TOUR REHEARSALS: QUESTIONS
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Does anyone know what the sequence of events is for tour rehearsals? I've read the band gets together well in advance to jam/rehearse/knock out new songs etc weeks before Paul shows up. Do they then suggest to him what songs they've been playing? How does it all pan out? Does anyone know?
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I don't know any details, but all band members stated in various interviews throughout the years that they rehearse a lot of new material without McCartney, who joins in during a later stage, after which he decides what he wants to do and what he doesn't want to. Many of the songs added since 2010 are songs he earlier declined, going by past interviews. I will try to dig them up.
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nobodytoldme:
I don't know any details, but all band members stated in various interviews throughout the years that they rehearse a lot of new material without McCartney, who joins in during a later stage, after which he decides what he wants to do and what he doesn't want to. Many of the songs added since 2010 are songs he earlier declined, going by past interviews. I will try to dig them up.
I'd appreciate that: thanks. I know Rusty and Brian have coerced (or hectored) him into playing many songs over the years we'd not otherwise have heard live. I'd love some detail, always found the process, however it plays out, quite interesting.
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I read at "Out There Tour Book" that Paul Wix is lobbying "Rocky Racoon" and Brian Ray is lobbying "The Back Seat of My Car".
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Sirpaulru:
I read at "Out There Tour Book" that Paul Wix is lobbying "Rocky Racoon" and Brian Ray is lobbying "The Back Seat of My Car".
Thanks. Interesting! If it makes the cut, RR needs to debut at the South Dakota gig, as some on the board have opined. Makes sense!
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moptops:
nobodytoldme:
I don't know any details, but all band members stated in various interviews throughout the years that they rehearse a lot of new material without McCartney, who joins in during a later stage, after which he decides what he wants to do and what he doesn't want to. Many of the songs added since 2010 are songs he earlier declined, going by past interviews. I will try to dig them up.
I'd appreciate that: thanks. I know Rusty and Brian have coerced (or hectored) him into playing many songs over the years we'd not otherwise have heard live. I'd love some detail, always found the process, however it plays out, quite interesting.
Here's a bit about rehearsing: Brian Ray, November 2005: "Oh yeah, before every tour Paul will sort of get a general idea in his own mind of what he feels like doing, he'll shoot off a list of songs for us, and it's a ruff list and songs will be added later and songs will be taken out but usually we'll get a list of 45 songs, to be wittled down to a mere 37. [..] And what usually happens, the band will get together for four days before he gets to rehearsal just to get our feet wet and get oriented on the new material. Do some vocal work so the backgrounds are pretty set so he can just drop into a fairly nice sound when he gets in four days later." (http://www.macca-central.com/news/2019/Exclusive-Interview%3A-Brian-Ray---Nov.26%2C-2005-%28audio%2C-transcript%29/?nomenu=y)) And here's a lot about setlist choices, keep the year in mind: Brian Ray, November 2005: "We did "The Night Before", the band, now this is just band preparing then playing for Paul, "The Night Before", "Backseat of My Car", "Waterfalls", ah, there's a few others that I probably won't mention because they could make the next tour and I don't want to tip my hat. [..] There is an element of surprise that Paul really appreciates. But those are a few that over the time we've tried, oh "Junk" we had a real cool time playing "Junk", that was for the '04 Tour actually we rehearsed that one. "Paperback Writer", you know there's been a number of them and a long time agon in 2002 we did Lovely Rita." "Oh I forgot to tell you we rehearsed "Come and Get It". [..] We had a great time playing that too." (http://www.macca-central.com/news/2019/Exclusive-Interview%3A-Brian-Ray---Nov.26%2C-2005-%28audio%2C-transcript%29/?nomenu=y)) Brian Ray, August 2010: "One song I don't think we play well?I will say we've tried Lovely Rita a few times, and Paul has never added it to the set. I just don't think he's comfortable with it for whatever reason. We didn't suck at it; I just don't think he feels it the way he wants to." (http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/paul-mccartney-bassist-brian-ray-exclusive-interview-267729)) Brian Ray, May 2011: "I?d love to play Backseat of my Car, Juniors Farm and maybe Take It Away." (https://joshgill.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/an-interview-with-brian-ray/)) Rusty Anderson, March 2011: "Are there any Beatles/Wings/Paul songs that you haven?t played yet that you want to?" - "Oh yeah. Backseat of my Car (we?ve actually played it at rehearsal and same with Junior?s Farm), the Night Before, Lovely Rita, Hi Hi Hi, etc." (https://joshgill.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/an-interview-with-rusty-anderson/)) All Rusty's suggestions but 'The Back Seat' were added later! There's another, now with a dead link, interview in audio by WAXQ-FM, in which Brian Ray says that 'The Back Seat Of My Car' and 'Junior's Farm' were scrapped during rehearsals because McCartney wasn't comfortable with ... the lyrics. Can I have... a little more? And there are more suggestions, mainly solo, by the band in the tour books.
