Rehearsals !!
-
So we're about four weeks away from the beginning of the US tour....and Paul is still sunny himself on St Barts. Its a far cry from the three months of sold rehersals for the Wings 75/76 world tour. Paul must be confident that he and the band will be up to speed with a new show in time,otherwise he's leaving things a bit late.
-
Maybe it's the same show as before & rehearsals aren't too necessary?
-
oobu24 wrote:
Maybe it's the same show as before & rehearsals aren't too necessary?
Possibly but after three years there is still a lot of song lyrics for Paul to remember as well as to play. And there will be new songs from McCartney 111 to be included as well. Also,I'm sure I read somewhere that Wix has retired from the music scene.....and he was the musical director of the band !! Anyway,I'm sure Paul knows what he's doing....maybe he's just trying to preserve his voice?
-
Hopefully we'll hear of some rehearsals soon.
-
oobu24 wrote:
Maybe it's the same show as before & rehearsals aren't too necessary?
I always wondered how much rehearsal somebody like Paul needs with a band he has toured with for over 20 years. Like you said you can safely assume it is probably the same show with a little tweaking. Maybe 2-3 songs from "McCartney III" and different Beatle song as an opener. In other words, they can do this show basically in their sleep. I would guess they don't need more than a couple of weeks to run through this show. Not sure what lighting entails for his shows but doubt it changes much tour to tour.
-
Kestrel wrote:
oobu24 wrote:
Maybe it's the same show as before & rehearsals aren't too necessary?
Possibly but after three years there is still a lot of song lyrics for Paul to remember as well as to play. And there will be new songs from McCartney 111 to be included as well. Also,I'm sure I read somewhere that Wix has retired from the music scene.....and he was the musical director of the band !! Anyway,I'm sure Paul knows what he's doing....maybe he's just trying to preserve his voice?
I did quick "Google" search on Wix and did not see anything about him retiring from the music scene, guess we will find out soon -lol.
-
I have not heard about Wix officially retiring, but then have not heard much of the band line up ... if there was or is a change in the band..
It seems like there should be some play together time to gel and get to know the new song and any changes in how the regular songs are done.
They probably all catch on to the show they know pretty quick like. -
The official tour announcement in February stated that the onstage personnel is unchanged: "Featuring Paul’s longtime band - Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums)"
-
Kestrel wrote:
So we're about four weeks away from the beginning of the US tour....and Paul is still sunny himself on St Barts. Its a far cry from the three months of sold rehersals for the Wings 75/76 world tour. Paul must be confident that he and the band will be up to speed with a new show in time,otherwise he's leaving things a bit late.
They will rehearse 10-14 days giver or take. As others have mentioned, there will be a few tweaks, but pretty much the same routine as the last several years.
-
Brian Sullivan wrote:
The official tour announcement in February stated that the onstage personnel is unchanged: "Featuring Paul’s longtime band - Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums)"
Ah,okay,that confirms that Wix hasn't been pensioned off yet then. I'm not sure where I initially read that he had retired,certainly not on-line but in a printed magazine somewhere I seem to recall.
-
Maccaroni1974 wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
So we're about four weeks away from the beginning of the US tour....and Paul is still sunny himself on St Barts. Its a far cry from the three months of sold rehersals for the Wings 75/76 world tour. Paul must be confident that he and the band will be up to speed with a new show in time,otherwise he's leaving things a bit late.
They will rehearse 10-14 days giver or take. As others have mentioned, there will be a few tweaks, but pretty much the same routine as the last several years.
That is certainly cutting it fine even if the band are familiar enough with the set. Three years of not playing together, it will only take one of them to fall ill during that fortnight and they could end up sounded pretty ragged.
-
Kestrel wrote:
Maccaroni1974 wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
So we're about four weeks away from the beginning of the US tour....and Paul is still sunny himself on St Barts. Its a far cry from the three months of sold rehersals for the Wings 75/76 world tour. Paul must be confident that he and the band will be up to speed with a new show in time,otherwise he's leaving things a bit late.
They will rehearse 10-14 days giver or take. As others have mentioned, there will be a few tweaks, but pretty much the same routine as the last several years.
That is certainly cutting it fine even if the band are familiar enough with the set. Three years of not playing together, it will only take one of them to fall ill during that fortnight and they could end up sounded pretty ragged.
Kestrel's comment about one of them falling ill during the rehearsal weeks reminds me of a question I have had before but is perhaps more pertinent now with Covid: does Paul bring along "understudies" to substiture in case a member of the band gets sick on the day of a show? In particular, imagine if Abe got sick. An entire show without drums would be a quite different experience than usual. Anyone know the answer?
-
Brian Sullivan wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
Maccaroni1974 wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
So we're about four weeks away from the beginning of the US tour....and Paul is still sunny himself on St Barts. Its a far cry from the three months of sold rehersals for the Wings 75/76 world tour. Paul must be confident that he and the band will be up to speed with a new show in time,otherwise he's leaving things a bit late.
They will rehearse 10-14 days giver or take. As others have mentioned, there will be a few tweaks, but pretty much the same routine as the last several years.
