Went to see Paul Simon on Friday night 4th November with friends - what a fantastic concert! He played some old and some new tunes, and by the end had everyone dancing. My favourites were Mother and Child Reunion and the Boy in the Bubble. His band were excellent too! We came down from York to see him and all in all excellent value for money. Keep going Paul we love you!!
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The weather was a concern, as there were tornado warnings. I was afraid the show was going to be postponed. But it finally stopped raining and the concert was fantastic. (Although it rained on and off during the show.) It was a great treat to have him add in Bridge at the end. |
The concert was more than I could have imagined...Paul Simon delivers an amazing performance. He is the greatest in my book and I will always love his poetry and music. I love you Paul Simon! (yeah that was me that screamed it while the crowd was quiet.) |
A fantastic 3hr plus show last night at the O2. Sting was amazing and the pair loved every minute. Both in great shape and fabulous sound. Highlights were "Desert Rose" / "Mrs Robinson" / "Still Crazy" ... too many to mention. We even managed to get free upgraded seats (thank you London O2 Arena). Great chilled out atmosphere. |
Luckily enough to able to work at this show as I do local crew,absolutely one of the best gigs that I have ever worked on. Both Sting and Paul Simon gave the audience three hours of fantastic music, a great show and great to able to have worked on it. |
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I saw the second New York show last night. It was excellent. The set list seemed identical to me. Paul make a joke about Sting playing ´a hometown concert´ and then started into his line about becoming an Adonis, but he caught himself and said, ´Since I said this on Tuesday, I suppose it does not seem very spontaneous.´ He didn´t quite seem to know what to say instead, so he paused, then stopped and the audience laughed politely. (I guess he was assuming there were a large number of repeats in the audience.)
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Fantastic concert with Sting last night. Paul´s voice was strong, he was funny, and he played more guitar than in the recent past. PS seemed to move around a bit more -- he seemed very relaxed. Sting sounded very good on the PS songs he sang (alone and with Paul). I am sorry I did not memorize the set list. Both bands were very strong as well (No new arrangements since the last tour). I did not care as much for Sting´s back-up singer, but she didn´t detract from the quality of the show overall. Sting on ´Bridge´ and ´America´ = very nice. They closed the show with their two guitars and a Phil Everly song. |
Here is your concert report, written from notes taken in the DARK with aging cataract eyes!
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I have been a die-hard PS fan since I was 12 (from 1976). I have seen 6 concerts before and loved them all. Yesterday I saw him for the 7th time, in Oslo. It was like being spitted in my face. After the 1st hr with PS songs, rather mediocre set and not perfect sound, he gave the stage away to LBM and Hugh Mazakela (or how you spell it...don´t care to check) for an hour. I left the concert after the audience had been forced to listen to- and watch LBM dance and sing for 25 minutes followed by some weird Mandela-shouting by HM supported by PS. When a South African lady entered the stage I left the show. I have never been a big fan of Graceland, but the album is OK, but highly overrated, but I never imagined he would give away the stage for so long to his African friends with the worst kind of extremely boring music and political shouting. I spend 800 USD in flight ticket, hotel and ticket and spent 2 days of my holiday. Mr. Simon: I want my money back! To make it absurd ( and this a completely true) I later - randomly - met him on the street outside his hotel when he came in taxi after the concert! I couldn´t believe it. I was 1 meter away from PS and looking at him and he looking at me. What do do? Give him a verbal beating for a terrible concert? Ask for the autograph? Take a photo with him? A 13-14 year old boy then came up and asked PS to sign ´Graceland´ and ´BOTW´. The boy obviously knew that PS was at this hotel and had waited outside. PS signed ´Graceland´, bur REFUSED to sign ´BOTW´. PS was also grumpy and did not smile of say anything. What discraceful behaviour! I just left my biggest idol there and then with a bad taste in my mouth. I live in Bergen, Norway and had tickets - or course - in my hometown tomorrow (26th), of what should have been the biggest event in my life, but I have now given them away. I still love his music, but as a person he proved to be Mr. Nothing. I will never see him live again, except with AG - if that happens. From another very disappointed Paul S in Norway ( yes, we have the same initials and first name) |
Hello ! I am a conductor and hhave for the last years done several concerts with the songs of Paul Simon with several choirs. I do also have a maser based upon Simons songs. I would be glad to met him a few seconds in Oslo during his concert there. |
A somehow strange concert review from Oslo.
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Paal - Dette var en jubileumskonsert for Graceland-albumet og du forlater konserten FØR Graceland-showet begynner. Det blir bare for dumt og ved at du i ettertid skriver en anmeldelse av konserten blir som om at du skal beskrive en matrett du aldri har smakt. Hva med litt research på forhånd da? I disse tider så kan du jo se de fleste konserter på Youtube nesten umiddelbart etterpå. Hvis du forventa å høre bare gamle S&G-klassikere så kunne du ha unngått denne, for din del, bomturen. Du skriver at du er en Die-Hard fan av Paul, men det tyder jo fint lite på at det er tilfelle når du så til de grader bommer på hele meningen bak denne turneen. Og at du traff ham etterpå tror jeg vel litt hva jeg vil om. Uansett beklagelig for din del, jeg hadde ihvertfall en fantastisk konsertopplevelse og det virka som om både øvrig publikum og presse storkoste seg. |
I had no time to post this before. The concert in Forest National has been a huge success. The venue was full. A lot of fans from everywhere in the country. What a huge performance from everybody. It was an authentic gala, with the several parts, the different patterns of musicians.
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First, we were disappointed about our seats, so far the stage, regarding the past years (everytime, we were on the first front row...). But, we decided to enjoy the concert anyway ; Paul and the band join the stage in a great mood. Set-list was the same as in London, except Jimmy Cliff wasn´t there. After Dazzling Blue/50 ways, Paul talked to say he was happy to be there cause it is the place he met his wife. In the room, except the 3 first rows in the ground and some hard fans on the balconee (as us) the ambiance was quiet (too quiet, imo) and really grew with the appearance of LBM and musicians of the original show of Graceland. I have to admit it was a great great great moment! All the crowd enjoy solo moments of LBM, Hugh Masakela and Thandiswa Mazwai. After their performances, the show returns to Paul and, as in the first part, it was great, so great. One more time, he moved all songs with new rythms, new works. There was a little problem with the sound (like last year) but I´ve forgot now !
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The best concert I ever went to! The sound, the setlist, the band, the guest stars, the line-up, the accompanists, the weather and the audience: tripple A. Even the security started to dance, now when have you seen that for the last time? |
Live Paul Simon but this concer was spoiled by the refusal of the production team to allow the stage to be shown on the big screens apart from sme rare moments. In a venue this big it is unacceptable to treat fans who pay €116 plus booking fee and can barely see the stage. |
Paul Simon. November 29, 2011.
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This was the second show I saw of this tour; during the first leg, I´d seen one of the Beacon Theater shows. That show was good; this one was incredible.
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After 70 years, Paul Simon himself hasn´t changed one bit. But his music certainly has. This was very evident in last night´s show at the University of Akron´s E.J. Thomas Hall. After a great performance by the opening act, the ´Mumford and Sons´-esque ´Punch Brothers´, Paul and his band took the stage at about 8:30, opening with ´The Boy in the Bubble´ from ´Graceland.´ Paul then played a track from his current album ´So Beautiful or So What´ called ´Dazzling Blue.´ The next song was his only #1 hit single as a solo artist, the ever popular ´50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.´ The show progressed for 2 more hours with this wonderful combination of recent songs, popular songs from the ´Graceland´ and ´The Rhythm of the Saints´-era, and his classic 70´s hits that established him as one of America´s greatest musicians. Through the rest of the main set, Paul and his band blasted through ´Mother and Child Reunion´, ´Late in the Evening´, ´The Obvious Child´, ´Slip Slidin´ Away´, ´Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes´, and ´Father and Daughter.´ The encores began when Paul´s band left the stage for Paul´s moving solo performance of ´The Sound of Silence´. The band came back on stage and played a rockling version of ´Kodachrome´ that segued into ´Gone at Last´. After this, Paul´s band left again and the Punch Brothers were brought out and they played once-in-a-lifetime versions of ´Cecilia´ and ´The Boxer´ with Paul on acoustic guitar. Paul then played a great version of The Beatles´ ´Here Comes the Sun´. Paul then ended the show with a triplet of ´Graceland´, a Bo Diddley song called ´Pretty Thing´, and ´Still Crazy After All These Years´. Paul showed the Akron/Greater Cleveland area that, even after 70 years, he really is still crazy; he had the energy of a 20 year old and his voice sounds exactly the same as his voice that we came to know and love in the 1960´s and 70´s. Thanks for a great show, Paul! |
I was visiting old friends, a Thanksgiving tradition. I come to southern Indiana a couple times a year. I used to live here.
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The St. Louis show was so different in atmosphere from Memphis that it seems like another tour. Memphis was outdoors and very cold. The Fox Theater is one of those gaudy old-time movie houses built in the 30´s and is strikingly beautiful. We were 12th row, dead center, and the sound was breathtaking. Whoever is mixing the house sound on this tour is doing a great job. Paul wore a very nice sport coat, no tie and no hat. I was glad he didn´t wear the fedora; I think it makes him look even older than he is. It looks like ´My Little Town´ is out of the setlist now. Too bad; I thought the band did a great job on that one in Memphis. A couple of interesting wrinkles in this show: Bakithi Khumalo took a hand microphone and came up stage to stand next to Paul while Bakithi sang in Zulu on ´Pretty Thing.´ The band really has the Bo Diddley groove down on this song and Paul´s harmonica playing is more than adequate. He´s not bending reeds or making complex runs but he´s not embarrassing himself, either. Vincent Nguni seems so shy on stage; I don´t think I´ve ever seen him do anything other than just stand stock-still and play outrageously good guitar. His singing alone at the microphone without the guitar on ´The Only Living Boy In New York,´ is quite touching. When he sings ´here I am...´ it seems genuine and so beautiful. (Yeah, I know: so what!). Tony Cedras´ trumpet playing is getting more and more lyrical. He´s got a nice tone but the melodic lines he plays are gorgeous. I like Andy Snitzer´s vibraphone playing; it´s hard to imagine that anything could make ´The Boy In The Bubble´ sound bigger but the vibraphone does make the sound fuller. I like the changes in the guitar riff to ´Love Is Eternal Sacred LIght,´ which is still my favorite song from the new album. Paul seemed to enjoy the dancing that was going on in the second half of the show and commented on it at the end of the night. For some reason, I couldn´t hear Mick Rossi´s organ as prominently as I have on previous shows on ´Mother & Child Reunion.´ They may have tweaked the mix a bit or maybe he was just playing quieter. Mark and Tony do a great job on the background vocals on that song, by the way. Gabe Witcher, the fiddle player from The Punch Brothers, came out and played on ´Dazzling Blue.´ Paul said something afterward about really enjoying his playing on that song. |
Paul Simon sounded great at Mud Island Amphitheater in Memphis, Tennessee Saturday, October 29, 2011. He´s changed the setlist a bit since I last saw him in May. The band remains absolutely astonishing. Here are some random memories from Memphis:
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Totally enjoyed this show. I have seen Paul several times and even though this performance was during the final game of the World Series that the local team was playing in, there still was a dandy crowd.
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Great band!
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Paul & the band, I just wanted to say thank you.
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At the last minute, I added a small packet of tissues to my purse, just in case. After all, the setlist Paul Simon was about to perform in Israel´s Ramat Gan Stadium would not have been much different than the latest shows in his European tour. Since these included songs that were branded deep into my DNA, excitement was at a high level.
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We were there on summer holiday for 4 weeks and enjoyed it tremendously. The music, ambience, and the massive audience were simply amazing. Can never forget this event. Paul has always been one of our favorite musicians since we were kids and it was a great blessing for us to be able to see him live in Istanbul. Way to go Paul! |
what a nice evening for evyone who was at the venue yesterday... Maestro Paul is on form,smiling and lovely as he is. I ve already seen him, 3 times since 2000 and in a 10 years he lost just a little energy or vocal range comparing to others ´old-timers rockstars´...but more than that, seems to me he GAINED a lot growing older.
