Last night's concert had been a mixture of very popular music from half a century, but it was clear that the one thing his fans loved above everything else was songs by the Beatles. McCartney is 67, and his creativity and thumbs-up enthusiasm continue to surpass all reasonable expectations, but he learned long ago to face universal truths. I told him how much I had enjoyed the previous evening's show (the first of two nights at the same venue), and he said that he was aware he had found his groove again. The trailer looked like a Middle Eastern souk – rugs on the walls, rich embroidery, sweet candles burning on low tables.
His dyed brown hair was not as unnerving in reality as it can appear in photographs. His girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, was preparing iced tea in a large wine glass, and McCartney was sitting with his feet curled under him on a sofa.
McCartney invited me to his trailer behind the stage. The words I saw: He blew his mind out in a car/He didn't notice that the lights had changed." One of my notes read: "Two TV monitors, one by microphone at front stage, other further back by piano stool. He came up to me and said: "I saw you were taking notes…," and I said I had been. Catering staff said: "How ya doin', Sir Paul?" as he passed, and he said: "Good." He posed for a photograph with a young fan in a Beatles T-shirt. When it was over he had a little chat with his band and security men, and wandered around. Before he sang Leaning on a Lamppost, he explained that George Harrison had given him his ukulele, and before he left the stage he said: "This is a new one" as he began singing Yesterday. A woman in our tiny gathering unfurled a multicoloured sign which read, "Please can you sign my Hofner?", but McCartney was far too busy having fun. The years fell away, and his performance was staggeringly good. McCartney smiled a lot as he played songs from Hamburg (Matchbox, Honey Don't), songs from the Cavern (All My Loving), songs from Top of the Pops (C Moon, Let 'Em In) and songs from his schooldays (Leaning on a Lamppost). A few of these were lighting and sound engineers, but most were competition winners from local radio stations and fans who had paid extra for a VIP experience. It was 4pm, and there were about 80 people in the stadium. McCartney demonstrated this a few weeks ago at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. T here are many ways you can get to see the youthful Paul McCartney these days – YouTube, BBC documentaries, the short films that come with the Beatles' newly remastered CDs – but the best way is the Paul McCartney Soundcheck Package.
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