San Antonio, October 27, 2025
News Summary
Paul McCartney captivated approximately 45,000 fans at the Alamodome in San Antonio during his ‘Got Back’ tour. The three-hour concert featured a mix of classic Beatles songs and solo hits, creating both grand and intimate moments, including performances with pyrotechnics and social commentary. Fans cherished nostalgic tracks such as ‘Help!’ and ‘Blackbird,’ making it a memorable evening of music history.
San Antonio
What happened
Paul McCartney performed at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday night as part of his “Got Back” tour. The show ran for three hours, had no opener, and drew approximately 45,000 fans. McCartney opened the concert with the Beatles’ classic “Help!”, a song he had not performed live in 35 years.
Key supporting details
- This concert marked McCartney’s return to San Antonio, with a prior performance occurring in 2014.
- McCartney played a wide array of songs spanning his entire career, from pre-Beatles material to Wings and solo works.
- Popular tracks performed included “Hey Jude,” “Drive My Car,” “Let it Be,” and “Love Me Do.”
- A highlight of the show was the dramatic performance of “Live and Let Die,” accompanied by pyrotechnics and fireworks.
- McCartney played the Beatles’ “Blackbird” alone with his acoustic guitar, creating an intimate moment.
- The concert featured a blend of social commentary, including visuals related to political issues during songs like “Getting Better” and “Let ‘Em In.”
- The onstage visuals included activists such as Greta Thunberg and referenced historical events, like the Beatles’ stance on segregation during a concert in Jacksonville, Florida.
- He performed “In Spite of All the Danger,” the first song recorded by The Quarrymen, marking a nostalgic return to his musical roots.
- McCartney was accompanied by seven band members, including a full brass section.
- Throughout the concert, he showcased his versatility by switching between instruments including bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, ukulele, and piano.
- Fans held up a sign that read “Marry Us Paul!” which led to a marriage proposal exchanged on stage during the performance.
- Other Wings hits performed included “Band on the Run,” “Jet,” and “Let Me Roll It.”
- McCartney’s solo songs in the set included “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “My Valentine,” and “Come On To Me.”
- He closed the encore with Beatles classics like “Helter Skelter” and “The End.”
- The visuals during the concert included AI-generated art that some fans found distracting.
- The concert attracted a multigenerational audience with fans of all ages present, including young children and older fans reminiscing about the Beatles.
- Attendees were advised to use rideshare services or arrive early due to expected traffic and parking challenges caused by multiple events happening downtown.
- City officials warned about congestion downtown from the McCartney concert and other events like the Muertos Fest and the Day of the Dead celebrations.
- VIA transit offered free Park and Ride services in anticipation of the busy weekend.
- The audience included notable musicians and local personalities, all of whom expressed enthusiasm for McCartney’s performance.
- The concert served as a nostalgic experience for many attendees, representing a significant moment in musical history at the Alamodome.
Context and background
The Got Back tour stop at the Alamodome brought a mix of large-scale spectacle and quieter, intimate moments. The production combined pyrotechnics, a full-band arrangement that included brass, and a selection of visuals that ranged from archival historical references to contemporary political imagery and AI-generated art. The setlist reached deep into McCartney’s catalog, spanning early pre-Beatles material through Wings-era songs and recent solo work. The performance followed McCartney’s previous San Antonio appearance in 2014 and again drew multiple generations to the venue.
Logistics for attendees
With approximately 45,000 fans in attendance and several major events downtown occurring at the same time, city officials and transit providers prepared for heavier traffic and parking challenges. Attendees were advised to consider rideshare services or use the free Park and Ride services offered by VIA transit during the busy weekend.
Production and musical notes
The concert featured no opening act, a three-hour running time, and a seven-person backing band with a full brass section. McCartney alternated between several instruments during the performance, including bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, ukulele, and piano. The show mixed large-scale numbers driven by pyrotechnics with stripped-down acoustic moments, such as the solo performance of “Blackbird.”
