On a rainy Sunday evening, thousands of eager fans shuffled into State Farm Arena for what would be an unforgettable concert. The crowd, a motley mix of young and old, buzzed with excitement and murmured about one man: musician Paul McCartney. The living legend and former Beatle celebrated his six-decade career with a setlist ranging from “In Spite of All The Danger” (recorded in 1958) to “Now and Then” (2023).
The electric energy in the arena was no surprise. The crowd consisted of wide-eyed newcomers, joyful families and longtime fans, such as Linda Kamisher.
“I’m 70 years old, and I remember hearing him on Ed Sullivan the first time,” Kamisher said. “It was with my mother and sister, we were watching, and they’ve passed away, so this is very nostalgi[c] to hear some of the songs.”
McCartney walked on to stage and began the concert singing the Beatles’ “Help!” (1965) with live accompaniment from his backing band and the Hot City Horns, a brass trio that has been touring with McCartney since 2018. The horns added a modern, vibrant touch to the track, yet McCartney still captured the evocative Beatles energy. While he included many of his early hits, McCartney’s set list was a perfect balance between new and old, uniting generations of fans through a seamless medley of iconic music.
After playing a few more Beatles classics, such as “Drive My Car” (1965) and “Got to Get You into My Life” (1966), McCartney introduced one of his recent solo songs, “Come On to Me” (2018). This track, which features an upbeat piano melody and a fun guitar solo, tells the story of a love affair from the perspective of a younger McCartney. “Come On to Me” is catchy and fresh, proving that the singer’s writing skills can adapt to an ever-changing music landscape.
McCartney’s lighthearted interactions with the crowd revealed that even decades later, he is still the same wisecracking Brit that fans of all ages, such as Georgia State University student Marisa Niño, have fallen in love with.
“He’s really quippy and really funny in a way that he’s kept his charisma throughout all of his years,” Niño said.
Before playing “Let Me Roll It” (1973), a track from McCartney’s post-Beatles band Wings, McCartney took off his jacket, dancing while showing the crowd its striped black-and-white interior. Shortly after, one of his bandmates handed him a bright red guitar, which he used to surprise the audience by playing a snippet of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxey Lady” (1967).
McCartney’s playful tangents and transitions reflected his youthfulness despite being 83 years old. Following his unexpected Hendrix tribute, McCartney recalled stories from his early days as a musician, including his first encounter with Hendrix. While listening to McCartney in the same way children listen to their grandfather’s whimsical tales, the crowd had the opportunity to reminisce with the singer and his experiences as a Beatle and beyond, passing on his memories to a new generation.
McCartney’s tributes to the musicians he worked with throughout his career contributed to the nostalgia that underpinned the concert. Singing “Love Me Do” (1962), McCartney honored the late music producer George Martin, who fans sometimes dub a “fifth Beatle” due to his significant contributions to the Beatles’ original albums. Later in the night, McCartney paid tribute to his former bandmate George Harrison, performing the Beatles’ “Something” (1969) on a ukulele Harrison gifted him.
While McCartney’s performance was spectacular, hearing his stories firsthand made the experience unforgettable. Unlike listening to the Beatles and McCartney’s solo work on a record, the singer’s crowd banter, reflections and anecdotes between tracks added authenticity, intimacy and warmth to the night.
The standout performance of the night was McCartney’s rendition of “Now and Then,” the final song the Beatles ever released. Written by Lennon as a solo home demo and left unfinished until 2022, McCartney and Ringo Starr used machine learning audio restoration technology to enhance the original recording.
Standing before a backdrop of vintage Beatles footage and dreamlike graphics, McCartney blended past and present, singing the lines “Now and then / I miss you” in an emotional yet beautifully optimistic tribute to his late bandmates.
McCartney’s energy soared during the final stretch of the show. He provided an electric experience singing “Live and Let Die” (1973) as fireworks exploded over the stage in sync with the song’s drums.
Mara Jambor, a fan who attended a McCartney concert decades ago, thought the show was “spectacular,” noting how McCartney still dazzles audiences.
“He was great back then, might have been 20 years ago, and he's still great now,” Jambor said.
Jambor’s sentiments rang especially true during McCartney’s six-song encore. After leaving the stage following a venue-wide sing-along of “Hey Jude” (1968), McCartney and his band returned, carrying U.S., U.K., Georgia and LGBTQ+ flags to roaring applause. After a few more tracks, McCartney promised to see the crowd soon, exiting as confetti and smoke filled the air.
Performing for over two hours with only the traditional encore break, McCartney’s stamina spoke to his status as a legendary musician and to his lasting love for the stage. Blending nostalgic moments from the past with vibrant new performances, McCartney proved that he continues to be an unstoppable powerhouse performer even sixty years later.
Benjamin Salit (he/him) (28C) is double majoring in Film & Media Management and Spanish. He is from Port Washington, New York and enjoys watching horror-comedy movies with his friends late at night. Outside of the Wheel, you can find him joining clubs or watching reality TV.
