Paul McCartney. Fenway Park. July 17, 2016

So it seems to be the season of the monstrously huge artists of another generation hitting the road. And, they don't come larger than Paul McCartney. While it is tempting to give a brief explanation as to just who he is, I think I'll skip it (I'll let the confused Kanye fans sort themselves out). For the sake of my own sanity I'm going to assume that most people know who he is and why he is one of the world's most famous musicians/celebrities. Because if you don't then you are probably 12 and are busy chasing Pokemon's around. Or, well, an idiot.

Nostalgia shows hit the stadiums and sheds every summer. This is the fourth time that McCartney has performed at Fenway Park with his first residency back in 2009. The man clearly takes advantage of the space. The park can often be an awkward space for concerts: while the sightlines are pretty amazing, the sound can be rather atrocious. Both his staging and his sound mix were spot on this night. With a mix of risers and an elaborate lighting/projection rig Sir Paul was not forgetting the cheap seats. And it was easy to see that the man's many years of performing live have given him an air of casual confidence throughout the performance. Unlike another act from his era who is currently touring (and will remain nameless), he actually seemed to be having fun and enjoying his interactions with the crowd. There were lots of moments of him speaking directly to particular people and riffing off the many, many signs being held up.

As far as the music goes, the show was clearly a journey through his almost 60 years of music making... literally. He even threw in "In Spite Of All The Danger," a song that dates from his pre-Beatle days with the Quarrymen. This was bookended (not literally) by a couple songs from his 2013 album "New" and the aforementioned Kanye/Rihanna collaboration "Fourfiveseconds." With a set list that is a draw-dropping 39 songs long he makes many younger artists look positively miserly with their concerts. Seriously, you musicians need to step up your game. 20 songs? Pshaw. This 74 year old man just whooped your ass.

It is easy to forget the full range of music that the Beatles and McCartney's own Wings have created. From the dreamy 60s pop of "Being the Benefit of Mr Kite!" to the hyper rocker "Back in the USSR," Sir Paul performed songs that are embedded in our cultural and historical brains. The show was a tribute to the art of the refined pop song. There were also lovely video tributes to his deceased former bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison as he wove his way through their catalog. The only stumbling block for me was the video screening during his performance of "My Valentine" (nicely dedicated to his wife Nancy). The backdrop with Natalie Portman and Johnnie Depp comes across as downright creepy (especially in light of Depp's current marital problems). Watching them translate the song into sign language was awkward and unnecessary.

This weird moment was thankfully destroyed (along with images of Parliament House) during his bombastic, and a-mazing, rendition of "Live and Let Die." Complete with fireworks overhead, Sir Paul's band (itself extremely talented and worthy of mention) ripped through the song definitely peaking the show. The band returned for an encore that ran for an astoundingly seven songs. I don't know about anyone else in the crowd but I was exhausted. It was certainly more bang for your buck than any other show I've seen in a long time. As I've said before, this was Paul McCartney's fourth time at Fenway Park. I'm wondering how many times he can keep pulling this off. But if he returns, you know it will be one hell of a show.

Paul McCartney's North American tour continues through October 15, 2016. For ticket information about upcoming dates, visit Paul McCartney's website.