The Cute Beatle
October 10, 2002
The Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio

Reviewed by Rick Brown

The one known as the "Cute Beatle" embraced himself as just that from beginning to end of this almost too good for words show. Coming down the aisle at the Value City Arena to begin the evening was a lovely looking woman dressed in Victorian garb, fanning herself with casual opulence. She was soon joined by other spotlighted characters in powdered wigs, On stage was a sort of surreal circus/dance involving cartoon-ish players, including an enormous body builder and an amazingly sensual contortionist. This was certainly the strangest opening to a rock concert I had ever witnessed. And at the point where I assumed the crowd could take no more of this living dream sequence the silhouette of Sir Paul appeared behind a giant screen onstage.

After an opening power chord McCartney and his young band seemed to literally burst into view and roared into Magical Mystery Tour's "Hello-Goodbye". Immediately I realized this indeed was to be a magical space in time. For years and years the members of the world's most popular and influential rock group tried…for the most part unsuccessfully…to avoid their past…for personal sanity's sake I suppose. Yet here…now…where I existed at the moment…one of the two surviving members was celebrating his involvement in that very cultural metamorphosis. Images of the Beatles deplaning to the screams of sobbing girls flashed on what seemed to be hundreds of video screens enveloping the stage area. Then there was Ed Sullivan calling the boys over to chat. Memories, memories, memories.

Immediately following "Hello - Goodbye" was a rousing rendition of "Jet". Okay…not a Beatles tune…but already all the lines were blurred for me. I felt like my adolescence had reclaimed my brain…my body…my soul. I started hoping…out loud…that Paul would play "She Loves You". YEAH! YEAH! YEAH. He didn't. I wished…like a little boy…for "I Saw Her Standing There". He DID! McCartney roared through over 20 Beatles tunes and peppered the British Invasion stew with his GOOD post Fab Four solo work and Wings creations. "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Let Me Roll It", and "Live and Let Die" certainly held their own in the company of my generation's Rogers and Hammerstein (Lennon-McCartney) catalog. Even the few numbers he performed from his latest release Driving Rain stood tall this evening.

It's impossible for me to write this review with any sort of unbiased clarity. After all, when the young, hired gun on lead guitar…who was excellent…commented that for such a large arena the place…at least tonight…felt as comfortable as someone's living room, I didn't disagree. Paul commented and paid tribute to the losses in his life…in ALL of our lives for that matter…Linda…John…George. The highlight for me was his story about George and a touching version of Harrison's "Something" played on a ukulele the Quiet Beatle himself had given the Cute One. And Paul's song about his new wife…which could easily have turned overly sentimental…trite even…was quite touching…very genuine.

"Back in the USSR" brought down the house. The band was so good I had to keep reminding myself they WEREN'T the Beatles. Paul still sings these songs…quite remarkably…in the same key as the recordings…some made 4 decades past. For a man of almost 60 years Mr. McCartney seemed timeless. And the softer songs were so mesmerizing that I enjoyed them as much as the rockers. "The Fool on the Hill", "Yesterday", "Eleanor Rigby", and of course the ending/encores of "Hey Jude" and "Let it Be" especially, brought back that 1960's feeling of communion with humanity most of us have not experienced since…well…perhaps the 1960's. And I don't mind telling you…it felt good. Damned good. So when the concert ended with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and segued into "The End" from Abbey Road it struck me that these songs had never…ever…been played in public by the Beatles. Somehow I felt honored.

This show was a delightful surprise for me. I almost didn't go. I was never a huge Paul fan, although I have the utmost respect for the Beatles. But the joyous afterglow lasted for well over a week. It was as if I had traveled back to my youth somehow…the GOOD part of my youth…along with 20,000 of my closest friends. Friends some of whom probably dragged reluctant sons and daughters along with them in the hopes that somehow they would understand….to somehow be there with them when they first experienced Beatlemania. And an appreciation I had forgotten I possessed resurfaced the next day while talking to a guy I work who had also been at the show. I found myself telling him "It made me glad I grew up in the time I did". And he whole-heartedly agreed. Everyone who was there that very special night might also concur.

YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!

