Buffalo Finally Feels The Power Of McCartney

Concert Review
Paul McCartney
First Niagara Center
Buffalo, NY
Thursday October 22, 2015
Review: Joseph Suto

Sir Paul McCartney had never played a show in Buffalo NY, but that all changed Thursday night as the sold out First Niagara Center found out how powerful the man and his songs are. The three hour extravaganza began around 8:30 and featured forty-one songs in all. (Twenty-six Beatles songs, ten solo songs with five Wings songs bringing up the rear.) He first addressed the crowd after “Save Us” the second song of the evening.

Sure there were some omissions such as the powerhouse rocker “Jet” and obviously several Beatle songs ( he can’t do em all). Perhaps the biggest omission of the evening was how he failed to make mention that it was his first time playing a show in Buffalo. Perhaps that’s the way he wanted it as it may have appeared to him that the roaring crowd of the good people from Buffalo and himself were already very acquainted.

McCartney pointed out to the crowd that this was the last show of 2015 for him and his band and that it would be an evening of celebration. What a celebration it was. At times McCartney’s voice seemed not as strong but no one cared. They were just happy to see their hero. It was hard to fathom that he is 73 years old and it was quite amazing how much stamina and energy he had.

The highlights? Way too many to list. The crowd had waited a long time for this show. They started off strong, kind of faded away a bit but a fantastic version of “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” seemed to invigorate the crowd from that point on. After an amazing version of “Maybe I’m Amazed”, he asked the crowd if they were having fun. He needn’t of asked the answer was quite obvious.

McCartney brought out a ukelele after explaining how he and George (Harrison) played them together in the past. He then broke into “Something” the gem Harrison wrote and sang on from Abbey Road. Mid song his full band joined in and the song just exploded from there. You had to be there to experience it. I actually felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end a few times especially later into the set.

From there the show got better with each song as “Band On The Run” and “Live and Let Die” both highlights in their own right were quickly followed by “Hey Jude” which had the crowd singing along as it closed the main set.

As a special treat the band performed “Get Back” for the first time on this leg of the tour.

The show ended with the usual cluster of the Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End medley. McCartney did say we’ll see you next time. It remains to be seen if Buffalo will be lucky enough to get another McCartney show in the near future.

Many artists and performers have graced the stage at the First Niagara Center over the years but perhaps none as big as Sir Paul. He could have very easily played six more shows and all of them would have been sell outs. With all the anticipation surrounding McCartney’s visit to Buffalo one thing was certain. He lived up to the hype and put on what will forever go down as perhaps the biggest concert in the history of Buffalo. You may not realize it today or tomorrow but as the years go on and you reflect on this show your memories will be fond and plentiful.

Set List

Eight Days a Week
Save Us
Got to Get You Into My Life
One After 909
Temporary Secretary
Let Me Roll It
Paperback Writer
My Valentine
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
The Long and Winding Road
Maybe I’m Amazed
I’ve Just Seen a Face
FourFiveSeconds
We Can Work It Out
Another Day
Hope for the Future
And I Love Her
Blackbird
Here Today
New
Queenie Eye
Lady Madonna
All Together Now
Lovely Rita
Eleanor Rigby
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Something
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Band on the Run
Back in the U.S.S.R.
Let It Be
Live and Let Die
Hey Jude