Paul McCartney’s 2007 „Amoeba Gig“ released in full. A proof that Paul McCartney’s live band since 2002 is his best live band since The Beatles.
I’m just listening to Paul McCartney‘s stirring 2007 gig in Hollywood’s legendary gigantic Amoeba record store. It’s been released officially in full for the first time, all 21 songs recorded there. It’s great. The set list is surprisingly Wings-free, but offers a lot of fab Beatles songs, from the opener Drive My Car to the set closer I Saw Here Standing There, in between marvelous takes on The Long And Winding Road, I’ll Follow The Sun, Back In The USSR, I’ve Got A Feeling, Blackbird, Get Back, Hey Jude and Let It Be.
All these classics are mixed with superb Paul McCartney solo stuff – old and new. Like the wonderful John Lennon tribute Here Today, Calico Skies and Only Mama Knows. The vinyl double LP even has one more track, a sound check recording of Coming Up.
This is one of the most intimate gigs the eternal Beatle ever recorded. But what counts even more is that Paul McCartney’s singing and playing is fresh, fervent, fully on top. Magnificently easy-going, kind of effortlessly. Lot of rousing playfulness. The same goes for his super fantastic band, that now plays with Paul McCartney since 2002, longer than any other band he’s ever played with.
And this is the best live band Paul McCartney has played with since The Beatles. The Amoeba gig is definitely a proof that Brian Ray (Backing vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass), Rusty Anderson (Backing vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar), Paul Wickens (Backing vocals, keyboards, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bongos, percussion, harmonica, accordion) and Abe Laboriel Jr. (Backing vocals, drums, percussion) are one of the best live band around now. They were brilliant in 2007 at the Amoeba gig (where Paul Wickens was replaced by David Arch on piano). And they are brilliant now on McCartney’s seemingly never-ending Freshen Up-Tour. A great vibe is guaranteed.
Paul McCartney Amoeba Gig, Capitol Records/MPL, 2019
(c) Pics shot by Klaus Winninger