PAUL MCARTNEY SHOW AT IRVING PLAZA

By Bob Gannon for Beatles Magazine

Early in the week the rumors were swirling about a possible Paul McCartney show at Irving Plaza. Continued speculation had it pegged as a private affair attached to his SNL 40th Anniversary appearance but still others held out hope that it would be a public show. 

Also early in the week, a friend sent me a copy of an email with a banner on it announcing "An Intimate Evening with Paul McCartney" At Irving Plaza with February 14th date but a wrong year. When I asked the friend, they said they called the number attached to be told that tickets were $950 GA and some other information. Things didn't sound legit although some more hope that it might be public to some extent. Two friends and myself decided to risk it and come into the city Saturday morning and hang around Irving Plaza just in case that they might announce it last minute like the Times Square Gig. So we arrived at 6:45AM and I was expecting to see the 15-30 diehard fans that are always there really early if there's just a sniff of a Paul show but instead found nobody. In all fairness, the fact that it wasn't official and that it was bitter cold probably didn't hurt. However, there were security guys already at the door. I decided to walk up to one and ask where they wanted us to start lining up. The guard looked at me and said "Line up? I don't know what you are talking about". I smiled at him and said, C'mon we know that Paul McCartney is playing here tonight and I'm just trying to be a respectful fan and ask where you wanted us. With that, he lightened up, smiled and pointed and said right there is fine. So we were the first three and in great position if it did happen.

About 20 minutes later, loading trucks started to arrive and MPL crates could be seen be unloaded. Now we knew for sure that there would be a show! Around 9am-930am, some of Paul's people arrived on scene. Came over to say hi to the small group of 15 or so fans lined up. We were told that tickets would be sold. We were told one wristband per person, $40.00 and then we would return at 9:30PM and stand behind the line that your wristband number fell under and that door would open shortly after. I then sent some messages out to come down there as did others. At around 10AM, we were brought inside 3 at a time. I was first, I paid my $40 and reached into a bag to grab a random wristband. I came up with #631. I walked out side were I was soon joined by my friend Phil who had grabbed #115 I think and then Paul who had #11. Of course I was now a bit worried, not only did I draw a high number, I wouldn't be let in the same time as my two friends. By the time I went in for my band, I was surprised that there still were no more than 25 people lined up. But I had my band and it was time to get out of the cold after 3 1/2 hours. We went back to our hotel.

     After dinner, we walked to the venue as It had warmed up a bit and wasn't so brutal. We walked up to the venue and it didn't appear like it was an overwhelming number of people. Both of my friends with the lower numbers wound up behind me. I was the fourth group to go inside. I must say the number system although mildly disappointing was pretty effective and orderly. Saw a few of the familiar faces but really surprised at the lack of the usual suspects. I entered to the performance area which was about 1/4 full and found myself a spot center to the right of Paul's microphone to get a nice view of the piano. While I was there, I was approached by someone from Jimmy Fallon's security who told me that there was a black mark on the floor to my right and that during "My Valentine" they would be bringing a couple to stand there and that I would have to move then because a camera from the balcony would be filming them. I agreed but as it started getting crazy cramped, I decided to make a move towards the back against the wall where very few people were. Even 3/4 of the way back, was still an excellent vantage point with my own wall and railing and a cool air blower right above me. My friend Phil joined me over there.

Finally around 1100PM, Paul took the stage to a cheering, loving crowd. Paul looked great and sounded very good. The whole band was energetic and looked to be very happy to be playing the small gig. During the show, Paul announced that this day was all about love and that it was all anyone needed. He mentioned love several more times during the evening. He also mentioned that he liked playing these small gigs and that they usually added songs that usually are used for soundchecks to play different songs. With that, the crowd cheered quite loudly. "My Valentine" was dedicated to Nancy but nothing happened during this song with the Fallon ticket winners. Much later in the show, Paul said that two lucky fans won tickets on Jimmy Fallon last night and he asked if they were out there. Both had been moved to where I had been standing and he acknowledged them and said "Hello". Either one of the Fallon winners or someone near them asked Paul if they could come on stage. Paul joked around stating "no" and I have security up here. A funny little bit. He added a story that isn't in the usual ones he uses talking about how is 1961 Hofner had been stolen and that still aftr all of these years it hadn't shown up. He joked that it was somewhere in a mansion of a hill where some guy has it in a secret room. He added that the person could never sell it because as soon as it his the market, Paul would know that it was his guitar and he'd never be able to sell it. My pal Paul said that this would have been a great segue into "My Brave Face" which it would have but of course that didn't happen. But heck if he wasn't right!!! For the most part the fans were well behaved and overjoyed at the show. Paul came out for one encore and then gave the customary "See you next Time". HE also answered several "I love you comments" with "I love you too!".  He also said that he "loved New York!" There you have it..another great show with great friends!!

01. Eight Days a Week
02. Save Us
03. All My Loving
04. One After 909
05. Matchbox
06. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady
07. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
08. My Valentine 
09. Maybe I'm Amazed
10. I've Just Seen a Face
11. It's So Easy
12. Every Night
13. Another Day 
14. We Can Work It Out
15. And I Love Her
16. New 
17. Lady Madonna
18. Jet
19. Drive My Car 
20. Ob La Di, Ob La Da
21. Back in the USSR
22. Let it Be
23. Hey Jude

Encore 
24. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End