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Milano, july 17th 2011
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Coming from Holland I saw Bob Dylan playing Mainz in june. To be back there just a few weeks later to see Paul Simon was incredible! I respect them both SO MUCH. This was my first Paul Simon concert and I loved it all the way through, just as Charlotte and Henrieke did who joined me. He - just like Bob Dylan - has so much to give us with his long time experience. Together with his incredible band he ´painted´ us songs like Van Gogh in his best years. Hard to describe something that touches the heart so deeply. Just go, see, hear and feel for yourself. Enjoy! |
As Mainz was open air we were very lucky with the weather, when we stood in line to get in it rained and there was a little thunderstorm. About an half hour before the concert started it was completely dry and even the sun came out. Susi and I talked with Tony Cedras before the concert and he told us they were worried in the early afternoon they had to cancel the concert! How lucky we were! It was a seated concert, I had a good seat in the 6th row, right before the speakers -good sound- and could see Paul and the band very good. Paul said he was glad to be back in Mainz and welcomed the sun and the good weather :) It was nice to see the performance in the open air by daylight for a change, it is a whole different atmosphere, I liked it. The setlist was different again, he left out Vietnam/Mother And Child Reunion and played YCCMA at the end. Halfway the concert everyone stood up and stayed up to dance and enjoy the concert. Tony said to us we should come back after the concert, if there was time he wanted to invite us for a drink backstage. But unfortunately after the concert he came and said there was no time, they had to leave early because they wanted to drive the same evening to the Swiss border. We talked a little, Tony walked back, we waited till the other bandmembers and Paul came out, they were too far away but Paul waved goodbye. The concert was great, good atmosphere, good audience. It was a nice closure for me. Now I hope I can see Paul in concert again sometime in the future.
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I was prepared for a sort of quiet concert and was very happy to see that both the beautiful melancholical songs as well as the fast songs were played. So first half of the set was good for laying back and enjoying and the second half for dancing. I like the studio work of Paul Simon anyway as the sound is just great, agreeable, relaxing. It´s like with a good massager: they can make you feel every bone of your body and make you feel worse than before or they touch you in a very sensitive way which kind of causes some strange good harmony inside. The same case with Paul´s music! And see and hear him live is even better! It´s great to finally visually recognize certain sounds of the album you´ve been wondering about as instruments you´ve never seen before ;-)
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This was my first ever PS show, we travelled from Hungary to see him and totally worth it!
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Amazing concert, Paul looked very slim and quite cool. The band was enjoying themselves making jokes and faces and communicating with each other and some people in the audience. Paul talked more to the audience (even interacting with the audience) than in any other concert of his I have been to. Only Vincent Nguini seemed to be quite tired and hardly moved a facial muscle.
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I went last night, second time I see Paul. As to be expected, it was all perfect and some of the most amazing musicians I ever saw on a stage. The multitude of instruments they played was simply baffling. Paul was himself, simple and modest. His guitarplaying remains unequaled in my opinion. His accoustic solo of Sound, he made that guitar sound like an entire orchestra. The place was packed. Nifty mix of old and new songs. Seems like the audience was not so familiar with the new album. He lit the place on fire at many occasions .... Call me Al, etc. It was a musical extravaganza. a 5***** concert. Paul doesn´t get any younger, and sometimes his voice doesn´t hold that well anymore, still outstanding singing. I have a question. Paul, right at the start, he thanked the building (concert hall Brussels Vorst Nationaal) saying something about meeting his wife there, twenty years ago at a Bob Dylan show ... I googled around and his wife says they met at an Edie gig on NBC. Dylan played that concert hall in 1989 and 1991.I know as I was there :) Paul married in 92. Do you know anything more about this? This itches me since yesterday night. Best Regards,
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Went to last night´s concert. It was a brilliant . Paul did alot of his songs from new work to his brillant Graceland. Probably the best song of that was the brillant (Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes)The stage set great. For the Diamonds song her had Jack of Diamonds on a Horse. Also did alot of his old songs Late in the Evening,50 Ways to leave your Lover and Gone at Last. The best song was Dazzling Blue (my favourite) of the new album.
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From the Shropshire Star:
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Many disappointed and extremely angry fans in Bournemouth - concert cancelled 40 minutes before it was due to start.
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Fantastic atmosphere in Glasgow. Very post Katrina twist on some classic Paul Simon songs.
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Nearly thirty years ago I was a student graduating in Nottingham at the Royal Concert Hall.
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A great concert with a very responsive and enthusiastic crowd. At the beginning a few people shouted, WE love you Paul, he liked that and responded that he loved us (the audience) too. Paul & band played a great set, people were dancing, clapping and singing along. It was great to see and hear the enthusiastic crowd but the piano solo from Mick Rossi after Peace Like A River got almost lost, it took a while before the audience noticed the song wasn´t over, then they started to listen but they weren´t patienced enough to hear it all and started to shatter. I was midfront second row and discovered that Gary Stewart, who makes beautiful music himself stood right in front of me. A great spot to see Paul up close but for the sound it would have been better to stand more in the back, which my husband did. He loved all the songs and said The Obvious Child sounded superb! After the show we went to the pub with Scaaty and her husband and met Gary there again. In the pub they played Paul´s music, we had a great time. |
New post, pic post for Webster Hall, you have to read it to see who the mystery guest was that played You Can Call Me Al with Paul Simon...http://ctconcertblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/paul-simon-monday-june-6-2011-webster.html |
New post, pic post for Webster Hall, you have to read it to see who the mystery guest was that played You Can Call Me Al with Paul Simon...http://ctconcertblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/paul-simon-monday-june-6-2011-webster.html |
Zzzzzzz. Same setlist every nite. Doesn´t talk to crowd. Not enough energy. No al or geaceland. Nothing special. Seems like he was just going through the motions. No passion or excitement.
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My first visit to the Ryman, and Paul Simon performed in a concert I´ll never forget. One of the best I have attended in my 60-year young life. The accoustics at the Ryman are phenomenal; the music reverberated around the auditorium like it was playing through a set of Bose headphones.
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My first visit to the Ryman, and Paul Simon performed in a concert I´ll never forget. One of the best I have attended in my 60-year young life. The acoustics at the Ryman are phenomenal; the music reverberated around the auditorium like it was playing through a set of Bose headphones.
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Here is the link to my blog, I went to 4 US shows on the first leg...lets hope for a fall leg :) This post has a lot of pics, enjoy! You guys across the pond are in for a real treat in a few weeks!!
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http://groups.google.com/group/Davidshasha/browse_thread/thread/3d843e222a926c6e#
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here is the link to my blog about the show, I went to four shows in the US (5 if you include the Jimmy Fallon show!)
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here is the link to my blog about the show, I went to four shows in the US (5 if you include the Jimmy Fallon show!)
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TO night 2: The Sound Academy 2nd row! His voice is totally back - no shakiness, no breaks. And I believe we witnessed one of the rarer moments in PS concert history. With the crowd shouting for it favorite songs - someone persisted at just the right moment with ´Duncan´. Simon say ´ok, well play Duncan, but you just thru the setlist off´ (laughter from crowd). a young woman (30?) calls, ´I learned to play the guitar to Duncan´. Simon: ´you learned to play guitar to Duncan? Well, then come on up and play it´. So she did: shaking, trembling, crying has Simon put his guitar around her neck, pulled herself together, AND DID IT, with support from band. Simon was smiling, people were screaming and singing for joy. Very special moment, very special nite |
Paul Simon walked on stage with an acoustic guitar and started working the opening chords to ´The Sound Of Silence.´ It was the first encore of his sold out show Saturday April 23rd at the Pechanga Theater in Temecula, California, and it was the defining moment of the evening. Sung in hushed tones, the breathtaking classic was a line-by-line testament to the depth and talent of Paul Simon the poet.
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Paul Simon walked on stage with an acoustic guitar and started working the opening chords to ´The Sound Of Silence.´ It was the first encore of his sold out show Saturday April 23rd at the Pechanga Theater in Temecula, California, and it was the defining moment of the evening. Sung in hushed tones, the breathtaking classic was a line-by-line testament to the depth and talent of Paul Simon the poet.
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First of all, I´ve seen quite a few shows at the Showbox, and this was by far the most electric vibe I´ve ever encountered there. People were thrilled to be at such an intimate Paul Simon show, and the mood was of palpable excitement. The band was in fine form, and, with the exception of some high-frequency feedback issues during ´Here Comes the Sun´ (most noticeably), the sound was excellent. Paul sang and played beautifully, his voice sounding as strong and clear to me as it did on the You´re the One tour. It is truly a marvel how little his vocal powers have diminished with age. The Seattle Times´ review of Friday´s show mentioned some vocal pitch problems; this was not the case Sunday, I assure you. His singing was confident, strong, spot-on with the pitch, dramatic and engaging from the first song to the last. The sound engineer had the harmony vocals dialed in just right, and on moments of group harmony (´Diamonds´ and ´Dazzling Blue´ come to mind) the ensemble vocal sound was tremendous.
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By JO ANN RIGGS
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I attended Paul Simon´s concert last night, April 15, 2011, at the WaMu Theatre in Seattle, WA. What a terrific concert, one of the best in my long (I am 59 years old) life.
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Paul Simon at WaMu - one for the ages
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As reported: Art Garfunkel had some serious voice problems during that show, because he suffers from laryngitis.
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Saw Paul and Art last night here in Melbourne and, despite the fact that I am a lifelong fan of both individually and as Simon and Garfunkel, I have to say that this was the best concert I have been to.
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Well, where to begin? The show was not perfect but it was absolutely spectacular all the same. I´ve never really listened much to S&G before but I´m definitely a fan now. I´ll just run through the night in chronological order I guess. Alain and I got to Acer Arena about an hour before the show started and managed to meet Gerard and Ben before the concert, which was great. On the way there it was quite amusing, they had special trains for the event and they were either playing S&G music really softly on the platform or else someone was playing it really really loudly on their iPod, I couldn´t tell which. Also I felt very out of place being the only person looking anywhere near 20, and a lot of people looked at me strangely too!
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The first S&G show in Sydney for 26 years went off without a hitch, except for the screen they were using behind them. It stopped working for some reason after the initial entrance film that was screened at the begining of each show they played. It never worked again for the remainder of the show either. One thing you can distinguish from this show and the other 2 in Sydney was that Paul Simon did not where his fedora hat at all throughout the whole concert. The setlist was the same as all previous shows on this tour as far as i know. i think this was either the last or 2nd last show that FOR EMILY was performed as it was dropped for another tune. Iv´e heard that someone filmed the complete show at Acer Arena on June 20. I hope it turns up,as no other show on the 2009 tour has been filmed in full, except for individual songs uploaded to Youtube etc.So keep an eye out for it. |
Sunday 14th June 2009:
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Wow.....1st night of the S & G tour.....& it certainly did not dissapoint.......i was thinking i was going to be the youngest person at the concert, but i was sooooo wrong....just goes to show these 2 guys connect with all walks of life.
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Paul Simon performed at the 21st Annual Bob Costas Benefit for Cardinal Glennon Children´s Hospital on Saturday night, April 18. Bob Costas is an NBC television broadcaster, known primarily for sports play-by-play and hosting the Olympics but also for his work as a talk show host over the years. The concert benefits the ´Bob Costas Cancer Center´ at Cardinal Glennon Hospital for Children in St. Louis. The benefit has taken place at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis for many years. The Fox is a gorgeous theater in the arts district of St. Louis known as Grand Center. The Fox was built in 1929 as a movie theater in a gaudy art deco style that includes a red-carpeted grand staircase guarded by twin lion statues with glowing eyes. Because this was a benefit for the children´s cancer center, the crowd was not the typical concert audience. Although our tickets specified ´Attire: Business Casual´ a number of people attended in formalwear.
