Last night, Friday, March 27, Paul McCartney made a triumphant return to the stage. For an hour and 40 minutes, he delivered a masterclass in rock and nostalgia for the 1,200 lucky fans packed into the Fonda, Hollywood’s iconic intimate venue. The setlist offered a streamlined version of his 2025 Got Back tour; while it mirrored the original song order, it was tightened from 33 tracks down to a potent 21-song punch.

Dressed in a casual black suit and vest, Paul stepped into the spotlight at 8:30 p.m., looking genuinely thrilled to be back in his element just four months after wrapping the North American leg of his latest tour. What followed was a vibrant journey through time, featuring a high-energy McCartney alongside his longtime musical family: keyboardist Paul “Wix” Wickens, lead guitarist Rusty Anderson, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., and guitarist/bassist Brian Ray.

Spanning nearly every era of his legendary career, Paul clearly relished the small-club atmosphere, joking with the crowd that it was “good to see the whites of your eyes.” He spent the night bantering warmly with the front rows—even giving a shoutout to a superfan attending their 146th show—and playfully shushing a rowdy attendee in the balcony with his signature charm. Throughout the evening, he remained incredibly loose, sharing brief anecdotes (including a funny story about Tony Bennett) and appearing to enjoy the audience just as much as they adored him.

The core band was bolstered by the Hot City Horns, whose brass sections shone brilliantly on hits like “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five,” “Lady Madonna,” and “Get Back.” Although Paul recently dropped a tender, nostalgic new single titled “Days We Left Behind” from his upcoming solo effort, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, the song remained off the setlist, with McCartney admitting the band was still perfecting it. Instead, he treated the crowd to two solo gems not featured on the Got Back tour: “Every Night” and “Flaming Pie.”

A strict no-phones policy combined with a minimalist production—devoid of projections and relying only on overhead lighting—forced the audience to be fully present. This created a profound sense of communal peace and joy that radiated from the stage to the rafters, peaking during the massive sing-alongs of “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude.” True to form, McCartney and his crew returned for a final encore, closing the night with the monumental Abbey Road medley: “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End.”

Setlist:

Photos: MJ Kim/MPL