Paul McCartney

SSE Hydro

By Stewart McConnell

CLASSIC songs penned by Paul McCartney over decades reverberate around the stage - some well-known and others less familiar like Teddy Boy, Junk and Helen Wheels before the rock world's most celebrated elder statesman bounces jauntily on to the stage.

The ageless rocker, who must have a portrait in the attic, strikes the right chord straight away as he and the band open with Beatles classic A Hard Day's Night from the movie of the same name. Then came a quirky, left-field choice with the 1974 Wings hit Junior's Farm in what was a stunning 40-song set spanning three hours.

There is a more familiar sound with his Beatles classic Can't Buy Me Love before Letting Go from Wings had people on their feet. The new album Egypt Station then featured with the anti-bullying song Who Cares and the Beatles' Got To Get You Into Life is another singalong number.

Come On To Me, a hit from Egypt Station is a good choice and he then bursts into Let Me Roll It, which has a line about getting loving in the palm of your hand. Former Beatle Macca certainly had the audience, some of whom were from as far afield as Japan, in the palm of his hand - he can work crowds and keep them entertained with rock star tales as well as some top tunes. One of those involved Eric Clapton being asked by the late great Jimi Hendrix to tune his guitar during a live show.

I've Got A Feeling is a storming rocker from the Let It Be album and he introduces Let Em In, referencing its use in the Postcode Lottery advert. My Valentine was dedicated to his wife Nancy Shevell and Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five was inspired.

Drummer Abe Laboriel Junior's dance moves are complimented by McCartney in Dance Tonight.

We then go back pre-Beatles when Macca performs In Spite of All the Danger, by his former band the Quarrymen, the rights for which he had to buy back. Many of the songs feature images of the Beatle, Wings and McCartney family.

Blackbird is one of three tracks from the White Album, celebrating its 50th anniversary and Live and Let Die has amazing pyrotechnics. Hey Jude is the usual showstopper.

In a great gesture the singer has the Paisley Grammar choir up for festive smash Wonderful Christmas Time and the finale is a ever the closing medley from Abbey Road. He has so many hits he could play three more hours!

It was quite a night or should I say Knight, Sir Paul.