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Paul McCartney Entertains Generations During the Got Back Tour

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November 18, 2025

It took fifty years for Paul McCartney to make his first stop in Western, NY, when he performed to a sold-out crowd back in 2015. This time, it took only another ten years for him to return to the stage—where audiences were just as excited to see him perform a career-spanning variety of hits, including everything from The Beatles to Wings as well as his solo material.

This particular show was a bit surreal as my own family spanned three generations in attendance. My sister-in-law had suggested we all chip in and buy my wife's parents tickets for their birthday this year, considering neither of them had ever seen Paul McCartney in concert before. As a result, we were eagerly anticipating the pre-sale several months ago in hopes of securing a pair of tickets. Needless to say, we were successful!

Paul McCartney performs to a sold-out KeyBank Center in Buffalo

I consider myself fortunate to be able to cover any live show and this one was no exception. I brought my son along, who always adds some additional insight to a show. This time around, it was for an artist that he's heard all about, with a repertoire of songs that he's also heard plenty of times, but not someone he truly "knew." Of course, he recognized several songs throughout the evening, but the funniest part was near the end of the set when the double whammy of "Golden Slumbers" and "Carry That Weight" began, as he immediately recognized them from the movie Sing.

We arrived at the arena a few minutes after the doors opened, with a long line extending outside as fans were cued to enter the venue. Alex (my son) and I entered and headed over to the usual media section while I met up with the rest of the press team set to cover this show. Moments later, my in-laws were on their way in, so I handed Alex his ticket to go and spend some time with his grandparents until I could meet up with him later. Fortunately, we were only two sections apart.

The show itself was incredible. For anyone familiar with my other show reviews, I lean heavily towards the hard rock/metal scene, but I've got a great appreciation for music of all kinds. Paul McCartney is ground zero when it comes to living musicians that can bring their audience right back to the origins of modern rock. He got that out of the way immediately, by opening the set up with "Help!"

Paul McCartney's stage was ablaze during "Live and Let Die"

Throughout the night, there are multiple standout moments where McCartney and his band paid tribute to The Beatles, each individually. These moments were often accompanied by some incredible video on the screens, bringing fans right back to the 1960s and the height of Beatlemania.

I'm sure everyone had their own favorite moment of the night—for me, it was "Live and Let Die." The number of lights and pyrotechnics used in that song is simply incredible. Reminiscent of the best of any rock show, McCartney gives KISS a run for their money. It doesn't hurt that I grew up a massive Guns N' Roses fan and loved their cover of this song on their Use Your Illusion I album.

One thing that continues to amaze me, is the energy that McCartney brings to the stage night after night. This man is 83 years old and continues to perform roughly three dozen songs per show, spanning just about three hours per night.

After the show, Alex and I caught up with my in-laws to see how they liked it. Of course, they stayed through the entire encore. We found them sitting in their seats after the arena had cleared out, chatting with some new friends they made at the show.

The 2025 Got Back tour concludes in Chicago on November 25th. I'm sure tickets have sold out for the entire run, but keep your eyes peeled for last minute releases as the shows get closer. This is definitely the kind of tour where you simply need to be in the venue! As with any artist, you never know when you'll get another chance. Given McCartney's stamina, here's hoping we get another shot in 2026 or beyond!

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