Edmonton • Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Highlights

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This was the first of two consecutive shows in Edmonton, Canada.

From Edmonton Sun, November 29, 2012:

McCartney mania rolled on at city hall Wednesday as Mayor Stephen Mandel proclaimed Nov. 26 to Nov. 30 Paul McCartney Week in Edmonton.

Fans of the British singer and former Beatle huddled in city hall at lunch hour to take in piano sing-alongs, roving actors, and a brief show by local Beatles cover band Pepperland.

The event was a welcome warm-up to McCartney’s two evening shows at Rexall Place for those who were lucky enough to score tickets. […]

From Edmonton Sun, November 30, 2012

It was a long and winding road back to the yesterdays that seemed so far away — or mangle your own favourite line from your own favourite Beatles song to describe Paul McCartney’s show. He must’ve played them all at Rexall Place on Wednesday night.

The former Beatle, and still “the Cute One,” delivered an epic concert that stretched almost three hours through almost 40 songs. And no pee break, either! At 70 years old, Sir Paul should get an honorary Order of Canada just for that. He didn’t seem to drink any water, either, so maybe that explains it.

Local fans have had plenty of time to get worked into a tizzy of Macca Mania over Sir Paul’s historic first visit to Edmonton, and packed the arena for the first of two sold-out shows – 14,500, with the same expected Thursday night. A star of this magnitude generates a special kind of excitement in a B-market like Edmonton that people in big cities can’t appreciate. Would the mayor of New York declare a “Paul McCartney Week?” Don’t think so! Paul was feeding off this special energy, too. After the opening Magical Mystery Tour, some vintage Wings with Junior’s Farm and the two minutes of vintage Beatles with All My Lovin’, he took a wee pause.

“This is so cool!” he said to the cheering throngs, and he was right. “I’m just going to take a moment for myself and drink it all in.”

The cheering throngs cheered louder.

Soon, he got sweaty and took off his jacket. Cue more cheers – yes, for a 70- year- old man taking off his jacket, the “big wardrobe change of the evening,” he quipped. Man, pot smoking veganism must keep you young (though he finally gave up pot a year ago). Sir Paul sang, played and behaved like he was on top of his game, relaxed and confident, fully aware of both his own superstar status and the power of his superstar songs. He’s not this famous by accident. Yet his demeanour was friendly, easy with a quick joke, perhaps an amusing ‘60s anecdote. All in all, he came off like a normal guy who just came to play a few songs – that happen to be the most memorable pop songs ever written. […]

Later on, he brought a girl up on stage and signed her skin.The Pipes and Drums of the Edmonton Police Servicemarched in and playing during Mull of Kintyre. Didn’t see that coming. […]

Last updated on February 7, 2021

Rexall Place

This was the 1st concert played at Rexall Place.

A total of 2 concerts have been played there • 2012 • Nov 28th • Nov 29th

Setlist for the concert