Paul McCartney's NYC Surprise

A concert in the Bowery, boys. Plus the usual cartoons.

Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” which are still up at PBS.org. Watch trailer for my acclaimed 2025 film “The Atomic Bowl.” Before all that, he was a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. At Blue Sky and Twitter: both as @gregmitch. You can still subscribe to this newsletter for FREE.

The music talk of NYC last night (and into today) was Paul McCartney’s surprise pop-up show at 575-capacity Bowery Ballroom. He announced it on Instagram at midday and all tix sold in minutes. Another show to come there tonight. See review in Variety, excerpt:

And at 6:44 p.m. on the nose, the band — led by McCartney — walked down the narrow stairs leading from the Bowery dressing room to the stage and launched straight into “A Hard Day’s Night,” soaring through a tight but relaxed set that featured lots of banter, much of it in direct response to comments shouted by audience members.

And there was plenty to shout about: Although McCartney said they’d had just one rehearsal the day before, this band — guitarist Rusty Anderson, guitarist-bassist Brian Ray, keyboardist Paul “Wix” Wickens and powerhouse drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., accompanied on some songs by a three-piece horn section — has been together for a dozen-plus years and has toured nearly every one of them…

Here’s his setlist, with plenty of Beatles, including newly-minted Grammy winner “Now and Then.”

Poster for the pop-up:

Local news coverage:

Almost nothing from the show posted as yet but here is his full concert at Grand Central six years ago, which also opened with “Hard Day’s Night.”

Fun interview here from this date in 1964 when the boys played two shows at Carnegie Hall.

The Adams Comical

Steve Brodner:

Democrats fight back:

The view from Canada: