5 reflections from Paul McCartney’s intimate Pappy & Harriet’s show

October 15, 2016

Paul McCartney made 75,000 people rock out at Desert Trip’s first weekend at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, with an encore performance set for Saturday, Oct. 15.

But on Thursday, McCartney and his band stopped by a beloved intimate venue in the high desert — Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown — to play a show for fans that numbered in the hundreds, not the tens of thousands.

I wrote about the full experience and what it was like, but after I woke up this morning and realized it truly wasn’t a dream, I had a few more reflections.

1. THESE REALLY ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST SONGS THAT HAVE EVER EXISTED.

“Hey Jude” is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, from the lyrics to the melody to the piano line. Hearing it live, there’s something about the warmth and beauty that takes it to a higher plane of being.

Likewise, the opening of “A Hard Day’s Night,” arguably the most recognizable chord in rock ‘n’ roll that has taken on almost mythical proportions for musicians trying to emulate it over the years, has an energy even greater than on record.

“I’ve Just Seen a Face” has this flowing opening coupled with a sweet, perfect lyric and a country tinge that belonged in Pioneertown.

2. WINGS NEVER GETS FORGOTTEN.

Yeah, we know, the Beatles are great. But so is McCartney’s other work and it was nice to have such heavy Wings representation, including “Junior’s Farm” and “Let Me Roll It.”

And around the last third of the performance, between where “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “Band on the Run” were on the printed set list, the fans got bonus Wings, too, with “Letting Go.”

3. SIR PAUL CAN STILL SHRED.

Watching McCartney really lock into the groove with his band up close was one of the most enjoyable things about the night. But the real treat was watching Macca rock out on the guitar, whether it was the band’s tribute to Jimi Hendrix after “Let Me Roll It” or the bluesy reprise of “I’ve Got a Feeling,” those musical moments punctuated with the flourish of McCartney’s wrist or a kick of his left leg.

4. THE HARMONIES ARE THE BEST.

Along with McCartney, the talent of the band, which includes drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., guitarist Rusty Anderson, guitarist and bassist Brian Ray and multi-instrumentalist Paul Wickens, has helped keep McCartney selling out arenas and stadiums around the world.The harmonies and backing vocals, particularly on the Beatles’ classics, give greater textures to the beloved catalog.

Among the highlights: “Lady Madonna,” “Day Tripper,” “Love Me Do.”

5. DRUMS, DRUMS, DRUMS!

Speaking of Laboriel, who has been playing with McCartney for 15-plus years, he is not only a fantastic backing singer, but one of the best drummers in the business. Part of the fun of the intimate show was getting a chance to see him work up close. My favorite moment was watching him hit so hard on “Birthday” in the encore.