PAUL EN ECHO ARENA - REPORTE DESDE LIVERPOOL PARA BEATLES MAGAZINE

Aquí el reporte de Bob Gannon desde Liverpool, para Beatles Magazine :

Let's start with the soundcheck. We checked into the Echo Arena at around 3:30 PM and security was quite tight checking all bags and cameras as well as doing pat down searches. Very professional and courteous about doing it though. We were led down to a private room where we sat at our assigned tables for drinks. Within a half hour, we were led out into the arena where we were seated for the arrival of Paul. On Paul's arrival, you could see young Beatrice on stage...she waved to an uproar of cheers to which she waved to the crowd. As they walked her across the stage, she continued to wave to the crowd as the cheered her all the way across. I think she may have inherited her father's love of the stage because she did not appear to want to leave. Once again, the bigger cameras were not tolerated and the Event Travel team were proactive in shutting anyone down that they thought may be recording. Paul arrived and greeted the group and kicked into a nice set. He started out with "Honey Hush" which really rocked. He also played a rollicking version of "Blue Suede Shoes". He broke out the rare "Ebony and Ivory" out as well. As he does often, Paul dedicated "San Francisco Bay Blues" to Shelley Lazar who was unable to make this trip but she is the sweet lady who takes care of the VIP folks!. During "Petrushka" Paul told the story about falling in love with her in Russia and then moving to Liverpool where he got a job at the Echo Arena as a security guard. He said it was a nice job but he would frequently think of Petrushka. It was a cute little version that hasn't seem to run it's course yet nor have soundcheckers seem to be tired of it. A yell out request was made for "Beautiful Night" while Paul was on the piano. Also another fantastic version of "Sun is Shining". He began to play a few chords of it which very quickly tapered off into an instrumental. But a little closer to being played....however far it still may be! Here's the soundcheck set list

01. Honey Hush

02. Honey Don't

03. Blue Suede Shoes

04. Highway

05. Ebony and Ivory

06. Only Mamma Knows

07. Penny Lane

08. Celebration

09. CMoon

10. Things we Said Today

11. San Francisco Bay Blues (To Shelley Lazar)

12. Jam

13. It's So Easy

14. Sun is Shining

15. Petrushka

16. Something

17. Yesterday

18. Lady Madonna

As they led us out, we could see Wix with the accordian waiting for us to leave and shortly after heard bagpipe music. So we figured what was coming. We were then led back down to the VIP room where we received dinner, drinks and our VIP special gifts. Right before taking us back upstairs for the show, they let us know that there was a VIP party for an hour and 20 minutes after the show was over with open bar.