 

The Rolling Stones
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
October 20, 2002

Reviewed by Cory Tressler

"It's good to be anywhere." This Zen-like statement fell out of Keith Richards' rambling mouth just after an uncomfortable introduction by his band mate Sir Michael "Mick" Jagger. Richards, who looked and sounded like a cross between Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill from the Rocky movies) and a cosmic weirdo freak from the 1960's, seemed to have an underlying uneasiness directed towards his "glimmer twin/soul brother" Sir Jagger. Throughout the evening whenever the famous Sir Jagger danced (or pranced) his way towards the area of the stage where Richards was playing, Keith would turn his back and creep away in the opposite direction. These uncomfortable stage movements were also visible between Ronnie Wood and Jagger during the two and a half hour show. The tension that was present during these awkward moments may mean that this latest tour has once again strained the personal relationships between the members of the world's greatest rock and roll band, but even with this tension the live music the Stones produced was a consistent representation of their impressive and playful career in the rock industry.

Usually when you are at a Stones concert you can expect Richards and Jagger to be completely on top of their performances. No Stones concert is complete without Jagger pumping, jumping, dancing, singing, and shaking his ass off to get the crowd in a wild frenzy, while at the same time Richards is standing on the side of the stage subconsciously playing his guitar with a sort of automatic slop rhythm that he seems to have been born with. There were flashes of these moments during the Stones Columbus concert, but often it felt forced. Jagger did do his bit, but it wasn't as flashy or energetic as normal, and overall he looked like he was in a bad mood. Similarly, Keith Richards' playing was often out of time and ragged (even for Keith Richards). It seems that whatever tension that was present between the two rock gods took a little of their supernatural luster away, but luckily Ronnie Wood and the rest of the band were there to keep the show running.

Wood's playing was outstanding throughout the entire evening. His slide guitar on "No Expectations" was beautiful, his guitar solo on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" was completely breath taking, and during it all Ronnie was damn happy to be there. The now clean and sober Wood looked fit and healthy, and wasn't chain-smoking cigarettes quite as much as usual. Ronnie made the show, but he was not alone in his efforts. Chuck Leavell on piano and keyboards, Bobby Keys on saxophone, and the ever-present Charlie Watts on drums turned in absolutely remarkable performances. All three of these guys were exciting to watch and even more exciting to listen to. In fact, I even saw the "shattered" Watts crack a large smile during his introduction. These overshadowed members of the Stones' touring party made me feel the joyous celebration that usually accompanies one of their performances.

The night's set list was filled with many rarities and gems from the Jagger/Richards songbook, including a four-song segment off of the 1968 album "Beggar's Banquet". The highlight of the show occurred after Bobby Keys and Ronnie Wood soloed during "Can't You Hear Me Knocking'" and concluded when the Stones took their final bow after the second encore "Jumpin' Jack Flash." This end of the show barrage of classic Stones, smokin' Blues, and cover songs was exactly what the good "Rock and Roll Doctor" advised, completely raw and full of unexpected brilliance. As I left the sold out arena I knew that it would be the last time the Stones would be in Columbus and possibly the last time I would ever see them live. I was lucky enough to see them twice (the first time was at the Horseshoe in 1997 when they played "Sister Morphine"!) and not lucky enough to see them in their hay-day, the 1960's and 1970's. I can always say I've seen the greatest rock and roll band ever and I think the end of "No Expectations" sums it up best…

Our love is like our music
Its here, and then its gone
So take me to the airport
And put me on a plane
I got no expectations
To pass through here again

A Note About The Opening Band: The White Stripes

Brash and angry, young and energetic, witty and intelligent, honest and artistic, loud and smokin'. Jack White ripped into his guitar like a maniac surgeon, while Meg White slithered and bopped behind her drum kit. Simply put, a 40-minute set that reeked of the true essence of rock and roll.

Stones Set list:

Start Me Up - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll - If You Can't Rock Me - Don't Stop - Rocks Off - No Expectations - Stray Cat Blues - Street Fighting Man - Sympathy For The Devil - Tumbling Dice - Band Introduction - Slipping Away (Keith on Vocals) - Before They Make Me Run (Keith on Vocals) - Love Train - You Got Me Rocking - Can't You Hear Me Knocking - Honkey Tonk Woman - Satisfaction - Mannish Boy (Small Stage) - Like A Rolling Stone (Small Stage) - Brown Sugar (Small Stage) ; encore: - Midnight Rambler - Jumping Jack Flash

Soulive
The Vogue, Indianapolis, Indiana
Sunday, October 13, 2002