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I knew this was going to be a special night even when I had to buy scalped tickets (thanks TicketMaster!). The new Beacon looked amazing. They did a fantastic job restoring the old place. It was also freezing the first night, if I remember correctly it was around 20 degrees (F). I saw Tony Cedras wandering around outside so I assumed that his usual band was going to be there, and they were. I was glad to see the addition of a ´horn´ section and I was glad to see Jamey Haddad was back. The show started with Gumboots (one of my favorite PS songs ever). I really like the way he sings it now as opposed to the record. The Boy in the Bubble was a different arrangement since the 06 tour. In my opinion, the 06 tour version of that song is not the most flattering arrangement. Slip Sliding Away is different every time he does it, and this is probably the best I´ve ever heard (even better than with Garfunkel). I was never a big fan of Proof until I heard that night´s version. The song rocked, and was very different from the record, Vincent and Mark really made it guitar heavy. I love how Train seems to be a standard song now, I can´t get enough of that song. The place went crazy when he launched into Me & Julio. Paul sang the ´Rosie´ part to Rosie O´Donnell. He also had Jim Hynes do the whistle, that also go applause after the solo. Real whistling is so much better than a recorder like previous shows, or the mess of everyone whistling from 06. Duncan, one of my all time favorites was a very good version too. After this song, the show took a turn, I knew it was going to be a different show. Paul introduced Luciana Souza, who he worked with at the BAM shows. I really enjoyed her voice, she did a few songs and she took lead on Born at the Right Time. I got a chuckle out of how she said that Paul wrote this new song but wouldn´t let her have it, so she wanted to do it that night for us. Amulet is an instrumental that Paul wrote and does not have words yet, so she scatted during the song. The Cool Cool River had a nice arrangement which included hand clapping. He did a lot of cuts off of Rhythm of the Saints and Graceland. Then Paul did Father & Daughter off Surprise. He had the little nylon guitar that he usually uses. During You Can Call Me Al, the place went nuts again. After YCCMA, he said they were taking an intermission. During the intermission, I thought I saw Paul McCartney in the doorway of the VIP room which was on the left side of the theatre. I was right, during intermission; he can out with Nancy and sat in a seat near the 7th row. The place went crazy, it was like it was a Paul McCartney show and I think he stole some of the thunder from Paul Simon and that made me mad since I am a huge fan of both, but it was Paul Simon´s night. After everyone settled down, Paul Simon came back on stage and said they were going to do some Doo-Wop from the Capeman. Now like any super fan, I own the CD just because it´s Paul Simon, but I was never really into it. Let me tell you that I now have a new love for this CD. All the singers from the play were there, and Frankie Negron blew our socks off. It was a bit comical because when Frankie and Paul had to switch for their parts, Frankie would raise the mic and Paul would lower it. After the Capeman songs, he did a great version of Graceland. The line about New York City got its usual response. He then did You´re the One from the album of the same name. I was never really into that CD until I understood the theme and now it has really grown on me. It was a similar arranglement to the 06 tour which is different from the record. During Loves Me Like a Rock, the band crowded around an old fashioned mic to sing the back up part. After this Paul did a new song called Love in Hard Times. I think Paul´s writing has only gotten better with time, just like his voice. The reason I love Paul Simon so much as an artist is, he always proves that it´s his show and he´s going to sing what he wants. He´s going to change the arrangement what he wants. So I get annoyed with these reviewers that pick on the arrangements that they don´t sound like the originals. Something strange happend with Diamonds and he skipped a few lines in the beginning part before the band comes in. Paul is still doing the 06 arrangement of this song, but for some reason it didn´t bother me like it usually does. I think the new version is growing on me. He closed the show with Late in the Evening which was also a great arrangement, it really showed off band. During the applause break, I thought I saw Kim Garfunkel walk by with a few security suits. It was dark and I couldn´t be sure. But I literally shreaked ´Oh My God, Garfunkel is here´ when I saw the stagehand bring out the taller mic and put it close to Paul´s. I had done my research and found out that Art was on tour in Florida during these shows, but had a night off on the 13th. I had said earlier in the day to my friend that Garfunkel was off tonight and how crazy it would be if he showed up. My friend dismissed me as being too hopeful. After I shrieked, the people around me started looking around and wondered if I was right. Paul came back on and introduced his partner in arguments. They sang the Sound of Silence, The Boxer and Old Friends. People were watching these two old friends do what they do best. The sound of 2 voices and a guitar was overwhelming, I became very emotional. Garfunkel made a joke about how they are good friends, and how Paul always checks to make sure Art´s hair piece is always on straight. My only complaint was that the VIPs were more interested in the booze in the VIP hut than the show, and I found it quite distracting watching the show with these ´VIPs´ walking back and forth in front of me. It was a great evening, one of the most wondering concerts I have been to in a while. I will remember this evening for a long time to come. |
I also attended last night´s Paul Simon and Mark Stewart performance at the Town Hall in NYC. They performed as an acoustic duo as part of the ´Revenge of the Bookeaters´ benefit show. The setlist was as
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I just got back from the concert in Taormina which finished half an hour ago. A million thoughts are running through my mind and I don´t know where to start. Perhaps with the best word to summarise it all is bittersweet ´“ in many ways it was a good experience for me personally, but as a concert ´“ it was meant to be perfect, but it was awful. If Lorrach was the most beautiful concert I could imagine, then this was the worst. I just don´t know what to think, what to feel ´“ I am so glad I went yet so upset that this is the memory of Paul that will rest in my mind. Sorry for all the blabbering, I´m feeling quite emotional and I will explain everything in due time. Jus tlet me begin with a sort of disclaimer ´“ this review is going to be extremely long and personal, and parts of it will seem very egotistical of me, but I am just trying to tell it all as it happened.
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I was been in TAORMINA and it was wonderful...i saw the concert with my dad from 3rd row and was beautiful..was been in Rome two days before...excellent that concert too...Paul´s the best musician of the world ..more than 44 years of musical career..he´s big everywhere he goes and everything he does...unfortunately we don´t have such a good musician like him..only stupid music...and the same modern and silly music..nothing compares to him and to his music.bye |
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I was at the Taormina concert too, and I dont´t agree completely with Niki. For me it was the best Paul Simon show I saw. Maybe Lörrach was better, but I can´t say anything about this because I wasn´t there. But according to the YTO Tour 2000, especially the Hamburg-concert 20th October and the DVD from Paris 30th and 31st October - they were horrible. Until today I cant´t understand why they made a DVD of this. I was in Berlin 2002 too, this was very good, but not so good as Taormina. Of course it´s a pitty if some of the audience ignore Paul. But I never saw Paul in so good mood before eihter live or on a DVD; so maybe Niki is a little bit to critical i think. But on the otherhand Niki is right - it´s annoying if people are talking during the show. For me it would be perfect if they would make a DVD from Taormina, but I don´t know which cameras Nikki saw, I didn´ see any camera neither at night or in the afternoon before the show, when I went there to see the Teatro Greco. All in all it was a great show for me. And I was also lucky to meet Vincet Nguini in a Restaurant in the afternoon and talked a little bit with him and got a photo. I will never forget Taormina! |
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Hi evrybody, first of all the show on july28 was in Milan, at the Arena Civica, recently open for concerts after more than ten years..it´s a very huge venue but for some of the shows of the Milan Jazz Festival (in wich PS show was included) the stage was put almost in the middle of the Arena, so the capacity was around 4-5000 making it a more intimate site, nice for a concert like this. Two nights erlier REM performed in the same venue but using the entire structure.
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Hi all, I was in Milan as well two nights ago for Paul´s concert in the Arena. It was my second occasion to see him performing after the Graceland tour years ago. I´m a fan of Paul since my childhood and I practically know everything of him.
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Just a warning - this is going to be a mammoth review but we had such a wonderful day. Lorrach was my first PS concert and it was quite simply one of the most perfect days of my life. I should begin the review few days earlier for a bit of context. I arrived in France on 24/7/08 in prepartion for a 6 month uni exchange in Lyon. I´d originally booked later flights but after finding out about the tour i decided it was definitely worth the effort to change my plans so I could arrive in time to see Paul with the lovely members of the French forum. So the day after my arrival in Paris, I went to Strasbourg to meet Alain, his wife Anita, Lionel and his friend Tony. From there we departed early on Saturday for Lorrach. THe concert was going to start at 8pm and we arrived at 1pm. We had lunch and walked around for a bit. We were very surprised at the setting of hte stage - a relatively small one in the centre of a small plaza, surrounde don all sides by cafes, hotels etc. It seemed a bit of a strange place for a concert. There were technicians on stage doing sound checks but not Paul and his band. ANyway we wandered around a bit to check hte place out and felt a bit lost as to how ot apss the time. But by the time we got back to the stage, Tony Cedras and Mark Stewart were there doing sound checks too (Mark with the craziest tie dye shirt) and before we knew it Paul emerged on stage!! There were already about 20 or 30 ppl gathered around and of course we all cheered and clapped and he gave a shy little wave. What followed was an absolute treat - almost an hour of Paul and his band playing snippets of songs in rehersal, observing Paul´s perfectionist tendencies - all captured on video by Alain. For all of us it was like an intimate mini concert - and surprisingly the crowd didn´t get much bitter. It was ujst magical to finally see him up close, to watch him in his natural mode, out of a strictly concert setting. He seemed veyr relaxed and was really in a great mood, smiled and laughed a lot. He was wearing a red tshirt (like the Old Friends tour) and jeans - lol finally a change of uniform we thought! - and he put on his sunnies after a shile and for aquite a period of time he just sang diretly facing us. I don´t know ehre exactly he was looking but I stared straight at him for ages and I think he must have noticed the home / Internet made Paul Simon tshirt i was wearing (and coincidentally I was also wearing almost the same hat as him) and he pointed at me during the Cajan girls line of That was your mother. It was just wonderful watching it all fr the front row - albeit quite a distance still fr the stage due to the barriers (baout 10m?) Anyway they eventually wrappe dthings up but we (all of us fr Strasbourg and Anita from Belgium and some other fans) walked aournd the back to catch a glimpse of him, THe benfit of a small venue is that there´s only one exit - so we oculdn´t miss him. Lio and Anita foudn the right place first and we all followed and sure enough Tony Cedras soon emerged saying that Paul was coming but had security with him. By this time we all had cameras out and things for him to sing, though I didn´t expect much cos he´s usually quite private with things like that. But he seemed to be in a really great mood and said ´I´ll sign for 5 min´ and started taking things from us (after security said no photos). Anyway, as I handed him my ROTS booklet Alain told Paiul ´She´s from Australia´ - et merci beaucoup pour ca Alain, c´est vraiment grace a toi que j´ai eu un de plus beaux souvienirs de ma vie. Well it was a little misleading cos I was mainly in Europe for exchange, but anyway, Paul seemed very surprised and he recognised me from a few moments ago, so he said ´You came from Australia?´ and it was one of those completely unexpeceted but wonderful moments where you´re so overwhelmed you just say the first thing that comes into your head and I said something like ´Yes, you´ve got to do a tour there, I´ve been waiting forever!´ and he replied ´Yeah we´re thinking of doing a tour in Australia, maybe in March´ - so there you go, first hand info from the most reliable source of all! And then as he started to sign he asked ´What´s your name?´ and when I told him he wrote ´For Nikki, Paul Simon´. I don´t think I can truly describe how much that means to me. It was my third day in Europe and after a dose of jetlag and homesickness I had really lowered my expectations and excitement about everything - including my first PS concert. And then suddenly to have him ask for my name and sign me a personalised autograph - it´s just so unexpected and so very touching that he took the time to do that, it wasn´t necessary at all, I would have been more than grateful just to have seen him up close, and yet he made the effor tot make it special and that´s a memory I´ll always treasure.
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After the concert in Eisenstadt was cancelled I was quite depressed. The nearest possible concert was Lörrach in Germany so we decided that we will try our luck there. And what a great choice it was!
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Am 25. Juli 2008 gab Paul Simon in Mainz ein Open Air Konzert, für das wir knapp 4,5 Stunden gefahren sind. Um Punkt 12.00 Uhr MEZ ging es los. Die Fahrt war recht anstrengend, der Verkehr war teilweise stockend, das Wetter hat einen ziemlich erschöpft, trotz Klimaanlage. Wir fuhren eigentlich ohne Pause, was wir am Schluss gegen 16.30 Uhr begrüßten, als wir da waren und uns noch schnell einen guten Parkplatz sichern konnten. Nun mussten wir die Zeit bis 19.00 Uhr in Mainz verbringen ´“ übrigens eine sehr schöne Stadt, wie ich finde.
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The concert was canceled due to storm and heavy rain. |
I traveled there with my father and spent a great time there in Eisenstadt, the day before the concert was a beautiful day full of sunshine, and we were very excited to see Paul Simon live for the first (and maybe the last) time of our lives and finally we woke up on the day of the concert, it was windy and the radios kept saying that the weather is about to get mad. We still didn´t feel that. But around 13 o´clock the wind got crazy and started to rain, and so... the open air concert in the castle-park got canceled. No extra date. |
All in all a very nice concert. Beautiful open air settings and great sound. At the start the band wasn´t very tight but they improved and were quite spectacular at the end. Paul was in a good mood especially once the audience stood up and the people from the stand entered the sitting area. My only real objection: Paul should have included a couple of backing vocalist in the band. |
Paul Simon at Udine - Italy
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Ottimo concerto !!!
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Was hat sich der kleine Mann wohl gedacht, während er gestern abend ´...es ist unerhört: Ich kann nicht aufhören zu denken, woran ich gerade denke´ sang. Vielleicht: ´Welchen Beruf übt mein Tontechniker aus?´ oder doch: ´Warum spiele ich in einem Zelt, welches das Flair einer provisorisch errichteten Tennishalle hat?´ oder vielleicht: ´Na ich werde mal schaun, ob mir das Publikum hier vielleicht zumindest während ´The Sound of Silence´ zu hört!´
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oh it was just great! perfect job, perfect weather, nice piazza. setlist probably the same as already mentioned. sound of silence acustic version, perfect mood. brilliant diamonds on the soles of her shoes. unfortunately no bridge over troubled water. |
oh it was just great! perfect job, perfect weather, nice piazza. setlist probably the same as already mentioned. sound of silence acustic version, perfect mood. brilliant diamonds on the soles of her shoes. unfortunately no bridge over troubled water. |
oh! it was wonderful... i´ve no words... sound of silence was a long road in the breath and the heart... the boxer a fantastic journey in the simon´s soul... Great great great concert... this concert is a diamond that will shine forever in Locarno´s sky & in my ears and heart. |
Haven’t forgotten this evening with Paul Simon standing just above me, singling Slip Sliding Away while I looked into his eyes and sang along. I think he may have noticed me because I knew all the words to his songs being a Canadian and a fan and all. I’ll never forget the music, the setting, the man. A beautiful evening. |
Haven’t forgotten this evening with Paul Simon standing just above me, singling Slip Sliding Away while I looked into his eyes and sang along. I think he may have noticed me because I knew all the words to his songs being a Canadian and a fan and all. I’ll never forget the music, the setting, the man. A beautiful evening. |
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Just got back from Brussels. The setlist was the same as yesterday and in Liverpool. It was really great. Second time i saw Paul, First time was in Rotterdam 2002. Paul did not talk a lot to the public. Just a few lines. He was smiling a lot and seem to have a good time on stage. Public was great, also during the songs that were not that wel known. Everybody was quit. I was in the front of the stage so i could see everything perfect. Paul´s voice was good, the band also. I liked Northeast, Duncan, Cool River, SOS, Graceland and the Boxer. My favorites of this night. It was a perfect show!! |
Short: A New York street kid playing some rough music and sharing some intimate moments. It was a gig (not a show), he spoke with music to his audience. You heard some trains in the distance, spiritual voices. The audience listened to the sounds and cheered when it felt to.