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I recall reading a similar quote from either Brian or Rusty about "No More Lonely Nights" for the 2005 tour and that it was scrapped because Paul wasn't "comfortable" with his vocals (it's too high!)
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Very much appreciated. Interesting reading, especially in the context of the 2005! Incidentally I think Lovely Rita sounded great live! They must have refined it. "Backseat" is a constant theme through the years! I'd love to be a fly on the wall at those rehearsals. I'm wondering now what other songs they have tried out since 2002 through to now.
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I also remember it coming up in 2009 when it was added, that Brian and Rusty had been pushing for "Day Tripper" for years!
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WixRocks!:
I recall reading a similar quote from either Brian or Rusty about "No More Lonely Nights" for the 2005 tour and that it was scrapped because Paul wasn't "comfortable" with his vocals (it's too high!)
If it was too high back in 2005, fair to say that boat has sailed.
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Sounds like rehearsals aren't overly long. Quite surprised Brian mentioned 4 days until Paul joins in.
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With regards to Lovely Rita, I think it was because him doing the bass line might've been too hard for him to play & sing at the same time. It's also down a half step so maybe getting him to change the key & playing the 12-String guitar is what it took for him to do it live. Never say never for a him doing No More Lonely Nights just yet. Since how it's the band that pick some songs, I'd thought Wix might've wanted to do songs from Flowers in the Dirt as he was part of those recording sessions. Who knows what they pick? I never expected Temporary Secretary live though so maybe?
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I hope rehearsals are taking place soon! Since Paul only played in Paris a yr ago he wouldnt bring exactly the same show back there again would he?
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Very interesting thread. Thanks to you All!
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Paul soundchecked the Intro to Martha My Dear last year... I could also maybe see Why Don't We Do It in the Road... Guessing that Good Day Sunshine will see a return to the set as well. Too Many People would be too difficult At this point Maybe Backseat as well. Could see that Happening. Fool on the Hill?
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KingMacca:
Fool on the Hill?
I heard him rehease that one back in 2010 the night before a concert, so it wouldn't be surprising for it to finally return this year, along with some of the songs mentioned in previous posts. Silly Love Songs would be likely too.
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Gordy JS:
I'd thought Wix might've wanted to do songs from Flowers in the Dirt as he was part of those recording sessions.
Exactly what I was thinking about earlier today. I'd say that with the 'FITD' re-issue coming next, it wouldn't be crazy to bet a few cents on 'My Brave Face' (being the main single off the album). Figure Of 8, This One or Put It There could be the other choices too, as opposite to We Got Married and Rough Ride, which also made it to the set list at the time but have no chances these days IMHO. But I could be wrong: remember non-singles like Looking For Changes, Cosmically Conscious, Calico Skies?
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FlowersInTheGround:
Gordy JS:
I'd thought Wix might've wanted to do songs from Flowers in the Dirt as he was part of those recording sessions.
Exactly what I was thinking about earlier today. I'd say that with the 'FITD' re-issue coming next, it wouldn't be crazy to bet a few cents on 'My Brave Face' (being the main single off the album). Figure Of 8, This One or Put It There could be the other choices too, as opposite to We Got Married and Rough Ride, which also made it to the set list at the time but have no chances these days IMHO. But I could be wrong: remember non-singles like Looking For Changes, Cosmically Conscious, Calico Skies?
Yeah, when he did those songs it was to a lot of people so a bunch of the audience will still remember them & be like 'Oh yeah I remember this song'. Sadly the reissues haven't had an affect on his setlist's. This One should be done as it recently hit 1 million views & it's one of my favourite songs he's ever done. But his stuff from the 80s onwards (excluding the new album) rarely get palyed sadly.
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Wasn't Temporary Secretary added because Paul (or Paul's people) heard that a DJ had been playing it at a club?
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oobu24:
Wasn't Temporary Secretary added because Paul (or Paul's people) heard that a DJ had been playing it at a club?
yeah that apparently, and Nancy liked it.