Key features table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | Paul McCartney |
| Venue | Alamodome, San Antonio |
| Date/Time | Saturday night |
| Tour | “Got Back” tour |
| Attendance | Approximately 45,000 fans |
| Show length | Three hours |
| Opening song | “Help!” (first time in 35 years) |
| Band | Seven band members, including a full brass section |
| Notable production | Pyrotechnics, fireworks, AI-generated visuals, social commentary |
Timeline
| Date/Time | Event | Status/Source |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday night | Paul McCartney performed at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday night as part of his “Got Back” tour. | Event occurred |
| Saturday night | The concert lasted three hours and did not feature an opener. | Event occurred |
| Saturday night | Approximately 45,000 fans attended the concert. | Event occurred |
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FAQ
Where did Paul McCartney perform?
Paul McCartney performed at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday night as part of his “Got Back” tour.
How long was the concert and was there an opener?
The concert lasted three hours and did not feature an opener.
How many people attended?
Approximately 45,000 fans attended the concert.
Which song opened the show and when was it last performed?
McCartney opened the show with the Beatles’ classic “Help!”, a song he hadn’t performed live in 35 years.
What range of music did McCartney play?
McCartney played a wide array of songs spanning his entire career, from pre-Beatles material to Wings and solo works.
Which popular tracks were performed?
Popular tracks performed included “Hey Jude,” “Drive My Car,” “Let it Be,” and “Love Me Do.”
What special production elements were featured?
A highlight of the show was the dramatic performance of “Live and Let Die,” accompanied by pyrotechnics and fireworks.
Were there intimate moments during the concert?
McCartney played the Beatles’ “Blackbird” alone with his acoustic guitar, creating an intimate moment.
Did the show include social or political visuals?
The concert featured a blend of social commentary, including visuals related to political issues during songs like “Getting Better” and “Let ‘Em In.”
Who appeared in the onstage visuals?
The onstage visuals included activists such as Greta Thunberg and referenced historical events, like the Beatles’ stance on segregation during a concert in Jacksonville, Florida.
Were there nods to McCartney’s earliest recordings?
He performed “In Spite of All the Danger,” the first song recorded by The Quarrymen, marking a nostalgic return to his musical roots.
How many band members accompanied McCartney?
McCartney was accompanied by seven band members, including a full brass section.
Which instruments did McCartney play?
Throughout the concert, he showcased his versatility by switching between instruments including bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, ukulele, and piano.
Was there any notable audience interaction?
Fans held up a sign that read “Marry Us Paul!” which led to a marriage proposal exchanged on stage during the performance.
Which Wings and solo songs were performed?
Other Wings hits performed included “Band on the Run,” “Jet,” and “Let Me Roll It.” McCartney’s solo songs in the set included “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “My Valentine,” and “Come On To Me.”
How did the concert end?
He closed the encore with Beatles classics like “Helter Skelter” and “The End.”
Were there any criticisms of the visuals?
The visuals during the concert included AI-generated art that some fans found distracting.
What was the audience demographic?
The concert attracted a multigenerational audience with fans of all ages present, including young children and older fans reminiscing about the Beatles.
What transportation advice was given to attendees?
Attendees were advised to use rideshare services or arrive early due to expected traffic and parking challenges caused by multiple events happening downtown.
What did city officials and transit providers do for the event?
City officials warned about congestion downtown from the McCartney concert and other events like the Muertos Fest and the Day of the Dead celebrations. VIA transit offered free Park and Ride services in anticipation of the busy weekend.
How did attendees describe the concert overall?
The concert served as a nostalgic experience for many attendees, representing a significant moment in musical history at the Alamodome.
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Additional Resources
- San Antonio Express-News
- Wikipedia: Paul McCartney
- KENS 5
- Google Search: Paul McCartney Got Back tour
- News 4 San Antonio
- Google Scholar: Paul McCartney
- News 4 San Antonio Newsletter
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Paul McCartney
- KSAT
- Google News: Paul McCartney concert San Antonio
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