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Paul Simon le 15 juillet dernier était fantastique j´ai passé un moment formidable!!!! Merci à toi Paul
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7th time I saw Paul Simon (last time was Friday 11th in Paris:-)) and he just gets better every time. By now, he has such a wealth of great songs - nearly all of them standards - to choose from and he seems totally at ease with playing songs from every stage of his career. I thought the concert was pretty groovy and more rock ´n roll than some might expect from Paul with a great version of Ms Robinson f.e. Where in Paris the audience started to dance as of the first tones of Gumboots, the Brussels audience ´behaved´ more - probabely impressed by the omnipresent security guys - reacted enthusiastically though and danced at the end.An other difference with paris: only one percussionis. Simalirity: he wore the same clothes. They were awefull.
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It was the first time that I saw Paul live on stage. I spent a wonderful evening (I sat on the third row!). Although the setlist contained a few less known songs (such as ´Outrageous´ and ´How can you live in the North East´, Paul could convince the audience without any problem. In general, most of the songs sounded live quite rougher and more forceful than the wellknown record versions. I heard a fantastic and surprising version of ´Mrs. Robinson´, with an Elvis-alike groove. But the climax for me was a really tremendous version of ´Train in the distance´ from the album ´Hearts & bones´ (which is for me his best album ever, even better than ´Graceland´... ) The band (with 2 drummers!) did a great job. I hope that one of these European shows will be taped and released on DVD: it would be the perfect (Christmas) present for some of my friends who missed the show yesterday :-) Thank you, Paul. |
Es war ein absolut unglaublicher Abend. Paul ist, wie immer, als Perfektionist auf die Bühne getreten und hat mit seinem Charme und musikalischem Können eine Show geboten, die einfach unvergesslich war.
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The music was great, as it was in London 2006. As always, I was next to the sound ´engineer´. And the sound was great too.
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I go this evening to Brussels and I look very forward to my first concert of PS.
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The setlist was the same as in Liverpool. Although the tickets mentioned it was an open air concert it was in a small hall at Tanzbrunnen, about 1500 people I guess, it was fully packed. The concert started 15 minutes later because it took a long time before the long queue outside past the security to get indoors. About the concert, it took a while for Paul and the band and the audience to be connected, the audience was enthusiastic but not as good listeners as the audience at North Sea Jazz, in the first half the audience was too early with cheering and clapping, so several endings of the songs were destroyed. Also the sound was not as good as in Rotterdam, Paul and the band struggled a bit with that, the second half (after The Only Living Boy) things got better. Paul was as always a perfect bandleader, the band loosened up and everyone had a great time. Again some great solo´s: at North East beautiful guitar playing from Tony Cedras, he came to the front to play together with mark and Paul, two solos from Bakhiti at the Boy in the Bubble and Diamonds, a solo from Jamey on Spirit Voices, Andy was great on his sax and soprano sax. I also liked the drumming very much of Charley Drayton, it´s nice that he sits higher behind his drums, this way you have a much better view of his drum work, he is really into the music. Very nice to see the emotions on his face, the same goes for Bakhiti.
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The concert was great, but I wished it lasted longer. The songs were even more perfect than last times, you can see that every detail is thought about. Highlights for me were the ROTS and Graceland songs though the crowd seemed to enjoy the older S&G songs the most. They were singing along with them. Paul hardly said anything but funny was when he sang ´everybody -except you- knows what I´m talking about´. The tree voices were also well combined, on old and new arrangements.
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The setlist was shortened because the performance could not last more than an hour and a half. Paul started at 18.05 hour and finished at 19.40 hour. From the beginning the audience was very excited and enthusiastic, from what I could see around me everyone clapped and danced to the songs and listened to the more quiet and unknown songs. I had a good spot, midfront 3rd row were I could dance a little, (the first two rows had to stand on an iron underground which held a small barrier between the stage and the audience, not nice to dance on), it was very crowded, everyone stood very close to each other. No shouting for S&G songs, they let the band play till the end of a song which was brilliant by The Boxer because Vincent Nguini played at the end a beautiful guitar solo. Diamonds was great, the whole crowd clapped with Paul and the band in a fast uptempo. The Cool Cool River was played different as in Brooklyn, Paul had a guitar stood right next to him where he brushed past the strings with one hand, in between he played the guitar he had on him, at the end Paul pointed to every member of the band, each played a very short solo and Paul finished with a brush past the strings of the guitar that stood right next to him, it was nice and kinda funny. The band played great, they came more up front for their solo´s, Bakithi got a back massage by Paul at the end of his solo on You Can Call me Al, very funny. The new drummer Charley Drayton played very well, Paul hugged him at the end of the set, he found his place in the band. I enjoyed the concert very much and am very happy that I will see Paul and the band two more times next week. Paul was very energetic and good by voice. After the concert I went to see other performances, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter among some others and by walking through the hallways even hours later I heard several times people talking about Paul Simon and how they enjoyed the performance. I bought a very nice blue T shirt with a smaller picture of Paul and a text of Once Upon A Time There Was An Ocean. |
As usual French people have to say they are the best... They are the best at everything...
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As usual French people have to say they are the best... They are the best at everything...
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MAGIC NIGHT SOUNDS BY THE SEINE RIVERSIDE
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MAGIC NIGHT SOUNDS BY THE SEINE RIVERSIDE
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This was, im sure, the highlight of the love in hard times tour. The pALAIS DES SPORTS WAS PACKED, IT WASNT FULL, BUt ID SAY IT WAS 3/4 full which was great. From the start to finish, there was complete energy in the hall. Paul seemed extremely happy, and he made sure that every note he sang lasted. There was such a build up on all his songs, the anticipation was enormous. We love paul simon. It is hard to say which songs i liked the best, becuz they were all amazing. Everybody was singing along to the end songs, like you can call me al, still crazy, and of course the boxer. Sound of silence was beautiful, but the performances of train in the distance and Duncan were beautiful. Everybody got out of their seats and hurried up to the front to dance for the up-beat songs, and sat around, absorbing the sweet music of the slower ballads. This was a truly amazing night, paul was at his best, and it is a moment i will never forget. |
(My English isn´t very good, I hope everybody will understand...)
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Surprising moments in Montreux
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After waiting nearly 40 years this was the first ever Paul Simon concert I have attended.
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After waiting nearly 40 years this was the first ever Paul Simon concert I have attended.
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40 years, why the wait? Your probably another S and G fan masquarading as a Paul Simon fan. Your type of people probably wish PS stopped writing when S and G broke up. As the man himself would say ´I am tired, tired, anybody care what i say. No´
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I went to this concert and thought the audience was a bit restless - there was a lot of movement - probably because some people in the audience bought 4 or 5 beers with them and then found their eyes were bigger than their bladders! That was not Paul Simon´s fault.
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Having been to the 2002 Livepool concert, I was expecting a lot from Paul & the band in the new Echo Arena, and upon arrival I was immediately impressed with the building, athough inside, it is just another MEN arena in a pretty dress.
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We travelled all the way from Dorset to Liverpool for the show and were not disappointed. It was a good blend of S&G, Graceland and some newer stuff played by an excellent band. The newer songs were for me what made it fresh and interesting, along with the re-arrangements of Slip Sliding Away and other old favourites. Sounds as if some of the other reviewers were expecting it to sound exactly like the records, which is not what I go to a live show for. I enjoyed the variations in tempo in the songs but some of the audience obviously just wanted to clap and sing along
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I don´t think that anyone was advocating that ´the sound should be like the albums´ - infact I expect it to be better and bigger (e.g. 1991 Born at The Right Time Tour) - or that we should be dictating the entire set list -as PS says ´I´ll play what I want´ - so that answers that one. I was also at the BIC show in 2006 and it was described in the Bournemouth Echo as ´one of the best shows ever played there´ - and I should imagine it probably was.
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Paul came on stage at about 9.40pm and performed a reduced setlist.
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Cornbury Music Festival. Oxford
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I don´t even know where to start. Paul said something on his iTunes Originals session about his new interpretations on his songs, and how he accepts that it appeals to a smaller audience than his previous work. I say BRING BACK THE OLD PAUL SIMON!
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Great Show, Paul was quite chatty, said it was great to back home in ireland and we were the best audience in europe then added that he says that all over the world. bit of a mix up with Mark Stewart at the start of Outrageous which didn´t sound as assertive as usual. asked someone in the audience to look after the pieces he needs for the guitar as there was nowhere on the mike to put them.
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What a fantastic concert - it was the 6th show I went to at the marquee this year and by far the best. The atmosphere was electric and at times the audience was a huge choir happily singing along with Paul. He really seemed to enjoy the night himself too.
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Amazing, fantastic, start to finish, pity a lot of the crowd only stopped nattering when they recognised a song, but that stopped after sound of silence. |
Paul Smon and the band gave a good show which was ruined by a terrible & low volume sound mix, hence the chattering crowd mentioned earlier. The sound of the band could not be heard above the audience most of the time. Just not good enough in this day and age, a possibly fantastic show ruined despite everyone on stage doing a great job! |
Fantastic Concert - was a master class from start to finish. Thanks to Paul and all the band for a truly memorable nite. |
Great man in a bad place sound was poor and the crowd were terribble felt like being at a bar everybody talking over the songs only to stop when one the reconised, saw him two years ago at the point it was much better than last night, felt a little let down in places |
Excellent concert, though the sound not great for the first 45 minutes..after that it was magic! Total set 2 hours 15 mins approx. Double encore as in Iceland. You can call me Al...euphoric! some performer, great band! |
this is the 6th time that i have seen paul simon live.all i can say is the man is a legend,the best songwriter of the 20th century.i have been a huge fan of paul simon since the age of 10 29 yrs ago.the concert in cork was brilliant,but the setlist was poor to many slow songs which is why the audience were talking while he was playing.with so many songs under his belt he could of choosed alot more of his upbeat songs.all in all a great show please come back to play the new 02 areana soon. |
I had a great spot for this show, front centre! We had made a sign before the show asking for ´The Late Great Johnny Ace´ but when he saw it he just smiled and said sorry... After a couple of songs, Paul tried to hang his capo on the mic stand but it kept falling off so he asked me to hold onto it for him, but told me that I had to give it back!
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Paul was in wonderful voice all evening and the set list was a strong retrospective of his career, from S&G days right up to Surprise. It was clear that we were in the presence of a legend and the band were right on the money also. Downside was the venue of course, at times like being at a particularly high spirited and irksome Irish wedding. The bars were doing a roaring trade and this naturally contributed to the noisy and disrespectful crowd milling in and out of the Marquee, who only shut up when they recognised one of the oldies. At times the hum of brainless chatter was overwhelming - I sat in the stand facing the stage. In short, right performer wrong place. A big top afloat on a sea of alcohol. In the right venue this concert would have been historic. No fault of Paul Simon who manfully rose above it all. |
Paul Simon is a better writer,singer,musician,entertainer,arranger,producer and most of all person than any of his contemporarys.This includes Dylan and all of the other lazy ´legends´ of the era. Let me explain.
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Of the three concerts in this series, this was my favorite. All of the guest artists appeared to be in love with Paul´s music as much as I am. There was no lull. There was an entire evening of magic. Paul played more than he had in the previous two parts of this series. I loved both the Capeman and Under African Skies but American Tunes was the soundtrack of my life. Every song was personal and touching in a way only Paul Simon can create. When Paul was onstage, whether singing or playing with the guest artists as they sang, it seemed he was truly appreciating it as much as I was. I was close and thought I saw a tear in Paul´s eye after a few of the collaborations. I know I had the same reaction more than once. |
I saw the show on Sunday night and you did a very nice job on the review, I agreed with everything. I was hoping that Paul would do a few solo acoustic numbers, otherwise a great show. Grizly Bear really didn´t have their act together for being asked to play for such a big name like Paul Simon. |
American Tunes, the first evening and my last show.
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The BAM is a very nice theatre with very good sound and holds about 2000 people.
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The music of Paul Simon is always fantastic. Whether played by, with, or without Paul, it is always a wonderful adventure. When Paul chooses the musicians he wishes to either share the stage with, or the musicians he wants to play his music, there is always joy and ultimate entertainment. This was a unique collaboration of hand picked musicians who have played with Paul on his albums and whom he wanted to play his music. Whenever Paul was on stage the show took on an extra air of excitement, but to see the enjoyment that Paul took from the varied artists performances made the entire evening a wonderful and touching experience. |
The Capeman at the BAM
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This was a spectacular evening. To have the opportunity to see the Capeman´s music performed in such a small intimate setting. Although I missed the Broadway show this was a chance to hear the entire soundtrack live. To have Paul be a part of it and play a tune from the show was an added bonus. How this play was closed so quickly on Broadway is a mystery to me. |
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I have been a Fan of Paul Simon for many years and was lucky enough to see him in Hyde park performing with Art and again on November the 11th at the NEC Birmingham United Kingdom.I would just like to say that as I have always suspected the man is a genious and look forward to seeing him again in the near future whether it be here in the UK or in his home Country of America. Keep writing Paul From your fans in Guernsey , Channel Islands |
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You often think once is enough . . . . but it´s not . . . . . Paul Simon, TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW. First time ever, and as a 15 year old in `87 I saw the Graceland Tour.
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I first saw Paul Simon perform in the Birmingham NEC as part of the Born At the Right Time tour on 17th May 1991, so it was with great pleasure that I was able to attend the last date of the UK leg of the Surprise Tour at the same venue 15 years later.
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Wow, this concert was amazing. This was my first P.S. concert and it was perfect. Right at the beginning, we found ´How can you live in the northeast´ CDrom on the seats which was a nice touch and then Paul came on and played for 2 hours straight hardly pausing at all, which is incredible considering his age.
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Great Concert, Pants Venue.
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Paul Simon was brilliant the setlist didnt have a bad song on it and even if you didnt know a song it was so good it didnt matter |
Really, what do you say about this man?
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I´ve attended most of Paul´s English concerts since the early seventies and Friday´s concert was up with the best of them. If anyone thought that only Art could sing Bridge then they should have been at Wembley, Paul´s version was superb.
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One of his best shows ever. Little mistake at the beginning of 50 ways (the answer is all inside your head...) The fact that he was laughing about this misstake shows that he was really relaxed. Also his answer to someone screaming ´I love you Paul´ ( I love myself too) showed that he was enyoing himself. Of all the shows I attended this was #2. Paris olympia is still #1 for me.
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Have to reveil that because I read it now the 2nd time. The joke ´I love myself too...at least 30% of the time´ has been done at EVERY show.
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Continued from above after accidentally hitting ´Save my Review´!...
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paul simon Wembely arena.
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Some pictures I have taken on that show.
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What can I say? Excellent doesn´t seem to cover it. This is, by far, the best concert I have ever had the joy and pleasure to attend. Sadly, it was the quickest two hours of my life.
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I just got back from Paul´s gig at Birmingham NEC and just wanted to say that the sound was frankly astonishing. I didn´t hear Paul thank the sound engineers but they deserved massive praise. The NEC is like an aircraft hanger and I´ve only ever heard one other band conquer it´s acoustics (that being Steely Dan). On Saturday I could hear every single instrument in every single situation and Paul´s voice was mixed in to perfection.
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One of the very best concerts I have attended at The Point ... worth it alone for Andy Snitzer´s hair-raisingly magnificent sax-solo on ´Still Crazy After All These Years´ - only one of so many many many highlights! ´Wartime Prayers´ with Paul Simon singing to his own guitar backing was breath taking and the hushed audience responded to the prayers with reverend raptured attention. On the way out many people simply said ´wasn´t that just brilliant?... but asked of strangers as though to share the experience of hearing the soundtrack to so many of our lives sung with passion and respect, sheer brilliance and a lot of joy. Well done Mr Paul Simon ... you certainly made up for the wishy-washy S&G Concert in the RDS some time back! |
What a show, how does he continue to churn out these exceptional performances? This was my third Paul Simon concert and without doubt the best so far, no monetary value can be placed on witnessing this lyrical genius live. There were so many highlights of the night from the ´Graceland´ classics to ´Bridge..´ and ´The Boxer´, but the masterpiece for me was ´The Only Living Boy in New York´, quite simply an immense performance. Keep coming back Paul. |
what can you say about it.It was something very special and very lucky to witness,He seemed mesmorised by the crowd at the end and genuinely happy at what he had just done, A marvelous night and a true genius at work, Thank you Mr Simon
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I saw S&G way back in the 80´s at the showjumping arena, then Paul Simon on the Rythm of the saints tour in Belfast King´s Hall, S&G at the RDS again and finally Paul in the Point. Two things stand out in my memory - Hearts and Bones and Wartime Prayers. Astoundingly beautiful guitar work, atmosphere you could cut a knife with and respect for a genuis in his element. |
It was a splendid night at the Point, Dublin. An outstanding performance with great musicians. If I was being hypercritical, I found it a bit annoying the amount of movement on and off the stage. Musicians kept coming and going if they weren´t needed and in the middle of the songs too and then they slithered back in later in the same song. And roadies sneaking in down low at various times. I really felt it lacked discipline but hey you couldn´t fault the music and that´s what it´s all about. I never was at a concert with so many encore numbers; we all certainly got our monies worth. My highlight was Homeward Bound - just Paul and a guitar and a few thousand Irish voices - all of them in tune! Magic! |
Once again a magnificent performance!! This was 6th time to see Paul live, 2 S&G and 4 solo, the solos are always better. Highlights Train in the distance, wartime Prayers. new versions of YTO and BTOW wow!!
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Absolutely wonderful and moving . He does not say much but lets his singing do the work . If you get the chance go ! |
I chose to see PS in Bournemouth - a smaller, more intimate theatre to witness the great man´s music. I was not disappointed. The low-key set brought the band and their master to the forefront. It was great to hear the old songs again but I thought the best performances were of Outrageous and How Can You Live In The Northeast?. The album ´Surprise´ is arguably his best body of work and, as a fan of 40 years, I don´t say that lightly! The audience were slow in getting to their feet but young fans are needed to get us oldies rocking.
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It was great to return to my home town after leaving in ´69 with few return visits, to see this musical genius perform so many of the best and most popular songs, which also happen to have been written by him. What a wonderful concert. Perfect set list giving the magical mix of poignant & rocking moods.
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Some time in the mid 60s - pre-Bookends - I happened upon a young Paul Simon with Garfunkel at a concert in Edinburgh at the Usher Hall and Paul´s lyrics have embellished the ups and downs of my life ever since. Around about 1970 we met again at the Albert Hall and then much later during the Graceland Tour in Brighton. Hyde Park was an unexpected gas - last minute ticket. Bournemouth was a concert covering the many facets of Paul Simon. Many, many favourites, always performed to perfection. Paul and guitar alone on stage singing his heart out was my highlight, plus the wonderful Train in the Distance............ Thanks Paul. |
Some time in the mid 60s - pre-Bookends - I happened upon a young Paul Simon with Garfunkel at a concert in Edinburgh at the Usher Hall and Paul´s lyrics have embellished the ups and downs of my life ever since. Around about 1970 we met again at the Albert Hall and then much later during the Graceland Tour in Brighton. Hyde Park was an unexpected gas - last minute ticket. Bournemouth was a concert covering the many facets of Paul Simon. Many, many favourites, always performed to perfection. Paul and guitar alone on stage singing his heart out was my highlight, plus the wonderful Train in the Distance............ Thanks Paul. |
Tickets cost £50.00 a head, no matter where you sat. I was late to hear about this gig, but picked up a couple of fine seats up in the balcony.
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The show started late, only twenty minutes but that was enough to upset some of the pampered burgers of Bournemouth who did the slow hand-clap, and when the band appeared someone shouted ´What kept you?´. So when a small figure in a baseball cap and baggy trousers came on stage to mild applause it all seemed a bit low key. By the end, a generous 26 songs later he had them all dancing in the aisles and screaming for more.
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Wow! What a fantastic concert. Last saw Paul Simon at the Simon and Garfunkel reunion concert in Hyde Park a couple of summers ago and also saw him at the Graceland concert in Birmingham about 20 years ago. As a lifelong fan I also saw him in 73 (aged 13 years old!) at the London Palladium and also saw the ´other Simon and Garfunker reunion concert at Wembley in the early 80s. I´ve always managed to get good seats but at the BIC in Bournemouth on the 6th November we were in row 4 so extra special to be so close. The music as ever was superb, he was on stage for hours and all the favourites plus the new songs were there too. This guy never fails to put on a good performance and his concerts are just magical! Come back soon Paul - it was great to be able to see you so close to My Little Town! |
I agree that it was a great night all round. However, it is a pity that some of the arrangements were played a little too fast which meant that the lyrics seemed difficult to sing without losing some of the feeling, and I thought that the band,whilst providing a good solid backing had arrangements that at times were predictable and laboured to deal with them. It is also a pity that people whistle and shout at the most inappropriate times, after all, Paul Simon is a poet, his words mean something and deserved to be listened to. |
WOW!!!!!!!!! My first ever Paul Simon Concert as i am only 21 i never got to see all them years ago. I though it was absolutely amazing. Great version of Bridge Over Troubled Water.
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Fabulous gig, as well as Paul and the Band being great, great crowd, especially those who braved security to bring some atmosphere. Thanks for posting the set list, I agree with the first post. Am I the only one who thinks he also played ´I don´t believe´ from the new album though? also, did anyone catch who the bass player was? |
If there is a song-writer who has written and performed their songs so consistently over such a long period, I can´t think of her or him. Paul Simon is the man and for him to serenade those of us in the M.E.N. on Saturday night in his 3rd and final encore with, what is for me, his signature tune - Homeward Bound (depends where you joined his long trail of success I guess?) was more than I could have asked for in buying my ticket. Paul couldn´t find the words to express his thanks although he certainly found the songs. The words I would use are ´a privilage to witness´. If anyone who got to the front has any footage or a picture, it would be great to hear from you on [email protected] as a souvenir would be very welcome! |
From start to finish the show was sensational. Paul, you are are a true legend, and I look forward to seeing you again soon. |
Mr Simon is pure genius. This concert was amazing, second only to the Simon & Garfunkel concert 2 years before. I too, like the first reviewer on this page, managed to get right upto the stage and I was within a few feet of Paul. Towards the end of the set Paul seemed truly touched by the warm loving reception he got from a great crowd. When he had sung his last song on the 3rd encore, with tears in his eyes, I could clearly hear him say ´I really wish there was more I could sing, I really do´. To cap off a wonderful night, when the lights went up, I managed to persuade one of the roadies to pass me something from the stage, I came away with Paul´s set list from his mike stand, a treasured possession. |
Paul Simon´s show at the MEN was quite simply brilliant. It was a lesson in letting the songs talk for themselves - and how the audience responded!
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My first ever concert at the M.E.N arena and i was skeptical about 2 things mainly, first the price of the tickets and second the size of M.E.N and i thought it may difficult for Paul to achieve the atmosphere he deserves in such a huge place. However both of these doubts were cast aside almost straight away. The genneraly old audience seemed reserved to get up from there seats and have a jig. But when Paul played ´me and julio´, as has been mentioned in other reviews, security let people to the front. I was lucky enough to get down there quickly and be right at the front along with me 4 other friends. From that point the intensity of the gig was phenomenal (spelling?) everyone was dancing and singing all the way through.
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Setlist (I think)
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Manchester last night was my fourth Paul Simon concert - and what a blast! (Wembley, 1990; Seattle, 2001; Edinburgh; 2002) After the fantastic music in the previous concerts I must confess to having been a little disappointed in the BBC concert earlier this year but I need not have worried for Manchester. The addition of Robin DiMaggio on drums really filled the sound out and everyone else´s multi-tasking made for a new and equally memorable Paul Simon sound.
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Mr Simon took to the road this Autumn promoting his latest album ´Surprise´, his first in six years.
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Review by Barry Dyson
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This concert was the best I´ve seen from Paul Simon.
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This is one of the best concerts i have every seen.The upbeat version of Mrs Robinson was brillant. Also do not understand why people did not get up at all. It was one of the most beautiful concerts i have every had the pleasure to be in. Had to leave my seat and dance in the isle at the side. Then about 20 minutes into i was very annoyed to see the beautiful/lucky people that were at the front. Been told to get in their seats. M E N where bang out of order. Was also told to seat back in my seat. It did not spolt it. He got better and better as the night when on. Got on really well with the people next to me when where the only ones looked as we were haveing fun. Was told by some of the Live meeting people that i was in for a treat, my god i was. It was only half full. Thought it would have been fuller.Really nice meeting The Live Meeting people. Hopefully there be another concert to go to soon. Think i would spend good money to see this brill man. |
Ooooo what a night, oh what a garden of delight. Even now,that sweet memory lingers.
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Fantastic show!!! My 2nd Paul Simon gig (at the age of 24 I´m proud of that) and I wasn´t dissapointed. The start of the set seemed a little weak, everything was being done differently but the atmosphere didn´t quite seem to suit the show. However things started to get going shortly after.
