Orebro

Paul McCartney and Wings in Örebro was a pop event that surely will never be repeated. Faced with well stocked seats in Idrottshuset he and his pals entertained for just over two hours. Because of all requirements there was a delay of the show for about a half-hour. But when they finally got started it was full out.

There he was in his baggy pants and with his special McCartney bend in his hips. When he then struck his bass guitar with his left hand there was as a shiver through my body. Is it really Paul McCartney who is here? He is such a sought after catch in England and the United States — and here he is in Örebro …

Having heard the last Wings single “Mary had a little lamb” one can easily be led to believe that the band is getting soft but the live show immediately demolished the preconceived notions. Although the soft singel hit was on the repertoire the difference between disc and live is huge. It was quite different andso was the rest of the material which was mainly taken from the “Wild life”-album.

But there were also new songs such as “Henry’s blues”, a finely balanced blues with the distinguished guitarist Henry McCullough at the front. The other guitarist, Denny Laine, also did a few solo numbers. In his “Say You Don’t Mind” he had ample space to exhibit what an exceptionally good singer he is.

As expected, Paul McCartney stood for most of the song, and on songs such as “Smile Away”, “Mumbo”, “Give Ireland Back to the Irish” and “Wild Life” he sang himself properly sweaty. His bass playing was also something odd, and together with drummer Denny Seiwell was a nice rhythmsection and formed a good basis for the two guitarists.

If Paul’s wife Linda has a place in the band has been discussed. It took nearly half an hour before I even discovered her on stage. She sat behind the keyboard and not only looked pale, her playing was too! When the end came together for a little more difficult piano playing it was her husband Paul who took over. It was in “My Love”, a finely balanced McCartney ballad, and “Mary Had a Little Lamb” both getting a much tougher treatment in Idrottshuset than on disc.

It was almost full to capacity in the hall. Yet there was never any real atmosphere despite the fact that Paul repeatedly had the audience dancing in front of the stage, but it was clear that there was a world star who was here. The performance was not only a major event for all Beatles-fans. Paul and his buddies played temselves considerably sweaty and were well worth the two bottles of whisky, which had been promised to wait in the dressing room.

Paul McCartney, gitarr, bas och sång
Linda McCartney, keyboards och sång
Denny Laine, gitarr, bas och sång
Denny Seiwell, trummor
Henry McCullough, gitarr

Other songs performed:
Bip Bop
Smile Away
Mumbo
Give Ireland Back To The Irish
1882
I Would Only Smile
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
The Mess
Best Friend
Soily

From local newspaper Nerikes Allehanda, August 9, 1972 – From Meet the Beatles for Real: The 1972 Wings Tour bus

Idretshalle

This was the 1st and only concert played at Idretshalle.

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