A BEATLE WALKS INTO
A BAR IN THE DESERT...

Nearly six hours after wristbands were distributed to a lucky 300 fans to see Paul McCartney at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown, Macca took the stage and tore into “Save Us” to start a 21-song set that was nearly two-thirds Beatles songs.

McCartney’s 90-minute set at the barbecue restaurant included Wings tracks (“Let Me Roll It,” “Junior’s Farm,” “Hi Hi Hi”) and recent solo work, “My Valentine” and “Queenie Eye.” Three hundred people were given wristbands around 3pm, paid 50 bucks cash to get in and waited for Paul to take the stage at 8:30. Our observer takes the story from here:

The sight of the man 10 feet in front of us on this tiny stage was thrilling and surreal to say the least. The sound was loud, clear and really “in your face” in the best way—not a clinical mix you might hear in an arena, but that gritty, sweaty sound you only hear in a bar when the sound guy's on it and everything is just right.

Paul and band seemed to really get off on a stage sound so different from their usual, and the closeness of the crowd. Hearing "Junior's Farm," "Let Me Roll It " and other rockers in this setting was just too much, pretty much as good as a rock performance can be: An all out rock & roll show with only a few slower numbers. During one, Paul asked everyone in the front to kneel or sit on the floor so the people in the back could see, and we all sat Indian style. It was really something.

The set ran about 90 minutes and wound up with "I Saw Her Standing There." It’s mid-day Friday and I'm still buzzing. I can't believe it.

Thanks to Jim Laspesa for the photo and report.