LIVE ROCK CRITIC   37   PAUL McCARTNEY 



 
　

                                                                      


 


 Paul McCartney played the Sandy Relief Concert on 12 12 12 and Saturday Night Live i5 12 12
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 goes on, he makes no mistakes. He does not slow down or sing off key. Right on Paul.McCartney is

venturing into new musical art in " Valentine ". I am not fond of string heavy slow romantic tunes but

 Paul can pull it off. I thought he had done a two minute performance and I thought that is how he

kept my interest, short. The song was more like four minutes that seemed like two .

McCartney has the resources to play two songs with two separate and striking ensembles. The second

 ensemble is a very nice three piece rock band, the " surviving Nirvana members". Paul calls the

 performances with Nirvana jams and he jams using an electrified hillbilly cigar box ukulele with

plates and a slide. Grohl is a bit over the top for how good his drums are, not he high point of the jam

 for sure. The ensemble sounds a bit disorganized to me but the Saturday Night Live Crowd is wildly

 enthusiastic. McCartney is right on with his vocal, whooping successfully where so many fail,

 screaming and roaring and he looks small beside the Nirvana bassist , but Paul is loud.

Paul is joined by the Nirvana survivors again at the Sandy Relief Concert. Another very energetic jam

 with high points created by McCartney, some very fact staccato vocal work with a helter skelter

 tone. McCartney signals he will reach out from the wildest Beatles creations , harder, more Rock. I

do agree, time for more hard rock! Wipe away the faux and posed geeks who permeate music today.

McCartney continued with smooth perfect rehearsed performances "Live and Let Die" was

spectacular. Once again the resources spent on McCartney's multiple ensembles and pyrotechnics and

 light show is staggering and amazingly effective. Paul is trying to make a new name for himself once

 again. "Let Me Rock It" features a nice Beatles style Les Paul and it is well played by Sir

 McCartney. Simple tasteful and direct and accurately on key.




"Helter Skelter was electric, beyond Beatles. Paul sings on key and I think that the failure to be on

key makes so many bands unenjoyable, off key grates on my nerves. On key makes me feel like we

 are flying, synchronized, connected, together. " Blackbird featured some acoustic guitar by

 McCartney that was better than good.