Fine farewell - if you could get there

[yuiyoshida]

The Beatles ended their disappointingly short set on Aug. 29, 1966, at Candlestick Park with a barely-audible-above-the-screams version of "Long Tall Sally." Just before the band hopped into an armored car on that day, John Lennon promised, "We'll see you next year!"

More than half a lifetime later (17,517 days, to be exact), Paul McCartney returned to Candlestick for what will probably be the last major event at the 54-year-old concrete edifice. The Beatles never played a commercial show again, but McCartney arranged his schedule to send the stadium off, with a pre-demolition concert that few in attendance will forget.

The key word there is "in attendance." Some of the worst Bay Area event traffic in recent memory forced thousands of concertgoers to say goodbye to Candlestick from an idling car outside the stadium. McCartney did his best to accommodate the stragglers, starting at 9 p.m. and playing a nearly 2 3/4-hour show with more than 35 songs.

The set list was familiar to anyone who has seen the ex-Beatle in recent years. But McCartney seemed engaged, at times deviating from the stock banter to acknowledge the gravity of the moment.

http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Candlestick-farewell-McCartney-gets-it-done-with-5690392.php#photo-6729475