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Having had a few days to let the magic of Saturday´s concert sink in,I feel safe in saying that this was the best Simon gig I´ve been to(I´ve seen him 5 times previous-not bad for a guy of 25!!).
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The people saying that the concert was great in manchester because they got to the front- thanks for ruining our evening, one lady next to me who could not stay for the gig as people were spilling beer on her wouldn`t have said it was great. If you want to jump and dance, go and see an appropriate band as we wanted to sit and listen to the excellent music.
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What words can be used to describe the greatest feeling in the world? None i think. I cant beleive i have actually seen my life long idol, i say life long but i am only 18, i have loved paul simon and Art Garfunkel (as a duo and paul simon on his own) since i was about 8, my aunt and uncle used to play the definitive S&G album in the car and i asked for a copy(8 can ya believe it) and i have always said, I hope i get to see them (or just one (PAUL)) in concert before i die and on the 11th november it came true, i really wanted to go on stage and shake his hand but i guess i was hoping for too much, i have to admit that when he wlked on stage i got a shiver down my back as though this is better than sex, and i burst out in tears when it was over.
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Paul Simon kicked off his UK tour and the concert at the SECC in Glasgow last night was incredible! Paul and his band were at their best. The crowd unfortunately did take an hour at least to get to their feet! I was told to sit down by an SECC ´usher´ early on so this didn´t help any!!!!!
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I was at the concert at the Secc, 6 Nov 2006. I was so awe struck by the sound of Mr. Simon´s music. Several times I found the bass and drums were in sync with my own heart beat, what a sound!!!! Thank you Mr. Simon, for your hard work, dedication and labour all of these years. What beautiful music you have given all of us and I thank you. From a fellow American, living in Scotland. |
i was at the glasgow gig last night and have to agree totally with karen and fortunately, only living boy in ny is my favourite s&g song so i was teary-eyed singing my heart out with the wee man. the band were a bit crap with the first song, i think it was slip sliding away but from the second song till the 4th encore, it was sheer class peppered with some spine-tingling moments. the wee man seemed to be genuinely moved by the audience appreciation and there was a feeling of mutual admiration between himself the band and the audience. his voice is still spot on but he does struggle to get his mouth round some of the quickly sung songs like you can call me al. overall, superb! the best gig i´ve seen all year and will take some beating next year too! |
There is nothing I can say that hasn´t been said before but I still want to say it. I was lucky enough to be in the front row and without doubt this is the best concert I have ever attended (and I attend dozens every year). The complexity of the melodies, the musicianship of the band and the trip through memory lane when he played songs we have known forever had me and the entire audience on their feet and demanding )and getting) 5 encores. I now wnat to see him again and again. Amazing!! |
There is nothing I can say that hasn´t been said before but I still want to say it. I was lucky enough to be in the front row and without doubt this is the best concert I have ever attended (and I attend dozens every year). The complexity of the melodies, the musicianship of the band and the trip through memory lane when he played songs we have known forever had me and the entire audience on their feet and demanding )and getting) 5 encores. I now wnat to see him again and again. Amazing!! |
Wow! What an awesome experience. I came away from this concert unable to speak in case I would cry. The shear quality from start to finish was amazing. Paul and his fantastic band (where did he find these incredible musicians?) played for over two hours without a break and covered a wide range of tracks from different points in his career. ´The only living boy in New York´ brought a tear to my eye, as it did others around me, and the up-beat numbers were just brilliant, especially ´Graceland´.I would have liked my favourite ´America´, but who´s complaining! The Glasgow audience loved him - don´t leave it so long to come back Paul! A special moment was when the audience sang along to ´The Boxer.´It is now the following day and I still feel all emotional when I think about this concert. How often does that happen? Practically never! If you get the chance to see him on this tour, don´t hesitate. You won´t be disappointed. |
Meeting Paul Simon in Glasgow November 3, 2006.
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This was my first Paul Simon concert and I have to say it was the best experience of my life...and I´m only 18 years old.
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GREAT SHOW!! I didn´t actually see it (I did see the July 4th show in Cooperstown, NY at the baseball hall of fame stadium & it was this great too)...
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First time seeing Paul Simon and I must say...it was an incredible experience. I had bought the Suprise album and at first wasn´t too impressed. It sounded too studio animated but to hear Simon play it live was amazing. His bandmates are equally as talented. He came out for a total of three encores including THE BOXER as a closer. A incredible experience ...I hope to see him again. |
This was my first time seeing Paul Simon in concer and I was very much impressed by the expanse of his repetoire he played. Also, I was impressed by the energy and changes made to some of his slower songs to give them more energy than they originally had. The energy seemed to give the audience a greater connection which brought Mr. Simon out for three encores. Closing with ´The Boxer´ was spectacular, as was the entire concert. |
Concert was awesome. Highlight was Wartime Prayers performed on acoustic guitar as a solo without any backround musicians. Guitar work was incredible and he nailed the vocals. The one song was worth the price of admission. |
SURPRISES EVERYWHERE!
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Backstage, Paul said that the New York crowd ´gets it´ (in contrast to the L.A. crowd which ´didn´t get it, ´I can´t help it if they don´t get it.´ Berkeley and Minneapolis also ´get it´ by the way.) Paul doesn´t measure the success of the crowd by the noise or whether they stand.
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The marquee on the front of the building that houses Radio City Music Hall said: Paul Simon Sold Out. This is a very famous, huge theater. It claims to be the largest theater in the world (which I doubt) at 5800 seats, but at any rate, it is the largest theater in NYC for certain. It is a masterpiece of art deco design and has been renovated lately so it is an impressive venue, to say the least.
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This was a magical concert from start to finish. Paul Simon was most certainly on top of his game. He is a New York Musician playing on New York´s grandest stage. Paul Simon was showered with ´We Love you Paul´, ´Welcome Home´, and ´Ryhmin Simon´ screams through out his performance. With his amazing voice, trusty guitar, and humble approach he did what he has always managed to do, Capture the heart and soul of his audience. His fans were treated to an evening of Classic Simon. ´Late in the Evening´, ´Still Crazy´, ´ The Boxer´, ´You Can call me Al´. New songs at Concerts, no matter how strong their quality, can usually turn into a dash for the bathroom or concessions stands. No so with Paul Simon, his new material was eagerly awaited. And he did not disappoint. Paul masterfully mixed new an old . He pulled songs from his legendary catalogue and the crowd enthusiastically received each and every one.
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This is was the fifth time seeing Mr. Simon (solo or with Garfunkel). I really enjoyed the set list for the second leg (not that Mohegan was bad, but Train was the highlight for me). I almost forgot he was going to do it, and didn´t recognize it when he started it. We were very close to the stage and we saw all the musicians walking around the stage before Jerry Douglas came on. I saw Andy escorting someone to the VIP pit. I was with my friend who had never seen Paul Simon but is a real Graceland (album) junkie. Eddie Simon was in the crowd and he was mingling. He came to talk to someone in the row behind us and my friend who didn´t know that Eddie looks a lot like Paul was bugging out. He thought it was Paul Simon, I told him to relax, and said ´Hello Eddie,´ he didn´t hear me because he had cotton in his ears already. Jerry Douglas was very good as usual. The only complain I have was that Paul came on a lot sooner then he usually did. I missed the first half of Gumboots and ran past the lady who wanted to see my ticket. I was knocking people over to get to my seat. The show was amazing, and Wartime Prayers was a highlight. He sang it solo. During the first line his voice cracked (the first time all night, and to quote Paul McCartney ´It proves we´re not on tape.´) I was really expecting some of his friends or even Garfunkel to make a cameo, but I didn´t see anyone. Before Jerry Douglas, they played a solid 45 minutes of Edie´s songs, which a lot I had never heard before. All in all, it was and I repeat a life changing event, one that I will remember for a long time. |
His concert last night was amazing.
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The concert was as good a performance as I have seen in years. A very tight band a great mix of old and new, brilliant new arrangements on the the songs from the old days.....not a single thing to complain about,it was perfect. Come back soon please Paul! If you are in New York Or Boston for his next shows, run to see him, it was great. |
Great concert.
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I´m a sixteen year old, who went to the concert not knowing THAT much Paul Simon, but being a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel, and the little amount of Simon songs I know. I don´t think it could´ve been any better, even if I knew every song. This band is so incredibly talented, Paul Simon is such an unbelievable songwriter and performer, and to see a room full of people so much older than me at a show where I felt more energy than so many other shows I´ve been to with people closer to my age, was a really unique experience for me. Somehow I managed to get third row seats for this, and it´s a night I know I´ll remember and cherish for the rest of my life. Highlights for me were ´The Boxer´ with Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Still Crazy After All These Years. I also loved when everyone got up and danced up and down the aisles. |
This was my first time seeing Paul Simon live (crossed the street next to him last fall near Central Park, but that doesn´t count) and I was BLOWN AWAY! His voice was in top form and his energy was impressive. He seemed to enjoy the spirited Detroit audience and the overwhelming beauty of the Fox Theatre. It was a great evening! |
Great Show....played mostly ´hits´ with new and fresh arrangements. Made it almost impossible to sing along which was a shrewd move, forced people to listen to him instead of drowning him out. Band was top notch and seemed to be into it.
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I saw Mr. Simon play in Rosemont ILLINOIS (spell it right people you don´t pronounce the ´S´) and he was amazing! I was so glad he ended with the boxer. I would be very sad if he didn´t becuase that is my all time favorite song. I really wish I could have gone up there and played it on my guitar and sing it, but it´s not easy to play without looking at your strumming hand. Keep up the good work Mr. Simon! I think it would be nice if you could get together with Mr. Garfunkel and play at Ravinia again, since the name Simon and Garfunkel didn´t ring a bell, although I heard some of your songs when I was younger. You rule Mr. Simon, and if you ever need a back up singer let me know.
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I saw Paul a couple times back in 91´and consider that to be the ultimate display of the greatness that is the Paul Simon catalog. For those of you who were witness to that show you know the monster world sound that he presented (go buy the Live in central park cd set if you dont own it already). The sound is a MONSTER!!!
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Paul went on stage at about 8:35 p.m. and finished around 10:55. That´s a two hour, twenty minute set. How many people can play an outstanding set of that length without a letdown? Paul definitely still can.
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WOW WOW WOW...what a show! I was right there in front of his mic...after the show paul was nice enough to take him SURPRISE cd cover with him back stage (shake my hand)and bring it back signed ! He was so nice he forgot my sharpie and asked if I needed it back!
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Just got back from Northrop and an early birthday celebration, just a couple of hours before the clock ticks midnight and Paul turns 65. The set was quite similar to the reports from previous shows, but with the songs mixed around a good bit (sorry can´t remember the precise setlist) and a twist or two added: As it sounds like he did in Denver, he added Train in the Distance midway through the set and it really chugged along. It was one of the show´s highlights, I thought, along with Only Living Boy in New York, Duncan, Graceland and a very spirited rendition of That Was Your Mother. From reading the other reports, it sounded like he switched the encores up a bit, pairing You Can Call Me Al with Still Crazy After All These Years and Mrs. Robinson for the first encore, a solo acoustic version of Wartime Prayers with Bridge and Late in the Evening and finally ending with the Boxer. He didn´t bring Jerry Douglass back out for the finale, but instead had his son Harper (previously mentioned Thursday night in Train in the Distance lyrics) join him and play guitar on the final two numbers. When Paul came back out for the finale, he said he never would have imagined 35 years ago that he´d be singing the Boxer on such a milestone birthday. Several yahoos yelled Happy Birthday to him throughout the show and his spirits really seemed to build as the evening progressed. A great venue (4,500-seat Northrop Auditorium), the sound was dandy and a pretty magical evening that seemed to have a little extra special significance for him. |
Three days later and Iīm still rockinī from Tuesdayīs concert! My first time @Magnus Arena and I must say I appreciated the smaller venue and enjoyed the show 100%. I canīt think of a better singer/songwriter, NO exceptions! We love you Paul! And Happy Birthday today! |
Paul played beautifully, a great mix of old and new songs. I have never witnessed four encores within a single concert. Paul led his band back for each one and completed the concert with his heart felt thanks and his comments of how he enjoyed the night as much as we did. This was one of my favorite concerts of all time. I hope he returns to Denver soon! |
Paul Simon wrote the words īEverybody loves the sound of a train in the distance,ī almost 25 years ago and last night at Magness Arena I felt for a time that he had foreshadowed his own career. When the band dusted off this old favorite for one of itīs only recent performances about a third of the way through the evening, I have to admit that I was a bit unhappy with the show. I was second guessing my great memories of the 3 other times I had seen Simon, and feeling like Iīd ībeen hadī by my own memory. Like loving the sound of a a train in the distance but being horrified by itīs thunderous roar as it rushes by you, had I romanticized my other Paul Simon experiences? At that point in the show I had to say īyes.ī
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I saw Paul Simon in August at Lake Tahoe and I was very DISAPPOINTED...He looked tired and bored by the whole thing...It is honorable that he tours for his fans, but the audience didnīt respect him and he didnīt rise to the occasion...The audience was embarrassing because they didnīt have any energy, but he didnīt either...His band was below par...However, heīs still Paul Simon and I love his music...I feel like he would do better if he only did a few concerts a year at bigger venues....I worry that heīs not feeling well physically and mentally..You get this sense that something is wrong in his life...He didnīt even say hello to the audience nor a good bye which made me sad because I love to hear his voice and he owes it to his audience to thank them and greet them... |
This was my first time seeing Paul live (well, solo - I saw Simon and Garfunkel in ī03 or whenever it was). I have to say, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The set list was excellent and the musicianship impeccable (as it always is with Paulīs bands...especially when Steve Gadd is on drums.) I donīt know where the first reviewer was sitting, but where I was the sound was decent. Not the best Iīve seen in that venue, but good considering that itīs a wierdly shaped, hockey-specific arena. I agree that the crowd could have showed more energy at first, but they woke up for some of the biggies. Besides, to me itīs the music alone that makes or breaks a show. I donīt care what other people do with their time and money - IīM going to enjoy myself. And I definately did that.
