Lollapalooza Photos: Paul McCartney Shines, With Help From Alabama Shakes

August 2, 2015

The reach of Paul McCartney’s influence and the range of his demographic have no conventional bounds. Everybody knows the work of Sir Paul, and everybody came out to sing along at Lollapalooza 2015.

73, going on 17. What’s perhaps most intriguing about McCartney at this stage in his career is his seemingly undeterred passion for performing. What’s more, this run of festivals he’s been dominating over the last few years has provided ample opportunity for anyone to get a close view the living legend.

Lolla Day One: McCartney Enchants, Father John Croons

“If you wonder why we’re changing guitars around all night it’s because we’ve got them and we’re showing off”, McCartney jested before strolling through a rallying “Paperback Writer” as a swarm of dragonflies hovered above.

As it was destined to be, this set was carried by those Paul Beatles hits that have rung through the ages: the delightful melancholy of “We Can Work It Out”, the boundless warmth of “Blackbird” (which he played solo on an elevated platform), and the honky-tonk magic of “Lady Madonna”. He paused a few times to comment on the imposing EDM fuckery that was bleeding from the Kaskade set over at Perry’s stage.

See a full gallery below, and check out the entire day’s coverage on our Day One Lollapalooza recap!