McCartney - Good Evening New York City

12bass · #1 12-31-2009, 09:44 AM

In surprisingly good voice, Paul McCartney's latest CD/DVD release chronicles his July 2009 performances at Citi Field in NYC. IMO, he sounds better here than on many of the previous concerts from the past decade or so. Whereas past videos were a bit chaotic with the audience shots, the cinematography here is somewhat more focused on the band.

Upon listening with my AKG K702 headphones, one of the first things I noticed was the full presence of his Hofner bass in the mix. Geoff Emerick did a fine job on this recording!

Alex E · #2 12-31-2009, 03:02 PM

I didn't realize Emerick did the engineering work on the concert.

Yes, the Hofner did sound good, as did Paul and the rest of the band.

Randall · #3 12-31-2009, 03:02 PM

Saw it on tv about two weeks ago. Surprised he did not use his Rick at all, but still using his Mesa Boogie rig.

mccartneyman · #4 12-31-2009, 03:12 PM

This is essentially the same show I saw at FedEx Field in DC in August, and I agree that Paul was in better voice than on many tours, including when I saw him on the Flowers in the Dirt tour in 1992. In person, his Hofner sounded great -- very full and driving, and the overall sound was the best I've heard in any outdoor venue. It was totally balanced and every nuance of every instrument could be heard. They put out a lot of sound for five pieces. I got the Citifield DVD for Christmas and will watch it tonight. I don't think Paul has used the Rick since the Wings days -- he didn't in 1992 and not on any DVD I've seen since.

Mr. Mig · #5 12-31-2009, 03:20 PM

I was at the last show he did at Citifield. He sounded fantastic. It was totally inspiring.

12bass · #6 12-31-2009, 03:25 PM

Yea... Paul seems more inspired post Heather. IIRC, he played the Wal (which was given to him by Linda) quite a bit during the late 80s and 90s until he switched back to the Hofner. Had a nice deep tone with the Wal 5-string. I had hoped he would come through Vancouver on the Tripping the Live Fantastic tour when I lived there, but no such luck....

mccartneyman · #7 12-31-2009, 04:08 PM

Paul used the Wal in '92 for "Figure of eight" and other tunes from Flowers in the Dirt, but he switched midway to the Hofner, at which point the audience when crazy. I can't think of any other artist that is so closely identified with one brand of instrument -- even Clapton & the Strat -- that the crowd responds to an instrument switch. It'd be like Elton John switching from Baldwin to Steinway for a song and everyone giving the new piano a standing ovation. Paul says the Wal is too heavy to play all the time and that the Hofner makes him play more freely. Plus, he has said the people "expect to see" the Hofner. He used the Wal on "Free as a Bird."

GM60466 · #8 01-01-2010, 08:36 AM

The best Live Mecca in years!

G

**Howlin' Hanson** · #9 01-01-2010, 12:33 PM

I saw the last show - Dallas - of the tour (only 9 shows total--3 in NY, 2 in Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago IIRC). Paul's voice was still holding up well. When he switched to guitar, piano or ukelele, the blonde guitarist played either a Gibson or an Epiphone EB style bass. Anyone know exactly what bass he was using?

Both the EB and the Hofner had PLENTY of bottom.

edmidlifecrisis · #10 01-01-2010, 12:44 PM

I watched the DVD the other night.

The guitarist played a Gibson bass (all his guitars were Gibson too), SG style, it looked like. I still find it amazing that Paul can play so well and fast (such as on "I Saw Her Standing There) while singing lead and talking to the audience and camera, with a great bass tone. Amazing.

Paul played so many instruments in that show, two different acoustic guitars (one was a righty played upside down, one was a lefty), a wild looking Les Paul, Ukelele, Piano, bass. He looks and sounds great, his band is fantastic (I love Abe Laboriel, Jr), just the best. And the playlist for the NY shows was equally amazing.

I saw the "Flowers in the Dirt " tour on its first night (LA, Thanksgiving, 1989) and it's closing night (July 4, 1990, Washington DC, in what was called RFK Stadium). Best live shows I've ever seen, and I've seen A LOT of them. There is no one else even remotely like him for knowing how to bring pure joy (and best-quality music) to an audience of any size.

The camera work was much better on this one, focusing more on the band than some other recent DVD's.

Rob Martinez · #11 01-02-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmidlifecrisis

I watched the DVD the other night.

The guitarist played a Gibson bass (all his guitars were Gibson too), SG style, it looked like. I still find it amazing that Paul can play so well and fast (such as on "I Saw Her Standing There) while singing lead and talking to the audience and camera, with a great bass tone. Amazing.

Paul played so many instruments in that show, two different acoustic guitars (one was a righty played upside down, one was a lefty), a wild looking Les Paul, Ukelele, Piano, bass. He looks and sounds great, his band is fantastic (I love Abe Laboriel, Jr), just the best. And the playlist for the NY shows was equally amazing.

I saw the "Flowers in the Dirt " tour on its first night (LA, Thanksgiving, 1989) and it's closing night (July 4, 1990, Washington DC, in what was called RFK Stadium). Best live shows I've ever seen, and I've seen A LOT of them. There is no one else even remotely like him for knowing how to bring pure joy (and best-quality music) to an audience of any size.

The camera work was much better on this one, focusing more on the band than some other recent DVD's.

I was also at that LA show in 1989, a fantastic concert!