By N. Balani
TORONTO: On its 10th anniversary, Toronto-based Classic Albums Live brought Paul McCartney’s Band on the Run live to Brampton’s Rose Theatre this past week.
Director Craig Martin, who has been the leading light for his 12-piece ensemble for the last decade, has brought the very best of rock to audiences all over North America. So did he this past week in Brampton on the outskirts of Toronto.
For celebrating their 10th anniversary, Martin chose Paul McCartney’s Band on the Run because it was the most popular album in a post-Beatles era produced by the ex-Beatle Paul and his wife Linda McCartney.
Phil Naro – lead vocals in the foreground with band members
The audience was blown away right from the opening notes of the opening title song, Band on the Run and before long they were rocking away to the fast and loud “Jet”.
The saxophone, clarinet, cello and violin were all tactfully used to slow the pace and soften the notes and rise up again to crescendos all through the 2- hour rocking concert.
The tempo slowed down a bit for songs like “Blue Bird” and “Let me Roll It” as the song rolled the audience at the Rose Theatre right into the inimitable sounds of McCartney rhythms.
From the sweet harmonious notes of the keyboards, right down to the powerful mesmerizing beats of the drum beats to the esoteric sounds of clinking and clanking, the rock group led us right into “Someone’s knocking on the door.”
I think what nailed it for the audience was the rendition of McCartney’s giant love song “Silly Love Songs”, one of the most popular hits of the time.
It certainly took everyone on a journey down memory lane. This was Paul McCartney and his lovely wife Linda at the peak of their marriage and musical career. This song said it all. One of the most awaited tracks on the album was brought to life by real bagpipes coming on to the stage adding the authenticity to the sound with the band’s version of “Mull of Kintyre”.
Phil Naro
Classic Album Live had the audience in the palm of their hands.
The group also did the McCartney hit “Live and Let Die” which as every Bond fan knows was the title song for the movie by the same name. The musicians on the stage were in their element as all hell broke loose to recreate this huge hit song.
Classic Albums Live is a real rock music treat for the ears as is all their versatile performances right from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to Queen to Supertramp & Bowie.
I certainly was carried away to my high school days with this memorable performance. I remember I won the album Wings Greatest Hits in a radio station name the artiste contest. It went on to become one of my favorite LPs in my collection to date!
Members of the Classic Albums Live performing Band on the Run
This was a beautiful Christmas treat to hear the greatest composer, Paul McCartney, come to life in one of the finest theatres of the GTA – The Rose.
I can’t wait to see which album this group will bring to life next!
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