MACCA Super-Fan’s Eye View
by Tom Frangione

Those who’ve followed the past several Paul McCartney tours and one-off live appearances on Brunchradio.com over the past few years, will be familiar with Bob Gannon’s reports from the road and the top-flight photos he generously shares. Now, as we await Paul’s return to the U.S. we can temper our excitement by reliving the most recent 2009 & 2010 road-trips via Gannon’s stunning collection of photos, available on a made-to-order basis at www.blurb.com

Paul McCartney – A Fan’s Eye View collects over 850 full color photos of Paul and the band, taken at some 3- dozen shows, including nine private sound-checks. Each stop along the way is chronicled with the show’s set-list and Bob’s diary-style journal notes about particular venue logistics, guests in attendance, and other exclusive information. Having just under 100 McCartney shows under his belt, Gannon still manages to find unique aspects at each show. His enthusiasm is captured in the free-verse style notes.

The 440-page tome is loaded with great action shots of Paul on acoustic & electric guitars, bass, piano, mandolin and ukulele and are taken from the largest venues, including historic CitiField down to the smallest, like the sets at London's 100 Club.  Besides the usual cast, bagpipers, on-stage tattoo recipients and other fans-on-the-run grace the pages. One special guest who shows up two points along the way is none other than Ringo Starr, with pictures from his appearances with Paul at the 2009 Change Begins Within concert and last year’s 70th birthday show, both held at Radio City Music Hall. Fortunately these were home-games for Gannon, who hails from New Jersey. Other stops along the way took him as far as England, Germany and Ireland.

The handcrafted books carry a formidable price tag – the hardcover image-wrap edition is $107.95, with the soft cover edition available for $10 less. A 160-page “highlights” edition, with 155 full page photos and no text or set list information is available for $70.95 (hardcover) and $57.95 (softcover). Fans are encouraged to search for online discount offers (first time buyers have had success with the promo-code “NEWBLURB” generating a 20% discount).

A flip through the book with the live “Good Evening New York” CD cranking out should hold most folks over until Paul hits the road again. In the meantime, Beatle Brunch will be giving away personalized signed copies to two lucky Beatle Brunch Club members. Keep it tuned to Beatle Brunch to find out how to win yours.

Order Today on a made-to-order basis at www.blurb.com

Macca In
Las Vegas
Beatle Bruncher, Bob Gannon dropped us this line with his latest 'Eye View' on Paul in Las Vegas, June 10, 2011.

Special guests in the audience were Yoko & Sean Lennon, Olivia Harrison, George and Giles Martin and Neil Sedaka. Paul acknowledged them and welcomed everyone to a "big night in Lost Wages." All the rockin' tunes were back in the set list which gave a nice flow to the show. Paul was in great form, very interactive with the crowd, enjoyed a lot of fooling around on stage and in a very playful mood. During Give Peace a Chance we saw many screen shots of Yoko, Olivia and Sean singing along. On a funny note, while backstage, security stopped Sean Lennon for not having the proper credentials. As the guard continued to refuse entry, my friend told him that it was Sean Lennon; realizing the snafu he let him through. As always, the soundcheck was very entertaining. Notes from inside: Paul dedicated San Francisco Bay Blues to his longtime employee and person in charge of VIP's Shelley Lazar. Towards the end of soundcheck Paul read signs in the audience and decided to bring several of them on stage. Not sure what the first one said, but they brought two young kids up to the stage. The second person's sign read, "Heal my broken leg - sign my cast" and the third one was my buddy Keri whose son held up, "Please hug my mom". Paul posed for pictures with the two young kids and then he signed the cast and gave Keri a nice hug. At the end of soundcheck my books were delivered to Paul and band.

Setlist:
Hello Goodbye
Junior's Farm
All My Loving
Jet
Got To Get You Into My Life
Sing The Changes
Let Me Roll It/ Foxy Lady
The Long and Winding Road
Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five
Let‘em In		 Maybe I'm Amazed
I'm Looking Through You
And I Love Her
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Mrs. Vandebilt
Eleanor Rigby
Something		 Band On The Run
ob-la-di ob-la-da
Back in the USSR
I've Got a Feeling
Paperback Writer
A Day n the Life/ Give Peace a Chance
Let It Be
Live and Let Die
Hey Jude
1st Encore
Day Tripper
Get Back

 

 2nd encore
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Sgt Pepper's Reprise/ The End  		  
     
New Macca Dates

Sir Paul & The Band will play Yankee Stadium July 15th and 16th.
Detroit's Comerica Park July 24th.
The Bell Centre Montreal, Canada July 26th.
Wrigley Field Chicago July 31st and August 1st.
The Great American Ball Park Cincinnati, August 4th.
Target Field in Minneapolis September 1st.

More cities are rumored to be announced soon, including possible dates in Portland, Seattle and Memphis. So stay in touch on The BBC.

VIP packages are available at www.PaulMcCartney.com and include up close seats plus a ticket to the sound check (a very cool experience; just ask Bruncher Bob Gannon).

 


BBC'er Carol G. At Comerica Park, Detroit
 
Hi Beatle Brunch Buddies!  I got to sing with Paul in concert!!  Check
out my photo.  Well, ok, I'm a little farther from the microphone that
he is, but still I got to sing together with him, at the same time
(along with 40,000 other people)!  That's Paul at the upper right side
of my head.

More Pics from Carol's Seat

 

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