Paul Las Vegas 10/26/02

The concert was GREAT. I've gotta say that even when the man irritates me, he's still a phenomenal performer (and the irritation started when everyone was handed, upon entry, a sheet that said "You are really going to love this show, blah blah blah, this is a knight to remember, blah blah, check out the merchandise stalls, blah blah blah, buy a gift card for the Back in the US album and relive the memories, the wonder of the evening can continue, not convinced? Read this again in two and half hours' time". Sorry, it just made me grit my teeth!).

Cheryl Mortensen's photo montage from the Vegas show.

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now. The programs were $25, a surprise, as I'm pretty sure they were $30 in Boston at the first of the month! All the same goodies at the merchandise booths, still overpriced to my mind, but you couldn't tell that by the crowds (before and after the show). Got stopped on the way in for a wanding and purse check, but only had my binocs.

Got to our seats, not too many stairs (thank God, hurt my back about a week ago and still recovering). The pre-show started up as usual, seemed to go pretty well, then the Hofner appeared on the video screen, with Paul behind it as the screen raises. He was wearing what looked like dark gray pinstriped pants, a red long sleeved shirt and a purple Nehru-ish jacket, while all the boys were dressed in black. Paul had very dark hair and quite short, but it looked quite good. They launched into Hello Goodbye and the rest of the set and encores followed the pattern set up for all the other concerts on the tour.

However!

Paul seemed quite a bit more relaxed this time around, did a little ad-libbing here and there (not much, but a little bit), including a shout back of "I love you too!" when a person yelled "Love you Paul" during a quiet spot between songs. I really looked forward to the adlibs and changes from the previous shows I've seen.

Paul was in exceptional voice, he sounded fantastic. Can't think of hardly any times he missed notes, although I still think Abe is taking over some of the high notes for him. But I was surprised at how good he sounded. I think he's better than he was on the first leg of the tour.

Saw a friend (Barb - cablegirl) on the video screen towards the end of Band on the Run, I think (Hi Barb & Jan!!). Rusty was funny when he took his moment at the mic, he said he wanted a picture of all his friends in Las Vegas and said they'd have to all scoot in close. Then he took out a dispo-camera and snapped a picture of the audience! Wix said (at his turn) that they'd had a free day, and while most people go shopping, etc., on days off, he caught a cold. When I saw the show in Boston, I thought Rusty had fallen down during .... Live & Let Die (?), turns out it's a 'I'm going to lie down right here on the stage after my incredible guitar solo, then jump up and race to the mic to do my backing vocals'.

Anyway, BIG pyrotechnics during Live and Let Die, bigger than on the first leg of the tour. Seemed to be more video screen stuff, but that might just be my perception. This was really my first chance to really watch the video screens. We were towards the back of the oval and had a great view. In the spring, we were fairly close and to the side on night one (and I had a camera and was paying more attention to Sir and to security), and on night two, the video system went down for the greater majority of the show. In Boston earlier this month, my friend and I were quite high up and directly to the side of the stage. So this was really my first chance to really watch the video screens, and it was pretty amazing, saw things I'd never seen before, from Princess Di and the Queen Mum during "Lady Madona" to just a lot more of Fool on the Hill, the Back in the USSR Soviet things, etc.. Quite a production, definitely.

Paul signed a jacket and a book (?) at the very end, and the applause pretty much died out while he was still on stage, so he kind of scampered off stage after that. I'm still amazed that he can put on such a long show, and still be in such great voice and in great shape as well. I hope I'm even half as active as he is when I'm 60. Funny to think that The Beatles played 20-30 minute concerts (but they had tons of opening acts playing before them when on tour), and here's Paul doing such a lengthy production. Ringo and the All STarrs do that as well, but that's more of a group effort, and I've gotta say that Paul is on stage and up front (except for the very short breaks before the encores) the entire time.

Amazing show, really.

OK, it's PAST my bedtime now and I'm asleep at the keyboard. G'night, all!