That is certainly cutting it fine even if the band are familiar enough with the set. Three years of not playing together, it will only take one of them to fall ill during that fortnight and they could end up sounded pretty ragged.
Kestrel's comment about one of them falling ill during the rehearsal weeks reminds me of a question I have had before but is perhaps more pertinent now with Covid: does Paul bring along "understudies" to substiture in case a member of the band gets sick on the day of a show? In particular, imagine if Abe got sick. An entire show without drums would be a quite different experience than usual. Anyone know the answer?
I don't think so, I believe that understudies are more a theater thing (Broadway/West End). I can't imagine Paul paying somebody every night of the tour not to perform -lol. If that happened, tour dates would probably be canceled and rescheduled when they could get replacement.
-
Yankeefan2 wrote:
I can't imagine Paul paying somebody every night of the tour not to perform -lol.
Crumbs no, his wallet would have to go into rehab if that were to happen.
-
Recent photo of The Man on St Bart's showed him smoking, the last thing his vice needs and here a bunch of us have shelled out money for tickets. And I had been thinking he probably was going to some medical specialist to help him with the vocals. If so, maybe the smoking is a test!
-
John Mackintosh wrote:
Recent photo of The Man on St Bart's showed him smoking, the last thing his vice needs and here a bunch of us have shelled out money for tickets. And I had been thinking he probably was going to some medical specialist to help him with the vocals. If so, maybe the smoking is a test!
The man who preaches to us about not eating meat for our health is doing one of the worst things you can do to yourself -lol. I guess he figures he is already 79 so not worried about lung cancer. I will be quite surprised if his voice is decent, hope he proves me wrong.
-
John Mackintosh wrote:
Recent photo of The Man on St Bart's showed him smoking, the last thing his vice needs and here a bunch of us have shelled out money for tickets. And I had been thinking he probably was going to some medical specialist to help him with the vocals. If so, maybe the smoking is a test!
It was a joint, not a cigarette and maybe he only had the one. I don't blame him for needing a joint in these stressful times!
-
Kestrel wrote:
Maccaroni1974 wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
So we're about four weeks away from the beginning of the US tour....and Paul is still sunny himself on St Barts. Its a far cry from the three months of sold rehersals for the Wings 75/76 world tour. Paul must be confident that he and the band will be up to speed with a new show in time,otherwise he's leaving things a bit late.
They will rehearse 10-14 days giver or take. As others have mentioned, there will be a few tweaks, but pretty much the same routine as the last several years.
That is certainly cutting it fine even if the band are familiar enough with the set. Three years of not playing together, it will only take one of them to fall ill during that fortnight and they could end up sounded pretty ragged.
There were several instances on The Flower Power cruise, where because of Covid, for example, Bob, the original drummer for Jefferson Starship, couldn't play (he sent a video message from his cabin and later they took him to hospital on St. Martaan) so with 2 days notice a guy filled him for him (get this: the guy's day job is a blacksmith!)
The Zombies had THREE members come down with Covid so Rod & Colin (both original members) carried on and did an acoustic show with Rod on keyboards. They did a good job and told some funny stories (you know these Brits - they have hilarious stories/memories!)
I'm sure if any one of Paul's band got Covid they might be able to find a replacement, but Paul might decide to cancel and reschedule until the member was out of quarantine and not contagious anymore.
-
Yankeefan2 wrote:
oobu24 wrote:
Maybe it's the same show as before & rehearsals aren't too necessary?
I always wondered how much rehearsal somebody like Paul needs with a band he has toured with for over 20 years. Like you said you can safely assume it is probably the same show with a little tweaking. Maybe 2-3 songs from "McCartney III" and different Beatle song as an opener. In other words, they can do this show basically in their sleep. I would guess they don't need more than a couple of weeks to run through this show. Not sure what lighting entails for his shows but doubt it changes much tour to tour.
Anyone who's performed (I did theater in my younger days) knows you get rusty after even a week off. Even if the set list is 90% stuff they've performed before -- a pretty safe bet -- they need to get up to speed again. I'm sure they will. It's not like anyone involved is new to this.
-
Bruce M. wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
oobu24 wrote:
Maybe it's the same show as before & rehearsals aren't too necessary?
I always wondered how much rehearsal somebody like Paul needs with a band he has toured with for over 20 years. Like you said you can safely assume it is probably the same show with a little tweaking. Maybe 2-3 songs from "McCartney III" and different Beatle song as an opener. In other words, they can do this show basically in their sleep. I would guess they don't need more than a couple of weeks to run through this show. Not sure what lighting entails for his shows but doubt it changes much tour to tour.
Anyone who's performed (I did theater in my younger days) knows you get rusty after even a week off. Even if the set list is 90% stuff they've performed before -- a pretty safe bet -- they need to get up to speed again. I'm sure they will. It's not like anyone involved is new to this.
I was in a band that played bars on LI when I was 19-24 and we were constantly trying to learn new cover songs to add to our sets. There were times we did not have a "gig" for a few weeks and did not play together for a bit because we had 9-5 jobs also and never got rusty. Yes, obviously we were young but we were not a rock icon with a band that has played together for 20 years. It is kind of hard for me to imagine them really needing to get up to speed wtih songs they have played together hundreds of times. What do I know? -lol