. It would have been cool if they all just stood at the mics without instruments, and just let Wix be the magician that he is with those keyboards. If I'm not mistaken, none of the Beatles play anything on the original. I believe they brought in a harpsichordist (the first female to play on a Beatle track) two violins, two violas, and a double bass. I could be wrong but I don't think there were any guitars or drums. My guess it they were just set up for the next song. "CAN'T BUY ME LOVE". The first two shows I saw, I was so close that I rarely caught much video ( a trade off I'll take every time), but in Atlantic City I was further back and saw it all. While the video portion of the show is a technological wonder, I couldn't help but notice the contrast between the John and George tributes, that so many people have pointed out. It screams out to me that Paul was unable to obtain permission from the Lennon estate (Yoko) to use pictures of John. The cause of this contrast is the fact that the George pictures are so warm and plentiful. I think Paul should have eaten some crow and used some generic Beatle pictures of John rather that make the Yoko feud so obvious. Having said that there were no Linda pictures either. I can understand that that would be tough for Heather to watch every night. The other side of it is, nobody seems to give a rats ass, and you can't please everybody all the time, but Paul comes dam close. The bottom line is the music and show are phenomenal, even if your only a casual Beatle or Paul fan, and your on the fence about going because of the money, pay the piper and don't look back. You won't be sorry. In my humble opinion this show is history in the making. I say go go go.
(10/3/02) From James Marien:
I had seen Paul in New York and Boston on the first leg of his tour. Since I live in the Hartford area it was great that he came to The Civic Center. I didn't have to go too far or rent a hotel room !!
Of course, the song set was almost identical. The changes were great, especially "She's Leaving Home". The one thing I noticed about the crowd in Hartford was how calm they were. I was amazed that most almost everyone was sitting throughout the whole show. Based on my previous experience in New York and Boston, I figured I'd be standing again the entire show. Also, when Paul mentioned John the applause lasted about 30 seconds. In Boston the appaluse lasted 5 MINUTES !!. A friend of ours in another section told us that when she stood up she was told to SIT DOWN. What's with Hartford ??? I still stood up about 1/2 the time, especially to give Paul a number of standing ovations. Even the Hartford Courant, in their review of the show, mentioned how the crowd, for the most part, just sat there. Well, they did sit for the most part but they still were loud at times and sang along to most of The Beatle numbers Paul performed. In defense of the Hartford crowd, they were vocal at times and it seemed that during the second 1/2 of the show they started getting into it more, with more people actually standing up !! Anyway, if Paul ever does tour again I fear Hartford will not be on his schedule, at least based on the audience response.
From Rudi Riet:
Had a great time at Friday's gig at the Hartford Civic Center. Paul and the gang were in fine voice throughout (better than at Nassau Coliseum back in April), and the energy level was high.
The set changes were welcome, and "She's Leaving Home" was most wonderful: lovingly performed, it sent chills up my spine! The whole show rolled off nicely. Paul had on unintentional cock-up in "You Never Give Me Your Money": after the intentionally-flubbed line, he got carried away with the audience's sing-along and messed up the closing verse, singing "I never give me your money." Paul's reaction was as if he'd eaten a sour grape. After the song he mused "just because I wrote them doesn't mean I can remember them!" Paul's fake-out for "Hey Jude" was "Babyface" - a nice change. The show got off to a late start due to inadequate personnel for the high-level security (according to some of the guards, McCartney's handlers requested heightened security, and the Civic Center was understaffed for the occasion). Initially, only two points of entry were open, causing lines to wrap around the block as each concertgoer was wanded. Bag searches were fairly glancing - recorders and cameras would make it in easily. Eventually, they were able to open more entryways into the Civic Center, alleviating some of the line. Heather sat stage right, immediately in front of the stage, for the entirety of the main show and the first encore. For the most part, she watched the audience. She was also singing along (or, at least, mouthing along) with the songs - even the ones that were very "Linda." All-in all, it was a great show - I hope that Paul remembers Hartford when next he tours the U.S.A. Here's a link to the Hartford Courant's review of the show: http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-paulrev.artsep28.story Cheers!