On Friday, November 14th, Sir Paul McCartney performed at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, for a sold-out venue as part of his “Got Back” Tour.
His gifted band was comprised of such veteran members as Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums, Rusty Anderson on guitar, Brian Ray on guitar and bass, and Paul “Wix” Wickens on the keyboards.
McCartney kicked off his set at 8:15 p.m. with the vivacious “Help!” and it was met with a raucous response.
He subsequently greeted the Buffalo audience and stated that it was nice to be back.” It was followed by “Coming Up” and the Beatles standard “Got to Get You Into My Life.”
Equally noteworthy was the adult contemporary classic “Maybe I’m Amazed.”
A two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, McCartney immediately broke into “Drive My Car” and the liberating “Letting Go.” He paid homage to the late Jimi Hendrix by singing “Getting Better” in his honor, and he also incorporated a medley of “Foxy Lady” with “Let Me Roll It,” which was quite clever.
For his wife and grandson who were present in the indoor arena, he sang the stirring “My Valentine” and “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” where he put everyone into a time warp, thus taking them back to 1965.
“Blackbird” was one of the fan favorite tunes from the first half of the show, which he performed in a solo acoustic fashion. He paid a moving tribute to John Lennon with “Here Today” and later on he dedicated “Something” to the late George Harrison as he played the ukulele.
McCartney had the audience singing along with him on the infectious “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” prior to tipping his hat to his band, Wings, with “Band on the Run.”
The inspirational piano-laden ballad “Let it Be” was perhaps the highlight song of the night, which moved the crowd on an emotional and spiritual level.
The former Beatle closed his nearly 30-song set with “Live and Let Die” and the Beatles classic “Hey Jude,” where he left his dedicated fans yearning for more.
Encore
Fortunately, there was more… McCartney returned to the KeyBank Center stage with “I’ve Got a Feeling,” where he was able to perform a duet with the late John Lennon (from a rooftop concert in the late ’60s) thanks to the help of modern technology.
He segued into the fan favorite “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” and he was able to rock hard with “Helter Skelter.” The inclusion of “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End” were all an added treat to an already well-rounded, versatile and emotional setlist.
The Verdict
Overall, Paul McCartney captivated at his headlining show at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. He was able to quality perform music from all of his eras including the Beatles, Wings, and his own solo material.
His show was heartfelt, resonant, and highly eclectic especially since he played timeless songs from his illustrious musical catalog, which has spanned over six decades.
He had the Buffalo audience with him every step of the way, which consisted of multi-generational fans of all age groups. He proved that he is still at the top of his game musically, even at the ripe age of 83.
There was a feeling of nostalgia and sheer euphoria in the venue, and the crowd was well aware that they were in the presence of a true living music legend. His show in Buffalo, New York, garnered two giant thumbs up.
To learn more about global rock and roll superstar Paul McCartney and his tour dates, visit his official website.
