I often wondered myself, why a full backline, multiple instruments etc., on all the late-night show performances. I finally realized, (happily in seeing Paul McCartney's performance maybe 3+ years ago now, on Jimmy Kimmel in L.A.), that while they may show one song on the broadcast, maybe a little more, the band actually will perform a full set. So the "Mellotron thingy" likely came into use at some point, unfortunately you just didn't see it.
Just a fun story: I don't know if Sir Paul was a unique anomaly, but we got FAR more than we ever expected. They'd blocked off Hollywood Blvd for the stage, and cordoned off the sidewalks so primarily only ticket-holders (free, but sold out immediately) could see the show, & to keep the sidewalks clear for normal business & foot traffic. The street was filled for several blocks, but the crowd was kept 2 or 3 blocks back until just before show time. We arrived at about 4:00 without tickets, but found a crosswalk that couldn't be blocked, and "parked" ourselves there well in front of the ticketed audience - just as Paul & the band did their sound check - 10 FULL SONGS! AMAZING! Then they went in to tape the interview segments, etc, which showed on giant screens stationed along the street, at which point the audience was allowed to move forward into the area in front of the stage. Someone estimated about 20,000+ people there. Thanks to some friendly cops, we were allowed to stay right where we were when they semi-closed barricades across the crosswalk, so we were FAR closer than we'd have been in an arena-type setting. When the band came back outside at about 7 PM, they played several songs, then recorded the song "NEW" live for the broadcast. When that was done, Paul said, "Okay, L.A., the rest is just for YOU!" and they played for another hour and a half!! 2 weeks later they played the Staples Center... tix were about $200 each, IF you could get them! Not a bad deal... we had NO idea when when thought we'd just "just give it a try..." They did post the whole show online afterward... it may still be there. They ROCKED, lemme tell ya!
Berington Van Campen
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services / Sessions
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