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The last time Bobby Tanzilo and I saw Sir Paul McCartney in concert was at Miller Park. If we had been farther away from the action, we might’ve been in Waukesha.
So tonight, it was a welcome change at the Marcus Amphitheater. We weren’t exactly close, but for only $268 a ticket, at least we could see him with our naked eyes.
In a word, McCartney was amazing. I feel beyond fortunate that I’ve now seen him play twice. Some may say that the Rolling Stones were the biggest show in Summerfest history. I disagree. This was it.
Now, back at the office at midnight, Bobby is writing the main review, but I have some stuff to say too. Random stuff, so please indulge me.
Sir Paul starts when he wants to
We were told in advance that McCartney would only take the stage once everyone was seated. That was good, because I sat in the thickest Summerfest traffic I’ve ever experienced and made it there just after 8 p.m. Macca started his show at 8:30, but then played nonstop for two hours and 40 minutes. We got our money’s worth and then some.
I stole Brian Ritchie’s parking space
Speaking of my rush to get to the Amp, I finally gave up driving on Water Street and made an illegal U-turn to snag a space. Standing there was the Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie. I asked him to move, and he did, so I could rush to the show. Of course, I got waylaid because security didn’t want me to bring in my camera. But eventually I talked my way in. No time to browse for souvenirs. This was all business.
The luminaries
I saw a few notables in the crowd, including Ritchie (guess he found a different spot). Of course, our friend Steve Palec had great seats, but I also spotted Peter Strand from the Yipes!, who is now a music lawyer in Chicago.
Macca is well-preserved
Sir Paul came out in a chambray Nehru jacket and tight jeans. The jacket came off, but I swear to God, McCartney didn’t take a sip of water during his entire show. Same thing happened at Miller Park, so I watched carefully. And his voice never cracked. How does this 74-year-old man do this?
Worse seats, but hey, on time
I also saw the Journal Sentinel’s music writer, Piet Levy, show up … after the third song. But he had better seats than us, so who am I to throw stones?
One bad song
I’ve never heard a bad Beatles song. I’ve heard a few bad Wings songs, but McCartney has at least one crappy tune, and he played it: "Temporary Secretary" got this otherwise enthusiastic crowd to sit down and shut up.
Down in front!
You’d think this sold-out crowd would be on its feet for the whole show. Nope. A guy behind us angrily demanded we sit. For some reason, we did. But just for a little while.
Improved cell coverage
A few years ago, I couldn’t get a cell signal at the Amp. This year, Verizon was perfect. I have "field mode" activated on my iPhone to see just how good it was, and it was great. It was like I was standing underneath a tower.
Always the showman
Bobby and I noticed this last time: McCartney can’t stand still between songs. He danced around like a Vaudevillian. It’s pretty funny when you’re looking for it.
Group hugs
Macca invited a father and daughter on stage for a group hug. The dad, Steve, was dressed in full Sgt. Pepper regalia. Where did he get that? Did he make it?
Leaving in the ninth inning?
This I don’t get. A whole bunch of people left during Macca’s amazing encore. To beat the parking? Why miss a second of this living legend?
Brewers bumper music
Macca closed with the closing medley from "Abbey Road." But to me, "The End" is the ‘90s bumper music from the Brewers Radio Network. Always make me think of Bob Uecker.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
