McCartney rocks another Mets stadium

 NEW YORK – Looking around during Paul McCartney's final show at the Mets' Citi Field – and at all of the women alternately screaming his name/wedding proposals, a question occurred to me: "I wonder if this ever gets old for him?"

If it does, Sir Paul is not letting on. In fact, at 67, he is exhibiting few signs of slowing down. He played a raucous two hours with no breaks, sprinkling in a few new songs to go along with healthy doses of Beatles classics and hits from his "Wings" headlining days.

Frank Franklin II / AP

Musician Sir Paul McCartney performs at Citi Field on July 17 in New York.

His only concession to age was a tinge of nostalgia. He choked up during "Here Today," his melancholy ode to John Lennon, but managed through it. He sang George Harrison's "Something" in memory of his old band-mate. And "My Love" was dedicated to his late wife, Linda – a New Yorker like most of the crowd. (Ex-wife Heather Mills did not warrant a dedication.)

He also reminisced about the Beatles first time playing in a Mets ballpark – their historic appearance at Shea stadium on August 15th, 1965. McCartney playfully complained that during that concert they couldn't hear a thing due to the girls screaming.

It should be noted that that concert lasted just 35 minutes – fairly standard for the time – but still a long time to scream continuously. And in a neat twist, McCartney's set list at Citi Field included the last song played at Shea Stadium that day – "I'm Down."

'Saw a Beatle perform. Check.'
For all of his accomplishments as a writer – this is the man, after all, who wrote "Yesterday," and "Let it Be" (both of which he performed at Citi Field) among many, many others – you almost forget what an accomplished musician he is. He moved effortlessly from bass guitar, rhythm guitar and piano. For good measure, he broke out the ukulele, a gift from Harrison.

He ripped off a searing version of Jimmy Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" guitar solo, and noted that Hendrix had once paid the Beatles the ultimate tribute: Two days after their seminal album, "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," was released in 1967, McCartney went to see Hendrix perform in London. Hendrix had already learned to play – and opened the show with, the title track.

The crowd spanned at least three generations. Some were Beatles/McCartney die-hards who were already talking about their plans to catch some of his other upcoming shows in the U.S. tour. Others, like one middle-aged man who had flown in from Chicago, were crossing a to-do off their "bucket" list. "Saw a Beatle perform. Check."

As for those marriage proposals, Sir Paul did take the time to acknowledge one of them, and had a succinct response. "No."

It was about the only disappointment of the evening.