Mccartney plays Grand Central show
Commuters with tickets to ride out of New York’s Grand Central Station heard a special serenade on Friday evening, with Paul Mccartney taking over a corner of the majestic hub for a concert.
Only invited guests including Jon Bon Jovi, Meryl Streep, Amy Schumer, Kate Moss and Steve Buscemi were let behind black curtains to see the stage, but everyone could hear a 24-song set that spanned more than 50 years of music. It was a stunt to promote a new album called “Egypt Station.” The band set up under a chandelier and in front of a giant clock, just off the 42nd Street entrance.
He performed familiar hits like “Let it Be,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Lady Madonna.” He also dug deeper into his songbook for “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “Hi Hi Hi” and “1985.”
While he played three songs from his new album, Mccartney did more from the 50-year-old White Album. The sweaty, dancing crowd hardly minded the trip back in time. Seemingly nervous as he stood on a riser in the middle of the audience with an acoustic guitar for one song, Mccartney flubbed the words to “Blackbird” not once but twice, starting over both times. Surrounding fans, famous and non-famous, knew all the lyrics and coaxed him on.
“I know this song,” he said in frustration. “I wrote it!” Sean Lennon, the son of Mccartney’s late partner, was in the audience. So was Mccartney’s wife, Nancy Shevell ,and he dedicated the song “My Valentine” to her.