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I have seen Steely Dan, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen all this year and this show was better than all of them. Well the Seeger sessions was pretty dam good. The sound was straightened out by the third song and the show was great. The problem is the lame energy from all the old timers wishing they were back in the early 60Ä«s listening some acoustic Simon and Garfunkel and complaining about how much the ticket was and how late its was on a Tuesday night. This is why he has to play 4 encores, in order to create a sense of urgency with the crowd. Paul played to the crowds energy. The band sounded great and I really liked how they re-worked some of the classics. Mrs. Robinson with Jerry Douglas was amazing, that guy is a master of his trade. My highlight would have to be Wartime prayers. I have his new album and I pretty much skip by that song but after Tuesday night that might be my new favorite. As he always has done, Paul has captured the pulse of our culture right now in this song!
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As a serious Paul Simon fan,the only words that come to mind to describe his gig at the bowl, are beyond belief.Paul Simon truly gives it up for the fans,and that is deeply appreciated.The sound quality was spot on,and Paul´s voice has remained strong.We are talking about one of the top song writers of the 20th century here,to be sure.I enjoyed the show with my daughter Natalie,who was as blown away as her dad was.I will close by thanking Paul Simon for sharing his wisdom and his incredible gift with the world. |
I told my wife a month ago, ´Don´t schedule anything for Oct 7 ´“ I´m taking you out on a special date.´ She´s been in suspense, getting more excited as the date approached. ´What should I wear?´ I said, ´Casual, and warm, since we´ll be traveling by Vespa.´ The concert was at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, an outdoor natural amphitheater, which, by the way, is one of the greatest places to see a concert I´ve ever gone too ´“ right up there with Red Rocks in Colo, but smaller, more intimate.
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First time to see Paul Simon in concert. Four of us cruised down from San Luis Obispo and it was worth every mile, every dime spent on gas. I´m a huge fan of ´Surprise´ and wanted to see how he performs live.
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Same Set list as before. Great weather in San Diego. Jerry Dougless comented ´I like what you´ve done with the place´ Also said he was here with Allison Krouse. Paul Simon commented on the Padres losing and them playing agaisnt St. Louis. He said ´ I am not going to St Louis at all on this tour.´ Which was great. Crowd was calm for most of the show but loosened up for Me and Julio and Diamonds on the souls of her shoes. One drunk woman standing up until security calmed her down. She was a great source for entertainment. He felt the crowds good vibe and performed all the encores ending with Late in the evening. Great show and I hope to see a Live Album/DVD soon. |
santa barbara 10-7-06
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It was the best concert I have ever attended. Paul and the band were great in New Orleans, even better in Lake Tahoe, and absolutely spectacular in Portland. The sound was superb, and we had fabulous seats. The crowd was very enegetic, and Paul seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. We got the three encores and they played part of ´Diamonds´ again after someone yelled out ´play it again´. I feel sograteful to have been able to see this man three times this year. He is still at the top of his game. The outpouring of affection for this man was almost overwhelming. It brought me to tears several times. |
I echo the previous review. I see a lot of shows every year and this is one of the best of my life.
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Well, Paul and company were fabulous. I´m a longtime fan, though this was the first time I saw him live. He played such a nice mix of old favorites as well as new ones from Surprise. When someone yelled to ´play it again´ (after Diamonds), Paul kind of smiled and the band on stage started laughing. He ushered them to continue and we were treated to another 5 minutes of a Diamonds, only with some awesome solo drumming with Steve Gadd. The last encore of Late in the Evening was full of so much energy, especially when ´He blew that room away.´ Jerry Douglas is a talent too. Would like to see the two of them work together in the future. Awesome show :) |
The concert was amazing and I am greatful to both him and his band for giving me one of the happiest days of life!!!! |
This was the first concert I have ever attended and it will remain with me for the rest of my life. It certainly is a story to tell the kids. I have seen many performances of Mr. Simon on various websites and DVD´s, but nothing beats it live! Thank you for the experience. |
The concert was AMAZING! Paul gave a great show, and Jerry Douglas sounded good.
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The concert was wonderful, and I agree, the people in attendance seemed lethargic to begin with and then warmed up later on! Both Paul and Jerry Douglas put on a great show and it was well worth the money! Does anyone have a setlist? |
Having only seen Paul on his tour with Garfunkel a year or two ago, I was excited to see Paul perform on his own. He did not disappoint! The S&G show was fairly bland, although the music was great. There was a lack of personality at that show. This show was something different. Paul danced around and was clearly energized for the night. His voice sounded fantastic. Outrageous was a highlight for me! I am surprised to say that I enjoyed this show more than the S&G show!
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I thought paul sounded great.However the people around us(on the floor)were the most stuffiest and rude fans ive ever been around.When i pay 100$ per tkt.I want to stand up and sing.That annoyed several around us and made it strange.Those people need to loosen up and enjoy,,,FYI,,,This was a classic rock concert.I heard he is better with Art.Had a good time however..scotty |
I was there the same night and I have to agree - wonderful show, especially in such an intimate and and beautiful room. It´s where the Vancouver Symphony plays! A great opportunity to experience Simon and the amazing ensemble he plays with.
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I had second row almost centred seats for last nights show and it has to be the best concert I have ever been to. When we arrived the security at the door told us the show wouldn´t be starting until 8pm, and I think it started pretty much on time. After reading the reviews for the previous night´s show it sounds like there was a lot more energy at this show. Most of the crowd was on it´s feet before the end of the regular set and by the second encore many people had moved up closer to the stage and were dancing. I don´t think I have ever clapped so hard in my life. My personal highlights were ´Me and Julio´ because it has always been my favourite song and ´Call me Al´ because the energy in the building was so amazing. He didn´t talk much during the show, just to say that Vancouver was beautiful and he had gone biking in Stanley Park that morning; he also made a few jokes and seemed to be enjoying himself. We went outside after the show and he came out to sign autographs, unfortunately there were a lot of people, so I never got anything signed. It was truely awe-inspiring to see someone who I have admired for so long on stage. |
Amazing Show! I was in the very front row right in front of Paul and got to shake his hand at the end. He played all the songs I wanted to hear. There was also 3 encores which I have never seen! |
The Orpheum Theatre was very near full capacity. I sat in the second-last row of seats, very high up, and it was getting hot and sweaty! I was glad I brought binoculars because I couldn´t see much otherwise. I saw quite a few people with them in my area. The show was for 7:30, but Paul came on at 8:15. Needless to say, a lot of people got restless, and there were many times people started to clap and get impatient.
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Paul and the band put on a fantastic show at the Orpheum theatre last night. I had good seats in the second row of the dress circle, and it was great to finally see the man perform so many of the songs I grew up with. Paul seemed relaxed and in good spirits, commenting on how much he seemed to be enjoying Vancouver, and aside from a couple of minor technical glitches, the band was tight. For someone who has had problems with his chording hand in the past however, Paul´s fingerwork- and playing in general- was pretty nice. If I have any complaints about the show, and I´ve noticed that this seems to be pretty common with Vancouver crowds, it ´s with the lacklustre response. I was almost ashamed at the lack of energy the crowd was giving back to the performers. The couple next to me sat through the whole show with their arms crossed...
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I accurately predicted I would enjoy this show more than the last time I saw Vancouver in 1999, simply because that time he was at GM Place, a hockey arena, and my seat seemed ten kilometers away. The Orpheum is a much smaller, better venue and this time I sat in the 17th row. With binoculars I could almost make out the writing on Paul´s cap. (I later learned that it said ´CCM Classic.´ CCM is a major manufacturer of hockey equipment.)
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Went to the show. Here are a couple of observations:
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Here´s a brief review for what turned out to be a brief performance by Paul.
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What a wonderful concert. Paul seemed very comfortable and energetic. The crowd was a bit quiet at first, but people were up dancing by the end. We luckily had good seats, and it was wonderful to be able to see Paul and the band so well. All the people around me seemed to know and appreciate the new songs which surprised me in a good way. I thought that ´HCYLITNW´ and ´Outrageous´ sounded great performed live with Paul´s great band. As I said elsewhere, we were able to watch the sound check which was a mini-concert in itself. We met Mark Stewart, Vincent Nguini, and Tony Cedras after the sound check, and I was thrilled. They were so gracious and even seemed to enjoy signing autographs. Vincent thanked me for asking for his autograph-how sweet was that?
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Paul Simon´s Proposed Lake Tahoe Set List
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First time posting (or even reading) here, and I have to say that I only found this site when I was scouting around for any reviews of the Lake Tahoe show... surprised (hmm, pun there, I guess) that absolutely none have been posted since Sunday evening´s show.
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Playlist: same as previous shows:
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This is the best Paul Simon concert I have ever attended. The crowd was very receptive and Paul felt very comfortable with the audience. He talked and joked more than he usually does with an audience. It was great.
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I am so sorry! I was so tired from the concert last night, I forgot to add Outrageous to the setlist!
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Agree with what has been written, but I believe the Pacific Amphitheater´s seating capacity is more like 10,000, and it was definitely a sell-out crowd.
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What a great concert! I sat in row-T, and had a great view!! Paul was incredible and sang with such emotion and heartfelt sincerity. He sounded impecable. I also had great neighboors, or people sitting near me in front and by side. lot´s of energy!! What a great concert, and a great crowd, i felt like everyone was connected through Paul´s Music. IT was so inspiring to wacth. |
Paul Simon (Pacific Amphitheatre/Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA 7/28/06)
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The show was fantastic. I walked away with a few deep thoughts: Simon´s music is just as relevant and ´classic´ as it was when the classics were first written; it´s not disrespectful to sit down and listen, but it is horribly rude to scream, ´WHOOOOOOOO!´ at the most sacred of silent moments; and the large margarita containers looked more like bongs than large margarita containers.
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Well, Paul was great. The crowd was pretty energetic and I could tell Paul appreciated it. He was in top form. Impressive and energetic performance. Hope to see him again! |
Great concert! The two hours of the concert went by too quickly. The crowd included people of all ages. Paul is a great entertainer, and had great musicians with him, especially drummer Steve Gadd. What fun that the arena is right near Surprise, Arizona, and Paul´s new album is Surprise! |
Paul jammed as always. Even though the decrepid phnx crowd was boring and elderly (usual for phnx.) Paul still managed to get them out of thier seats by the 1st encore. Fantastic Paul, truly a man that transcends all generations. |
I thought he was energetic and great to finally see in person. I know that the crowd was mostly older folks, but I think they were moving their feet even sitting down. I know alot of them were clapping to the music . PAUL SIMON is one artist really worth seeing, I had a great time and would see him again if I could. |
Tired old people should dance more.
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The tired old people at the concert Monday night in San Antonio are the teenagers from 40 years ago that helped create the Icon that is Paul Simon. We understand the lyrics and are most comforable in his presence with our eyes closed, drifting off to a place that will never again exsist. His passionate rhythms and perfect lyrics are the reason that this music is timeless.The new songs intertwined with the old,are a testament to a long and consistant song writing career. Paul Simon reminds us that natural rhyme is still possible, that mastering an instrument is still important and mostly for us old folks, he understands us. He is one of us |
You know, he may be old, but he probably doesn´t want to be thought of that way. Otherwise he would not have hired Brian Eno. All artists, no matter what age want to be appreciated by the youth. Is it fun for Paul to stand while everyone is sitting? Probably not. Why do you think Bob Dylan plays almost exclusively college campuses?
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One of the most interesting shows I´ve seen. I was very shocked at how empty the arena was. Would have thought San Antonio could have filled, or almost filled a 5000 seat arena for Paul Simon. Austin ain´t that far away. I worked a full day in Austin drove down, and was in my seat well before Jerry Douglas took the stage.
