An evening of Beatles nostalgia on a sunny bank holiday - does it get much better than this? Macca-mania is here there and everywhere this Easter as Sir Paul's world tour rolls into the capital for some more record-breaking.
McCartney's decade-long live absence has certainly made the heart grow fonder but tonight is more than just a rehash of the past - his or anyone else's. It's not the Rolling Stones' perennial jaunt or half-hearted cash in. It's a genuine first.
Revisiting the Anthology programmes reminds you that even at their height, Fab Four concerts rarely lasted 30 minutes. Tonight there are nearly 180 minutes to savour and classic tracks receiving their very first live outings ever. To paraphrase that chocolate ad: he really is spoiling us tonight.
Pity then that we're first forced to wade through a self-indulgent modern ballet hors d'oeuvre - Moulin Rouge meets a BBC period drama - that defies explanation. Thankfully this is the first and only lull as our eyes are drawn to surely one of the most famous sights in music - a Macca silhouette with Hofner bass aloft.
What follows must be the most all-encompassing rock n'roll show ever constructed - in a nutshell it's 30 odd snapshots of Macca's career from the 60s to the present day complete with ear-shattering fireworks display ('Live And Let Die') and a few rousing singalongs for good measure. In comparison, Madonna's Drowned World tour feels like another night at the Monarch.
The setlist must resemble a small pamphlet. There's rock n'roll ('I Saw Her Standing There'), Beatlemania ('Can't Buy Me Love', 'All My Loving'), psychedelic ('Fool On The Hill'), live firsts ('Sgt Peppers', 'Getting Better', 'Hello Goodbye'), Wings ('Let Me Roll It', 'Coming Up'); the anticipated ('Hey Jude', 'Band On The Run', 'Yesterday'); the surprises ('I've Just Seen A Face', 'Two Of Us') and even a few newer tracks ('Driving Rain', 'Calico Skies').
Don't believe all you read. Tonight, you also get the sneaky suspicion that humility might finally be creeping up on Sir Paul in his old age. Allowing the literally awe-inspiring band - Rusty Anderson (guitar), Paul 'Wix' Wickens (keyboards), Abe Laboriel (drums), and Brain Ray (guitar) -to star so heavily is definitely a sign.
Heartfelt tributes to Lennon ('Here Today') and Harrison (a ukulele version of 'Something') are another - thank god Ringo is still alive. In-between, Macca holds court with all the poise and wit of the masterful entertainer who's been in the business for five decades, despite rather too frequently re-treading gags and intros from the live DVD.
You're forced to forgive him the excruciatingly embarrassing Dad routine of 'woos', air punching and general 'Daaad, stop it' set pieces that, despite being so familiar, still make for uneasy watching. In fact, it's so exhilarating that you forget to question whether this show would have happened if George and John were still alive.
So, maybe it's time to let him be. This was a show that most in attendance will still be boring their Cyber Grandkids with over lunch in 2040.
