Musical Legends week

I have dubbed this week as my 'Musical Legends' week as I have had the great opportunity to see two great, legendary acts perform live:

Paul McCartney @ HP Pavilion. Tuesday, Nov 8.

Went with Kate and her parents to see Paul McCartney at the HP Pavilion in downtown San Jose. Everyone who knows me knows that I am a big Beatles fan. So to see an actual Beatle perform live is a dream come true for me.

Sir Paul did not disappoint. He still looks great at 63. And the old man still knows how to rock! The setlist consisted of a blend of old songs and new. I must say the new songs he played sounded great. Not surprisingly though, its the old songs (especially the Beatle ones) that were most well recieved by the audience. Hearing him sing songs that are so familiar and so dear was like a wet dream to this Beatlemaniac. I was in a state of euphoric bliss that I wished would never end. And for a while it seemed like it wouldnt. He played for almost 3 hours and had TWO encores!

Alas, all good things must come to an end. He finished the show with a medley of 'Sgt Pepper's' reprise and 'In the End', a fitting ending to an amazing show:

'And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.'

U2 @ Oakland Arena. Wednesday, Nov 9.

Part 2 of Musical Legends week had me traveling back to Oakland Arena, sight of the Foozer concert. This time it was to see U2. Thanks to a stroke of luck and the u2 fan club members who I met while queing to get inside the arena, Ninya and I were able to get a position at the very front of the floor area, right by the stage!

Damien Marley, one of Bob Marley's offspring, was the front act. It was kinda wierd to have a reggae act open for U2. I didn't mind though. Reggae is always fun to hear live. Damien Marley was good, worthy of carrying on his father's legacy and name. It was funny as there was this Doug E. Doug-looking black guy in camos on stage with him who did nothing but bob to the beat and waive a Jamaican flag all throughout the performance.

Jamaica Mon!

Finally it was time for the main act. What can I say, U2 arguably is the best live act in the world right now. There was an amazing vibe between the band and the crowd during the entire show. The crowd was more energetic and animated compared to the Paul McCartney show the night before and was singing along all throughout the show to U2's plethora of anthemic songs. Bono even had the crowd sing entire verses by ourselves.

Between songs and even during song, Bono would speak about the various political and social causes that he championed. Truly there is no more hardworking man in rock than Bono and I admire how he uses his music to speak out to people and try to make a difference.

Bono and The Edge up close!

The show was short though. After playing an emotional rendition of 'One' following Bono's impassioned speech for support for, you guessed it, the One campaign, I was surprised to hear that it was to be their last song of the night. Maybe it was just an indication of how great the show and the evening was. As the tired cliche goes: "Time flies when you're having fun".