If anyone knows something about a concert on a rooftop it’s Paul McCartney. Over forty years after The Beatles’ infamous final concert on the roof of Apple Corps in London, the bassist returned to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs – the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City – where he played a brief set of Wings and Beatle classics atop the building’s marquee earlier this afternoon as part of a taping for The Late Show.

Paul McCartney – Get Back

The set started around 5:30 PM when McCartney emerged through a window clad in a bright pink shirt and suspenders along with the other four members of his talented ensemble. Broadway was closed in one direction for a few blocks in either direction of the theatre leaving plenty of room for thousands of people from all different walks to life to enjoy the music coming from speakers set up on each side of the legendary venue. Most in the crowd were on their way home from work, noticed the crowd was forming and joined in when they realized Paul McCartney was performing.

Setlist: Get Back, Sing The Changes, Coming Up, Band On The Run, Let Me Roll It > Foxy Lady Jam, Helter Skelter, Back In The USSR

Sir Paul kibbutzed with the assembled mass while awaiting a cue from the producer to start. The crowd cheered their approval at every word the former Beatle said, especially when he mentioned New York. Within a few minutes of taking the makeshift stage, McCartney launched into a powerful version of Get Back – the same tune The Beatles opened their rooftop concert with in 1969. The sound wasn’t great at first, but the sound guy boosted the volume as the concert went on. Get Back crackled with energy as the band members, including McCartney, got a huge kick out of this very special venue.

READ ON for more of Scott’s take on McCartney’s marqueetop show…

Paul McCartney -  Band On The Run

For his second song of the rooftop concert, the band played Sing The Changes off his recent Fireman LP – a tune that was upbeat and catchy. David Letterman came out after the song to greet McCartney and wrap up the taping of The Late Show. At that point, Macca told the crowd that they shouldn’t go anywhere as the band would continue to play just for them – eliciting the loudest cheers that block has heard since Phish rocked the marquee in 2004. What followed was a trio of Wings epics: Coming Up, Band On The Run and Let Me Roll It.

As always, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. – hot off an impressive stint behind the kit for the Clapton/Winwood tour – played with passion and authority pushing his band mates at each turn. McCartney’s quintet gets tighter with each passing year and Macca fans who are catching them in the coming weeks are in for a treat. Particularly impressive was the way they tacked the coda of Foxy Lady onto the end of Let Me Roll It with McCartney trading licks with guitarist Rusty Anderson.

The crowd seemed to be aching for a Beatles classic, but instead of reaching back for I Saw Her Standing There or one of the other songs they played at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in the mid ’60s the band delivered an intense Helter Skelter. The White Album rocker seemed to freak out a few of the oldest and youngest in the audience especially after Anderson screeched his way through a solo. Yet, the frenetic energy of the song matched that of Midtown Manhattan during rush hour. Another White Album rocker, Back In The USSR, followed and closed the concert on a high note.

Paul McCartney – Back In The USSR

Everywhere you looked you saw people in the crowd calling their friends and family trying to explain the once-in-a-lifetime sight they were seeing. As quickly as it started the concert came to a close with McCartney bidding the crowd adieu and urging everyone to watch The Late Show tonight. It’s clear this is one experience neither the performers or the audience will ever forget.

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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