Paul McCartney: Out There Tour, Liverpool Echo Arena 28th May 2015

 

On Thursday 28th May 2015, one of my biggest dreams came true. After years of waiting I finally got to see one my musical inspirations live in concert. Yes, I got to see the Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney at The Echo Arena in his hometown of Liverpool.

After spending the day exploring Liverpool with my family, Mum and I joined the quickly growing line outside the arena filled with the lucky fans who'd managed to bag tickets for the Liverpool show. Bagging tickets for Paul's Liverpool gig felt like I'd won one of Willie Wonka's golden tickets, tickets were so badly sought after and I still can't believe I actually managed to get hold of them! Once the venue doors were finally opened the arena quickly began to fill up and I could feel my excitement growing and growing.

The view from our seats were amazing! We were so close to the stage it was unbelievable-I couldn't have asked for better seats! Usually, accessible seating in venues are quite far back and often the bands are like little dots in the horizon. This however, would put a lot of other venues I've visited to shame.

Paul didn't arrive on stage until around half past eight but in the meantime they played a soundtrack of songs spanning through Paul's entire career including music from The Beatles, Wings and his solo work. Video footage and photographs of Paul as a child up until the present day alongside his friends and family were projected onto the screen at either side of the stage.

At around half past eight the lights dimmed into darkness and the music was brought to a halt. People began to stand up in what looked like a Mexican wave motion. Seconds later the man himself, Sir Paul McCartney appeared from the wings of the stage as the room erupted in roars of excitement. Everywhere I looked people held their "Welcome Home Paul" signs that we'd been given by the stewards when entering the venue, high above their heads. It must have been quite something witnessing such a sight from the stage.

Before long the first song "Eight Days a Week" began to fill the room, marking the first of many classics the audience would hear through he course of the evening. Now, I could easily have written a brief summary of each song played during the show but considering that it was a 40 song set list spanning over 3 hours I think I'll mainly discuss the highlights. Otherwise, we'd be here all day.

Paul and his band performed a bunch of songs from Paul's lengthy career including music from his time in The Beatles, Wings and of course songs from his solo work. Towards the end of the Wings song "Let Me Roll It" the tune changed as they burst into Jimi Hendrix's Foxy Lady (love that song!). This lead onto Paul telling us the about Jimi playing "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band" at one his gigs just days after the album's release. Jimi's guitar apparently went out of tune to which he peered into the audience and shouted "is Eric there?". Yes, he was looking for Eric Clapton. So it turns out Eric was there right enough and basically told Jimi to tune the guitar himself. 
 

 

 A song or two later Paul took to one of the two pianos they had that evening to perform a song called "My Valentine" which he wrote for his wife Nancy who happened to be somewhere amongst the audience. Unfortunately, I didn't see her. He also dedicated "Maybe I'm Amazed" to his first wife Linda who unfortunately passed away back in 1997. Throughout the song a combination of photographs and video footage of Paul and his children were used to create a moving picture effect. It's such a beautiful song and my goodness did Paul hit some impressive notes during it!

"Hope for the Future" one of Paul's latest releases, which was written for a video game named Destiny was also performed. I have to say I really like that song, it's quite eerie but at the same time very powerful. I'm so glad I actually got to hear it performed live!

Paul stepped out onto an extended part of the stage to perform one of Mum's favourites "Blackbird". Slowly the stage began to rise up into air and stopped when Paul was at the same height as those seated in the second tier of the arena. Usually, I spend a lot of time watching concert footage on YouTube before attending gigs yet somehow I'd missed the footage of "Blackbird" so it was a nice surprise.

Paul's colourful "Lady Madonna" piano (I'm pretty sure that's what it's nicknamed-but don't hold me on that!) was brought out onto centre stage as Paul performed yet another handful of songs including newer releases such as "New" (funnily enough) which could easily have made it's way onto one of The Beatle's albums back in the 60s. I was so excited to actually hear "New" live, I remember hearing it for the very first time just minutes after its release.

He also performed a song named "Queenie Eye" which was also featured on his "New" album released back in 2013. The song is absolute genius! Only Paul McCartney could write a song about a game he used to play as child with his friends in the streets of Liverpool. Again, I was absolutely delighted to hear this song live after hearing it so many times on the album. I have to say the colourful piano really brought Paul's childhood memories of a game he evidently loved alive, even to someone live me from a completely different generation.

"Altogether Now" from the Yellow Submarine film/album was dedicated to the "kids" in the audience although it looked like the adults seemed to be enjoying it just as much! It was a very fun and light hearted performance that put a smile on everyone's faces.

