Paul McCartney in Las Vegas

I have loved Paul McCartney since I was in 5th grade.  It was then that I discovered a song called "Coming Up" and, even though I didn't actually know who sang it, I played it incessantly.  My dad said it was Paul McCartney and if I liked that song I should listen to the Beatles.  He presented me with his copy of Rubber Soul (he eventually gave me all of his Beatles records) and thus began my obsession with McCartney and the Beatles.  I have been lucky enough to see him in concert several times by now so I really debated whether or not I should get a ticket for his latest North American tour, especially since I would have to travel to get to a show.  I ultimately decided that I would be so sad to miss seeing him again and got a ticket for the show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (an incredible venue!).  I took a quick road trip this weekend (I had to drive in a torrential downpour for half of it) and, as is usually the case, I am so glad I did because the concert was amazing!  One of the reasons for my hesitation, besides the cost, was McCartney's voice.  He seemed to really struggle the last time I saw him but I think he sounded great Saturday night!  His voice was obviously not what it once was but I realized that it didn't really matter because he and the songs are so iconic.  He played for close to three hours with his usual band (Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards, Rusty Anderson on guitar, Brian Ray on bass, and Abe Laboriel, Jr. on drums) as well as an incredible horn section (Mike Davis on trumpet and fugelhorn, Paul Burton on trombone, and Kenji Fenton on saxophone and clarinet) and I was so impressed with his stamina because he sang and played either guitar or piano for every song (even when the band took a break).  He opened with "Help!" which whipped the crowd into a frenzy because this is the first time he has performed it solo.  He played quite a few other Beatles songs, including "Got to Get You Into My Life," "Drive My Car," "Getting Better," "I've Just Seen a Face," "Love Me Do," a beautiful acoustic version of "Blackbird," "Lady Madonna," "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," "Something" with Paul on ukulele as a tribute to George Harrison, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with lots of audience participation, "Get Back," and "Let It Be."  The older gentleman sitting two seats down from me was openly weeping for most of these but what reduced me to tears was when he played the new Beatles song "Now and Then" because it reminds me of my dad.  He played the usual Wings songs "Let Me Roll It," "Let 'Em In," "Jet," "Band on the Run," and "Live and Let Die" (complete with the most extensive pyrotechnics I've ever seen) but he also played "Letting Go" which I had never heard live before.  I loved hearing his solo songs "Coming Up" (obviously), "Come On to Me," "My Valentine" which he dedicated to his wife Nancy who was in the audience, and "Here Today" which he dedicated to John Lennon but my favorite moment was when he played "Maybe I'm Amazed" because I love this song so much (I also love watching Rusty play the guitar solo).  He ended the main set, as he often does, with a rousing rendition of "Hey Jude" and this was a lot of fun!  For the encore, he sang "I've Got a Feeling" with John Lennon using footage from the rooftop concert (this was really cool), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Helter Skelter," "Golden Slumbers," Carry That Weight," and "The End."  Seeing an artist that I have loved for most of my life was such an incredible experience and I will be on a high from it for a long time.