The 10 Best Concerts of 2015: Paul McCartney // Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois

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Paul McCartney at Lollapalooza | Photo by Jason Gonulsen

When I was a kid, I loved Michael Jackson, even though"Thriller" terrified me, as did the album cover for Bad. And even though my mom is the biggest Beatles fan that I know -- she saw them live, twice (!) -- for some reason, when I was growing up, I thought Paul McCartney was in Michael Jackson's band. Maybe it was because of this.



I never got to see Michael Jackson live. And never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see Paul McCartney. But I have, three times now -- twice with my mom, and once this past summer at Lollapalooza.

Each show was its own experience, and since I don't like comparing live shows to one another, I won't start now. But McCartney's Lollapalooza set was special. Earlier in the day, my friend and co-photographer, Bridgette, and I made our way through the crowd to get as close as possible, since only a select few photographers were allowed in the photo pit. This turned out to be a blessing of sorts as we were able to watch the entire show, which featured McCartney bringing out Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes for "Get Back."

But the chilling moment was during "Hey Jude," when 100,000 behind me, or, better yet, all around me, sang along: "Nah...nah nah...nah nah nah nah..." I'm getting chills thinking about it right now. What a day. What a moment. What a great time to be alive.

Day One of Lollapalooza in Photos: Paul McCartney, Alabama Shakes, Glass Animals, Father John Misty, Cold War Kids, Misterwives, and more

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PHOTO BY JASON GONULSEN

Day One of Lollapalooza was highlighted by a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Sir Paul McCartney. Please enjoy these photos by Jason Gonulsen and Bridgette Aikens.

PHOTOS BELOW BY JASON GONULSEN

PHOTOS BELOW BY BRIDGETTE AIKENS

10 to Spin | Ha Ha Tonka

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Photo by Todd Roeth

No, we're never gonna have much
Myself I'd take such 
as a compliment
We can blame it on the circumstances
Oh, at least we took the chances
we had to

Why we're attracted to a certain song, a certain album, or a certain band is a mystery. I really do believe that.

I had seen Ha Ha Tonka live three times, never really coming away with much of an opinion, before I listened to "Lonely Fortunes" one night off their stellar 2011 album, Death of a Decade.  And finally, the greatness of this band from Springfield, Missouri became clear: I had connected on a deep level.

Let's take a few minutes to re-visit the magic.



I now consider Ha Ha Tonka a "go-to" band when I need something to get me focused, or when music isn't really speaking to me. Because I know when I hear the first few notes of songs like "Usual Suspects," "Up Nights," or "Westward Bound," I'm convinced that I've solved a small part of music's mystery -- that there is something out there for all of us to discover and hold on to.

We're pleased to the bring you the latest playlist in our 10 to Spin series: Ha Ha Tonka.

When I was in high school in the 1990s, I ran cross country and the distance events in track & field. Our team was called the Zizzers and our mascot was a lightning bolt. I was on a few 4A State Championship teams and was All-State in Missouri. I was also friends with the two German foreign exchange students and worked on the school magazine. Needless to say, what with my 110 pound frame and dangerously short-shorts, I was cool and had a lot of sex. Well, I'm in a rock band now and the playlist I've compiled is loosely about running and the 1990s. Don't worry...Backstreet is NOT back (quite). --Brian Roberts, Ha Ha Tonka

Race for the Prize - Flaming Lips

This song should be track 1 on the next mix-tape we send off into outer space. It heralded the end of a millennium and the beginning of another. That ain't hyperbole, it's just that awesome.

The Distance - Cake

I made out to this song in 1997 with a pretty awesome girl....second base, no biggie.

Running Down a Dream - Tom Petty

I studied pre-algebra & algebra 1 listening almost exclusively to Tom Petty. I'm still trying to forgive him.

Band on the Run - Paul McCartney

Say what you will about Sir Paul, the man has pipes and can write a tune...."Dance Tonight" excluded, of course.

Running to Stand Still - U2

Bono may or not be the second coming. I'm more than a little worried as to what his opinion on that matter might be.

Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

I know this came out earlier than the 90s, but tramps will always be born to run.

Take the Money and Run - Steve Miller Band

Again, this pre-dates 1990, but I had the SMB Greatest Hits CD in high school and I still listen to it to this day. I think I paid $17.99 for it so I guess I've got my money's worth.

Run-Around - Blues Traveler

10 songs...jeez, I'm reaching a little here, but I always forget how cool Blues Traveler was/were in the mid-90's. We opened for them a couple of years ago and they were really nice guys to boot.

We Are the Champions - Queen

The ultimate power ballad...perhaps the only song worthy of the "power ballad" moniker. This song was only played whenever we won State. I revere it still to this day.

Nightswimming - R.E.M.

Obviously this would be post-race and sneaking off from some high school party. It could well be my favorite song of all-time. It always puts me in a nostalgic frame of mind.

Listen to Brian's playlist on Spotify here.

10 to Spin | Doomtree

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Photo: Dan Monick

Last month at Kanrocksas, we were greeted by Doomtree, a group of rappers from Minneapolis who knew exactly how to put on an afternoon show. It didn't take them but a couple songs to get out into the crowd to whoop it up with a few hundred people enjoying their set, which turned out to be one of the best of the day.

Doomtree, who will release No Kings on November 22nd, is seven rappers in all, and yes, there are side projects. Sims, who compiled our latest 10 to Spin below, released Bad Time Zoo back in February, and will be going out on tour with Lazerbeak and Cecil Otter, also of Doomtree, in just a couple of weeks. Here's a little bit about that tour, which hits Cicero's in Saint Louis on October 2nd.



It should also be mentioned that Dessa of Doomtree will be releasing a solo album called Castor, the Twin, on October 4th. She's the real deal, just like her Doomtree counterparts -- I'll call her my favorite female rapper, even only after seeing her perform just once. She's oh-so awesome when she's doing her thang onstage.

Please take some time to spin through Sims' selections below! A fine 10 to Spin, if we do say so ourselves.

"You find yourself with a lot of time to listen to music when on tour; almost too much. Almost. Rather than putting together a list of podcasts I decided to stay traditional and show you a small sample of what I listen to on the road. All of these songs mean something special to me, and I think that is a really cool feature about music, a song or album can be as much about memory and the experience of where you were and what you were doing when you first listened to that particular piece as it can be about actually being a great song. For example I first heard the song "The Hollows" by Why? at 6:30AM in the van somewhere in Wyoming at the tail(ish) end of an all night drive from Denver to Salt Lake City. Every time I hear that song I think about the eerily spectacular light from the sun rise coming over the wheat fields, five people passed out in the back of the van, Cecil and I slamming burnt gas station coffee. I hope you enjoy the rest of these." --Sims of Doomtree


1) Jay-Z "American Dreamin'" from American Gangster


2) Why? "The Hollows" from Alopecia


3) Miike Snow "Plastic Jungle" from Miike Snow


4) GAYNGS "Crystal Rope" from Relayted


5) Paul McCartney "Ram On" from Ram


6) SBTRKT "Wildfire" from SBTRKT


7) Department of Eagles "Sailing By Night" from The Cold Nose


8) Serengeti "Dennehey" from Dennehy


9) Aesop Rock "Coffee" from None Shall Pass 


10) Rich Boy "Let's Get This Paper" from Rich Boy