After a selection of yet more Beatles classics including "Lovely Rita", "Eleanor Rigby" and "The Benefit of Mr Kite", Paul pulled an ukulele out of what seemed like nowhere. He told the audience that he discovered his love for the instrument (the ukulele) thanks to George Harrison. Apparently, they'd spend hours visiting each others homes contently jamming on their ukuleles together. In tribute to George he began to play "Something" which was pretty special. The audience as you can imagine were ecstatic! There obliviously were a lot of big Beatles fans in the house and as soon as there was even mention of one of Paul's legendary bandmates, the room erupted in roars. I'm sure it brought back a few memories for Paul of the audiences back in the 60s, we certainly didn't hold back that evening!

There was back to back hits including one of my very favourite Beatles songs "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" which I hoped would be a part of the evening's setlist. I'd been pretty loud and excitable all evening anyway but as I heard those cheery chords on the piano, I was on a complete and utter high. I was belting out the words just as loud as the band and of course I was dancing around in my wheelchair like there was no tomorrow.

A couple of women sitting along from us caught my eye on a couple occasions, I'd obliviously been entertaining them with my enthusiasm and excitement-it can't be helped! You'll probably be bored sick of me saying this but "I'd waited such a long time for this" so I was going to make the most of every, single second! Funnily enough, when we arrived back at the hotel later that evening the same two women were right in front of us in the queue for the lift. So much for going somewhere, letting loose and thinking that I'd never see these people again-typical!
 

 

 "Live and Let Die" which was written for one of the James Bond films, was absolutely amazing live! Despite the fact that I already knew what was coming, I jumped out my skin when massive flames came shouting up from the stage. I seriously, don't think I ever seen as much stage fireworks and flames. The heat up there on stage must have been extremely oppressive, particularly for Paul's guitarist and bassist who were constantly on the move. They actually looked more tired than Paul who just kept going and showed no signs of exhaustion whatsoever! 

My favourite part of the entire show came next and that part just so happened to be arguably one of The Beatle's most famous songs "Hey Jude". Hearing that song live was such a magical moment. It was one of those moments that you had to pinch yourself to check you weren't dreaming. Thankfully, I wasn't; I was well and truly there!

The atmosphere in that room was out of this world, everyone was singing along proving just how powerful music can be. That song has played such a big role in music history and I'm so glad I can say I've hear it sung live. After probably the best eight minutes of live music I've ever heard the song came to an end (I wish it went on forever!) and Paul and his band came to the centre of the stage and bowed for the audience. The stage lights turned off leaving the room in darkness as the crowd went into a frenzy of cheers and roars, before long everyone was singing "Hey Jude" louder than they had minutes before. I can honestly say I have NEVER seen anything like this before and I've seen some of the biggest names in music over the past few years.
 

 

 Where Mum and I were seated, we could see figures standing in the doorway leading to the dressings. I'm guessing it was Paul and the band-it must have been quite something standing there listening to a room filled with thousands of people singing the lyrics to a song you wrote. This continued for a further few minutes before Paul reappeared waving the British flag in the air much to the crowd's delight.

He treated the audience to two encores, the first consisted of "Hi Hi Hi", "Another Girl" a song by The Beatles that had it's live debut earlier last month which was followed by "Can't Buy Me Love". He dedicated this to a couple that he invited up on stage after reading a sign the gentlemen had brought asking Paul if he could propose to his girlfriend on stage. What a story to tell the grandkids!

Sitting down at his piano for the final time that evening, Paul told the audience that the next couple of the songs would be the final few songs of the evening

 and that it was time to head home. Let's just say I didn't ever think I'd see 12,000 argue with Paul McCartney-it was like going to a pantomime!

A medley of "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight" and "The End" from the legendary Abbey Road enchanted the room at the end of an incredible night. Paul bid the audience farewell as canons of red, blue and white confetti exploded filling the air with colour. What a night that was!

At long last I can tick off seeing Paul McCartney in concert off the bucket list and maybe one day I'll be able to tick off actually meeting him too-until then I'll just keep dreaming! As I'm sure you already have gathered, it was an absolutely incredible night and I'm so glad I got to spend it in the city of Liverpool!

Take That: Thursday 30th April 2015, The SSE Hydro Arena Glasgow

 

 

Last week my Mum and I took a little moment of madness after seeing footage of Take That's first show of their UK tour on ITV's This Morning. The TV footage of their opening night convinced us to phone the venue's box office and see if there were any tickets left for one of the Glasgow gigs. We were pleasantly surprised when we soon discovered that there were in fact tickets still available for the third show of the tour on Thursday 30th April 2015 at The SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow!

We arrived at the venue with plenty of time to spare so that we could pick up our last minute tickets from the box office. Fortunately, we arrived after the arena doors were opened-standing outside in the cold didn't sound so appealing!

At any of my previous visits to The Hydro I have always been seated in the accessible/wheelchair seating on the ground level. However, on this occasion we were seated in the wheelchair area on the second floor and had no idea what exactly to expect. Both my Mum and I were extremely impressed with both the assistance I recieved and seating we were designated. Due to the nature of the show, sitting on the second level gave us a fabulous view of every angle on the entire stage. Had we been seated on the ground level we'd not have seen the show in as much detail.

