On The Run In Moscow (no label)
SK Olimpiski, Moscow, Russia – December 14th, 2011
DVD 1 (1:31:04): Intro, Magical Mystery Tour, Junior’s Farm, All My Loving, Jet, Got To Get You Into My Life, Sing The Changes, The Night Before, Let Me Roll It, Paperback Writer, The Long And Winding Road, Come And Get It, Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five, Maybe I’m Amazed, I’m Looking Through You, And I Love Her, Blackbird, Here Today, Dance Tonight, Mrs Vanderbilt, Eleanor Rigby, Something
DVD 2 (1:15:55): Band On The Run, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Back In The USSR, I’ve Got A Feeling, A Day In The Life, Let It Be, Live And Let Die, Hey Jude, The Word, All You Need Is Love, Day Tripper, Get Back, Yesterday, Helter Skelter, Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End
Paul McCartney visited Russia on the On The Run tour for the first time since 2004. Seven years ago he played a massive shows in Red Square in Moscow and Palace Square in St. Petersburg. Footage from the two were offically released in 2005 on Paul McCartney in Red Square and the entire St. Petersburg’s show was issued on 04 Summer In Russia (Master Of Beatles Essentials MBE-005V1/2).
On The Run In Moscow presents the December 14th show at the Olympiski Arena. Edited from several amateur sources, on the whole it is very professionally done and enjoyable to watch. Much of the show can be seen from the center of the floor in front of the stage where both McCartney and the large screens are visible.
There are also several angles from the front row offering spectacular close up shots of Paul at the microphone and, during “Maybe I’m Amazed,” at the piano. All of the angles are clear and none of the shots become too boring before there is an edit to another view. It is the rare unofficial release that truly keeps the viewer engaged in the action over the entire two and a half hour show.
As a plus, the soundtrack is likewise spectacular. There are no wavering in sound and it is synced very well with the visuals.
Russian Beatles fan site Beatles.ru ran a poll in November to find out which song fans would like McCartney to perform in Moscow. The site ran a similar poll in 2008 before the Kiev show and the fans elected, and McCartney performed, “Mrs. Vandebilt” from Band On The Run.
In the 2011 poll, the winner, by a wide margin, was “Monkberry Moon Delight” from 1971’s Ram album, followed by “Hope Of Deliverance,” “Once Upon A Long Ago,” “Lovely Rita” and “Your Mother Should Know” (some very oddball choices). Unfortunately their choices were ignored and none of those tunes made it into the setlist.
The set is similar to the London show except he opened with “Magical Mystery Tour” instead of “Hello Goodbye.” Other differences are “Got To Get You Into My Life” instead of “Drive My Car,” “I’m Looking Through You” instead of “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” and “And I Love Her” instead of “I Will” in the acoustic interlude.
The first disc opens with the general milling about, showing shots of the venue and Muscovites looking at Beatles souvenirs. There is one very pretty girl looking around who seems to be one of the cameraman’s girlfriend (she makes several appearances during the show).
The structure of the show remains the same, starting off with several rockers including the Russian debut of “The Night Before” from Help! Following are some of his well known piano based rockers including Badfinger’s hit “Come And Get It.”
The more acoustic leaning tunes occupy the middle, starting with “And I Love Her” and including the Lennon tribute “Here Today,” “Dance Tonight” on mandolin and ending with the George Harrison tune “Something” complete with ukelele.
Afterward he continues with rockers including “Band On The Run” and the expected “Back In The USSR.” “Live And Let Die” contains a spectacular pyrotechnic display, both in the venue and on the screen. At the end of the song, one of the front row cameras picks up Paul playfully cleaning out his ear, trying to regain his hearing again, after such loud bangs. The set ends with “Hey Jude” played on the psychedelic upright piano, the same one he’s been carrying around for years.
The first encore section starts with “The Word” complete with “All You Need Is Love” reference, “Day Tripper” and “Get Back.” After the applause dies down, Paul returns alone to sing “Yesterday.” Afterwards the band return to play “Helter Skelter” complete with footage of the roller coaster broadcast on the screens. The show ends with the spectacular finale “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End” from Abbey Road.
On The Run In Moscow is an impressive and entertaining release on DVD. The sound and visual quality are very nice and the overall editing job is very entertaining. Short of an official release of this show, this is a worthy document.
