Paul McCartney Wins Big in Las Vegas
Macca (Paul’s English nickname) made the Las Vegas Raiders Allegiant Stadium the second stop on his “Got Back 2025” tour and the first stadium show after playing two smaller gigs to kick things off. An amazing setting for Vegas fans to see and hear the iconic music of the Beatles and Paul’s solo work. Some 56,000 Beatles freaks piled in of every generation including Paul’s own family. Waiting for the show, the big screen ran photos of Paul and the Beatles both individually and group shots which was interesting to watch. The crowd was on their feet to the intro music before Paul and band even hit the stage. Opening with the Beatles “Help” that he has dusted off from last being played on his 1990 world tour. At 83, McCartney’s stamina is amazing. There is no intermission, and he played for 2 hours & 40 minutes.
From the 1966 album “Revolver” was the great high energy tune “Got To Get You Into My Life” with the Hot City Horns that includes Mike Davis on trumpet, Kenji Fenton on sax and Paul Burton on trombone. The sound in Allegiant Stadium was stellar. Lighting and screen graphics were perfection, and they should be for one of rock’s pioneers. The 1976 Wings song “Let ‘Em In” brought emotion in the crowd and became anthem like as the audience sang along. Paul introduced his wife Nancy that was in the audience and sang the 2012 “My Valentine” dedicated to her. More Wings covers on the setlist were a couple of my favs with “Maybe I’m Amazed’ and the 1974 hit “Jet.”
This show is emotional, nostalgic and in the moment all at the same time. I won’t lie to you; Sir Paul hit a few bad notes but who cares??? He is 83 and for the most part sounded pretty darn good, was appreciative of the audience, had a sense of humor and showed love and respect for John and George. His tribute to George on the ukelele on “Something” has an interesting back story. There is a fun, instrumental tribute snip of the Jimi Hendrix hit “Foxy Lady.” Paul performs a beautiful solo on a raised stage of “Blackbird”. There are some serious oldies including The Beatles first single “Love Me Do” and “In Spite Of All The Danger” by the Quarryman that was recorded in 1958! For the Fab Four fans there are 21 Beatles tunes on the setlist.
His tribute to the late John Lennon is a tear-jerker with the 1982, “Here Today” and the Beatles “Now & Then.” John’s face on the big screens reminds us of our generation’s tragic loss. People in the crowd held up signs that say, “We Love You John.” Paul jokes with the audience about signs being held up around the venue. One sign said, “I was at Shea Stadium” and Paul says jokingly “I was too.” There were many ovations, and the floor crowd stood the whole show.
Two big production numbers of Wings hits are “Band On The Run” and “Live and Let Die” complete with pyro and strobes. At this point of the show, it becomes all about The Beatles. Paul puts down his Rickenbacker to sit at the piano to play his song written for Julian Lennon, which everyone is singing along to. The encore consists of all Beatles songs from “Sgt. Pepper” to “Golden Slumbers.” Paul’s band are the best musicians that have been with Paul over 20 years with Wix Wickens on keyboards, Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on guitars and Abe Laboriel on drums. The show ends on a high note with confetti and fireworks and Paul thanking everyone for coming. Thank you, Sir Paul, for doing another tour to have the chance to hear songs of the soundtrack of so many lives and some of the greatest music ever written. Here is the Vegas setlist – https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2025/allegiant-stadium-las-vegas-nv-5b456b8c.html
For Paul McCartney tour dates go HERE.
Vicky Sullivan Photos for The Suncoast Post