At around half past seven the show began with Take That's support act, 2012 X Factor contestant Ella Henderson. She performed a set of songs featured on her debut album Chapter One. This included songs such as Glow and Ghost both of which have been pretty successful here in the UK. After hearing her sing live, I have to say that Ella has a really strong and impressive voice.

Around an hour later, at eight thirty the lights dimmed after a short interval and the show began. It all started with the dancers on stage; there was so much going on from every angle. Some of the dancers were sporting what I would describe as Inspector Gadget type jackets and hats. A threesome in matching apparel appeared out of nowhere, marching their way round the long walk way connecting stage A and B. Loud cheers from the audience surrounding the stage filled the air, so my guess was that it was actually Take That themselves! As they reached the part of the walkway nearest to where my Mum and I were seated, they literally walked down into the floor below them and disappeared! I couldn't quite believe my eyes!

Before I knew it they reappeared dressed in colourful suits from behind a raised block on the main stage. Within a short period of time the colour scheme within the staging and dancers outfits had transformed from cold blue tones to a carnival of colours! Bursting into the first track "I Like It" from their latest album the show had well and truly begun. The opening song was then followed by "Love Love", "Greatest Day" and another of their recent tracks "Get Ready For It" where flames were seen shooting up from the stage throughout the chorus. My goodness! You could really feel the heat from the fire! One could only begin to imagine the heat on stage.

After a couple more songs "Hold Up The Light" and "Patience" came what I personally would describe as probably my favourite part of the entire show. The performance of "The Garden" was simply breath-taking and magical! During the song a large curtain was pulled round the walkway and audience in the middle (I'm not very good at describing what the stage looked like but hopefully the photos will make a little more sense!). Using a projector silhouettes were projected onto the curtain to create a shadow puppet show which was stunning and extremely clever! The curtains were then pulled back to reveal the most amazing underwater scene. There were huge fluorescent jellyfish bobbing up and down as well as underwater plants in many different shapes and sizes swaying as if they really were under the sea. You really had to be there in person to fully experience the magic, let's just say that it was completely out of this world!

Next in line was "Up All Night", "Said It All" and a cover of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic" which started as a ballad but quickly escalated into an upbeat, dance track which had everyone dancing. During "Let In The Sun" a huge globe soared through the air above the audience's heads to the second stage where it was lowered within reach of the cast/dancers. Each dancer produced glowing panels from boxes which they attached to the globe. A gymnast got inside the "sun" and performed a spectacular routine as the globe was slowly lifted back into the air. Once reaching its peak point sparks came flying out of it as it gracefully spun round and around. This was another of the many reasons why this show was so spectacular.

 

 

"Affirmation" started with Howard standing on a raised tier playing a single electric drum pad (I think that's what it's called) and was soon joined by Gary and Mark on either side. All three were dressed in what looked like a cross between a raincoat (like the ones worn in the film Singing In The Rain) and a white doctors coat. As the song ended and 'The Flood" soon began the coats made a little more sense. The room darkened there was a thunderstorm consisting of both loud rumbles and flashes of lightning. Their coats came alive, with an 'electrical' image projected onto them. Pretty cool! The choir seated on stage pulled out umbrellas as it actually began to rain right there on stage!

"Flaws" another of the tracks featured on Take That's latest album came next. The performance I witnessed during this song was extremely powerful and full of emotion. As Gary Barlow took place on lead vocals both Mark Owen and Howard Donald poured every ounce of their energy into an absolutely breath-taking piece of choreography. It was simply stunning.

Within minutes we were then transported to China in "Relight My Fire". There was a Chinese Geisha, warriors and even a Chinese dragon! A set of three stools were then brought out for a more intimate setting as they introduced their backing band and proceeded to perform "Back For Good" followed by "Pray" which gave the audience a flashback to the 90s with those classic Take That dance moves.

Another highlight for me personally, was during a song named "Portrait" where the band climbed aboard a bike and pedalled up into the air. For the duration of the song they soared through the sky above the audience heads whilst waving to their fans. I have never seen anything like this done before at a concert-it was so cool! It also meant that people like my Mum and I who were seated on either the second or third floor got a closer view of the band.

A performance of their recent hit "These Days" came next before the audience were treated to "Rule The World" a track they released back in 2006 for the soundtrack of a film named Stardust. Again, this was another atmospheric performance as the audience slowly waved their phones in their air at the band's request. As I gazed around the room there were what looked liked hundreds of tiny stars twinkling in the night sky. I can only imagine just how beautiful that must be standing there on stage.

The final two songs "Shine" and "Never Forget" were real crowd-pleasers. I don't think there was one person sitting still in the audience, even the event staff were dancing!

Take That most definitely put on an incredible show; within the space of just over two hours so much happened. I would urge anyone out there to go catch one of their shows-you'll not be disappointed!