The most relaxed man in pop has somehow become the hardest-working man in show business.

Paul McCartney, who played the RDS on Saturday night, is gigging like a maniac and has certainly taken a nod from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young when it comes to delivering marathon live shows packed with songs that have burned their way into the minds of several generations.

But unlike other heritage rock acts on the circuit, Macca and the four other members of his long-standing touring band -- Paul Wickens, Rusty Anderson, Abe Laboriel Jnr and Brian Ray -- could play another entirely different 35-song set tonight if he wished. And tomorrow night again.

Indeed, much of the post-show pub discussions were about the songs he chose not to play -- and these Ballsbridge bar-stool debates eventually exhausted themselves with a shrug and a muttered "sure we could go on all night with this".

McCartney was entirely at ease as he effortlessly pulled the likes of Wings-era barnstormers Venus And Mars and Jet from his songbook in the opening 20 minutes of the show.

The RDS arena was about three-quarters full when he came on stage but as darkness rolled in, so did the rest of the late arrivals.

In fact, the former Beatle dispensed with most of his fluffier material, like All My Loving and Let 'Em In, at the beginning, which was fitting, as Dublin's extended summer daylight never makes for an intense nighttime rock and roll experience.

Around the half-way mark, the evening light dimmed and the sound, which was muddy at best from our seats, improved dramatically as McCartney hit his home run, as his now familiar solo ukulele tribute version of George Harrison's Something segued, with the band in tow, into a full-blown stadium anthem.

From that point the show was a master-class in presentation and wonderment as Band On The Run, Back In The USSR, I've Got A Feeling, Paperback Writer and A Day In The Life were played practically back to back before the fireworks of Live And Let Die and the mandatory sing-a-long of Hey Jude were greeted with waves of adoration from the multi-generational crowd before the first of two encores.

Cheesiness

And just in case anyone still thought the McCartney experience was still all thumbs-up bonhomie and cheesiness, that notion was put to rest as the band made short work of the beasts that are the live versions of Day Tripper, Get Back and Helter Skelter, alongside the gentler Yesterday and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Could it be said that McCartney is currently at the top of his game?

As a songwriter his best work has got to be behind him, but as a live performer, the Up And Coming tour could very well be the best show on the road this summer.

A master at work.

Maurice Haugh