Is it perverse to call Paul McCartney “Beatlesesque”?
Of course it is, since he’s the most enduring member of the most enduringly popular rock band in history. But one couldn’t help thinking that as McCartney dashed onto the Pepsi Center stage Thursday night — particularly since he was wearing an outfit more than a little reminiscent of his old band from Liverpool.
A black, high-collared suit and black boots were accented by McCartney’s trademark Hofner semi-acoustic bass, an instrument that the thin performer still dwarfs.
Even at 68, McCartney is a ridiculously charming, unreasonably boyish performer with a strong, gorgeous voice. He still rises from his piano in triumph or lifts his guitar skyward after nearly every song, clapping and dancing and spurring the audience to greater expressions of adulation. He’s clearly enjoying his job.
And so was the crowd. A standing ovation greeted McCartney’s appearance, one of many he would receive throughout the night. People waved homemade signs with messages such as “Can’t Buy Me Love, But This Is Pretty Darn Close.” They unfolded giant paper hearts and waved them above their heads.
McCartney responded in kind, repeatedly connecting with the audience by telling stories, dedicating songs to lost friends and lovers and generally being an earnest, sentimental chap.
Playing as a quintet, McCartney’s crack band effortlessly traversed his songwriting catalog, including older numbers “All My Loving,” “Paperback Writer,” “Blackbird,” “Eleanor Rigby” and other Beatles classics in which decades instantly melted away. Noisier, more ornery songs from McCartney’s “alter-ego” band, the Fireman, or songs from his soft-rock days with Wings (“Band on the Run,” etc.) sounded just as vital and fussed-over, if less memorably so.
McCartney, of course, is more than the Beatles, even if that group’s songs received the strongest applause of any during his long, sold-out set — which was delayed by nearly an hour, initially causing long lines to form outside the venue shortly before the advertised set time.
And there were the occasional missteps, from a distressingly bass-heavy “I’m Looking Through You” to an awkward, pyrotechnics-ridden “Live and Let Die.”
But fans were entirely forgiving of both the late start and the mixed-bag song list as McCartney delivered a bewildering number of pop and rock classics, hit after brilliant hit. And he’s an expert at working the crowd into a lather, walking on stage with a giant Colorado state flag and waving it above his head just before he began his first encore song.
McCartney last played Denver five years ago, and after his Thursday night performance, it would be a shame if another five passed before his return.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