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My wife and I came up from Laredo for this show and, besides the minor side issues of the small turnout and the old folks failure to boogie (actually, we sat up front and the watched the security guards call for reinforcements to hold back those same sedate old folks charging the stage ´with their canes´) I must say this was one of the best concerts we have seen in a long time--fulfilling almost every expectation and desire we had about Paul Simon. He and his band seemed genuinely to be having fun and trying to put on what I considered to be a great show. I have to respect the showmanship and artistry of a real ledgend of American music who wants, despite the success and the ego that must go with it, to want to please his fans. As we age we all learn a little about getting older and less eager to please and I really respect Simon for sharing so much of himself with us. The set list was incredible, including many new songs from Simon´s two latest CD´s. Anyone who learned to strum a guitar in the 70´s knows Duncan, which was beautifully rendered, and of course The Boxer, an wonderful duet with Jerry Douglas. I loved the mix of old and new, songs and sounds, and although there are many old favorites I would have like to have heard, Simon´s songbook is so extensive that would be impossible. Simon himself seemed so gracious and seemed to take the small crowd with a grace and lack of ego that, if the ealier review is accurate that he was upset he did not let on in his performance. We have seen a number of good performances from older masters recently, Guy Clark, Mary Black, Butch Hancock, Dylan (tho that SA show, of many incredible Dylan concerts we have seen, was a disappointment), the Stones, and this performance and Simon´s band, music, and accompanying musicians is among the very best in recent years.
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Kinda long, guys :)
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Wow. PS rocked... funny actually, he looked just like my dad. What was with the people in the pit though??? Bunch of bored yuppies who got the tickets for free or for watercooler material. They were going up and down for beers every song. PS actually threw his hands up at one of them! Audience on the whole was older/lame. Hardly anybody was on their feet dancing but I was, I didn´t care. Nice reworkings of Boy in the Bubble, and Mrs. Robinson. Thanks, Paul for the 3rd encore, I love Late in the Evening.
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Another great performance.
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Amazing show. Amazing man.
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This was my first Paul Simon concert and I was rather impressed.
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Paul waited till the heat cooled down and played until he couldn´t play anymore. Chastain´s kinda funny with their curfew. Having seen him at the OMNI before ( no longer there,) it was a real treat to see him outdoors. Any idea how I can buy a bootleg of that show?......Please notice I said buy....Go Paul
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I must admit, this was my first Paul Simon concert. However, before you make assumptions about me, rest assured that I have been waiting years for this experience.
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Excellent show, Paul was amazing. The crowd didn´t know some of the songs (especially the new ones) but he was on fire. I danced a lot in the second half and had a great time. Paul looked like he was having the time of his life during Me and Julio. You Can Call Me Al was probably his best song. Mark Stewart and the whole band was great too. Just a great show, Paul always delivers. |
This was a joyous, rhythmic, exhilirating show, which many beautiful melodies, soul-rocking beats, sweet harmonies, elegant guitar lines, and a beautiful bottom which packed a punch with two drum kits and a rock solid bass player.
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seeing Paul for the first time since 1982, it was real exciting. The Jerry Douglas Band were great. and as the crowd was getting a little anxious to see Paul, when he came out he played a phenomenal set. Coming out for encore 2 & 3 playing great despite the heat and humidity I certainly had the time of my life.. I was slightly shocked that he didnt play 50 ways or Kodachrome, but I guess if Paul Simon had to play all his hits the concert would be a heck of alot longer and The band would have melted out thre. Thanks again Paul and the band for a great night of music |
I personally thought the crowd was a little lame. We got yelled at for dancin twice... We heard the sound check at around 5 and the where rehearsing late in the Evening so I was thinking they would play it but no...I think they could of used another horn or two in the band...Northeast was by far the best new song live and one of the best period. |
Bravo Paul- you gave us what we came for- all your old stuff and a sample of the new. Excellent show!! Thanks |
Okay, it´s 2 a.m. and I just got home, and my review is rather long. I had the BEST night ever!
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The Jerry Douglas Band appetizer was OK, but not who I was there to hear -
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I write this ´review´ only because I do not know where else to sound off. I am soooo tired of being expected to ´sit still´ for 2 hours at Paul Simon concerts. Having been to roughly 30 PS shows over the last 20 years, all across the country, I can say without hesitation that the audience has become more and more lifeLESS. I can count on one hand when the audience appeared to be alive and responsive to the rhythm and melody coming off that stage when Paul and gang (Mark, Bahkiti, Tony and Vincent and Steve Gadd) are in top shape. Nothing compels me (and many other people) to get up and dance, than hearing a song like Cecilia or Outrageous, or even Loves Me Like A Rock. I think the reason for the ´stiff´ feeling in the crowds of late, is the high ticket prices. At last night´s show the house lights went up before the first encore. A signal that everybody is invited to get up and dance. I saw people in my row (230) looking at each other as if to say ´is it ok to get up´??? Really, really sad. There was one exception in recent memory. It was during the Your the One Tour. A show in Boston. The crowd was on their feet for the lion´s share of the evening (save for ballads). As far as the PNC show last night...it was really, really good. The new drummer joining Steve Gadd was really good. It is also cool to have Duncan and Gumboots in the set. A good show, and Paul seemed to have fun. Too bad I could not!!!! |
This concert was so great! I loved it because it wasn´t that crowded and the setting was intimate. The music was amazing! Just was life in my veins....he is so terrific! Hadn´t seen him since his simon and garfunkel tour in Philadelphia....he still is such an amazing performer! I felt so blessed to be there hearing him once again.... |
Arrived in AC had dinner, and, unfortunately were informed that show was canceled or possibly postponed due to illness. Nothing official, but, some of the security said it was because of laryngitus/sore throat. No word on tomorrows show |
Set List same as the other concerts. Show was amazing. Crowd was huge and seemed to enjoy ever minute of the show, including responding favorably to new songs, especially ´Outrageous´ and ´How Can You Live in the Northeast.´ ´Slip Slidin Away´ was simply beautiful, as was ´Only Living Boy in NY´. Best concert I have been to in a while. Can´t wait for Sunday and Round Two in Holmdel. |
Wowwed again! Paul did an excellent job of mixing in some new songs with many of the old classics. He even sang some of the S&G greats. I heard all of my favorites!!! He has done an excellent job of slowing down some of the older tunes. The musicians he is touring with are fantastic as well. |
The show at the Merriweather was amazing...I was very impressed with Paul and his World Class band! I do think however he could hve played a bit longer...
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The show was amazing. Paul and the bad rocked! I saw him a couple of years ago when he was touring with Art, and that concert was just plain bad . . . no energy. This time was one-hundred times better. I liked that he mixed old favorites with some of his new stuff. |
The Paul Simon concert at Mohegan Sun Arena was opened by an instruemental bluegrass group led by Jerry Douglas. The group began at 7:30PM and played six upbeat bluegrass instrumental numbers, lasting till about 8:00PM.
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It was a life chaning experience. I saw Simon & Garfunkel twice at the same venue during Old Friends I & II. But a Paul Simon solo show takes the cake. Jerry Douglas was awesome as well. I know Mohegan pumped a lot of money into making the room sound good, and it did. It is one of the better sounding arenas. Paul did some new takes on old songs. I liked most of Boy in the Bubble, and Diamonds grew on me as the night went on. He opened with Gumboots, which some people either don´t know, or don´t like, so they were panning it. I think it was a great song to open with. Paul did not talk to to crowd a lot, but he never really does. After Outrageous, he scanned the crowd and stood on one of the floor monitors to get higher to see, very unlike him. It was great to see the usual suspects in the band, in particular Bakithi Kumalo. He came through crystal clear all night. Andy Snitzer´s talent was lost on the YTO DVD from Paris, because there were so many other horn players, but last night, he was very good, he was just by himself. Graceland shook the house, and received a standing ovation. Most of the Graceland songs did (at least from me). My row was filled with VIPs, so at least I didn´t have to deal with drunk or rude people. Mohegan saves the first three sections for their high rollers, who usually show up drunk and or late and leave early, because their tickets are free or cheaper. The outro to HCYLITNE was very loud, but clear. There was very little feedback all night, most occured before he sang The Only Living Boy in New York. He did the usual Garden State intro, which was the reason I went to see the movie three times. One man on house right of the arena was shocked when he started to sing Duncan, and expressed his surprise by using explatives. It was funny, to me atleast. It was very nice of the Mohegan security crew not to stop people from taking pictures. Usually they do, that´s why I didn´t bring a camera, but there were a lot of people with cameras and flashes. Mark Stewart continues to amaze. Steve Gadd was a pleasure as usual. All in all the concert was spectacular and I will remember it for a long time. |
I have seen Paul three times solo, and once with Art Garfunkel...he keeps getting better, which always amazes me; like myself, the guy´s getting up there!
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It was a great show. Definitely a plugged in Paul Simon. He was rockin´ on Mrs. Robinson. I love the new stuff. How Can You Live In The Northeast was awesome. Wartime Prayers was beautifully done. His audience seems to have aged to the point of forgetting how to really enjoy a rock show, it´s really hard to get them out of their seats. I was sitting center floor, row 23 (WW) and for a lot of the songs there was no one standing and dancing in front of me. I heard a voice a few rows in back of me say sit down. Sheesh. The energy flows both ways. The band was great, show them you´re diggin´ it. |
A couple more things. I think that was his son Adrian singing the chorus on Father and Daughter. Nicely done.
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It was an amazing night. He sang. He danced. He smiled. He introduced the band. And at the end, grinning from ear to ear, he said ´I´ve really enjoyed myself tonight ´“ I really have´.
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As a 40 year+ fan I had a great time!
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Sparse crowd, Which I also believe to be due to poor local promotion. I feel this had something to do with the laid back atmosphere. Also, less than half the songs are get the up and dance type
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AMAZING concert. He did more of his well-known hits than I expected, but changed them up in interesting new ways. Honestly I did feel that ´Mrs. Robinson´ could have been replaced by ´Cool, Cool River´ or one of my other favorite songs, but that´s just a matter of personal preference. He sounded as good as he ever did, and the band was phenomenal. |
Jerry Douglas wasn´t scheduled for this date (or VT). I thought Kelly Sweet was fantastic. Watch for her...only 17? with first album coming in Sept.
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This show was terrible! I expected so much more from Paul Simon, one of my all time heroes. Opening with ´Gumboots?´ BAD IDEA. During the obscure songs, the wannabe frat boys who were sitting one section away from me continued screaming ´PAUL SIMON!!!´ or song selections from their best of disk that they knew the words to.
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My very first Paul Simon concert but certainly not the last. Pure Perfection! My wife and I are in our mid 50´s and the whole night was magical, from the new song´s - which my oldest daughter chose ´ A Father & Daughter´ for us to dance to together for her wedding in September 2007, to the older classics - which brought many tears to our eyes from the memories. I thank you for making our summer! |
The Paul Simon show at the Verizon in Manchester, NH was by far the best concert I have ever attended. Even better than Aerosmith! |
Paul Simon Brings Surprise To Vermont
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What a great night. 4th of July.....Doubleday Field.....Hot Dogs.....PAUL SIMON !!!! He still sounds superb at his age. His voice still has the quality it did 30 years ago. Lots of great music. Although on the 4th of July I wished he had performed ´American Tune´. It would have been a perfect 2nd encore. All in all, it was pretty ´magical´......4th of July......Cooperstown......Doubleday Fiend.....Paul Simon... |
This was a fantastic show - Paul and his band sounded great and of course the venue was fun. Did anyone get any pictures - I´d love to have one to save as a memory - [email protected] |
A great venue and music to match. Loved the new arrangements of old favorites, especially the updated Mrs. Robinson, which left nothing on the table. Without losing the original feeling, it leaped off the stage.
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Great Concert at a great all American venue in beautiful Cooperstown NY. The concert was so moving that at points I found myself close to weeping tears of joy. This is what great concerts are made of and anyone who was there will agree. ´ God bless the US of A ´
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All I can say - it was an amazing night. I think because PS is older, I´m older, it was a concert filled with agreat emotion. The band was great - the arrangements we refreshing and right on. His voice was in excellent shape. The addition of BOTW was a fitting end. I do wish he had something from ROTS, and one more from Surprise (tho I love it, I don´t count F&D as a new song). But to hear Duncan, Only Living Boy, the beats of Graceland, Northeast, etc. all magical. And YTO was an incredible performance - mezmerizing.
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The concert was great! Paul sounded really good and the setlist was very good as well. We arrived in Cooperstown at around 5:00 PM and we could hear ´Father and Daughter´ playing. At first I thought it was a recording coming over the loud speaker but then we walked down a side street and into the back parking lot of a bank which overlooked Doubleday Field and there we could see Paul in a bright pink shirt doing soundcheck. It was really coolto see Paul telling the band and sound people how he wanted the sound to be. He then played ´Outrageous´ which sounded great and then he and the band made some changes and then played ´Outrageous´ again. After that he played ´Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes´ and when they finished playing that they practiced the opening harmony of the song. After that the band played ´Still Crazy´ and Paul sang some of the lyrics but mostly adjusted his equipment. Then Paul practiced ´The Boxer´ with Jerry Douglas. It was really cool to see Paul for an extra 45 minutes before the show even started. Once the gates opened, we could see Paul playing catch with his kids behind the stage before Jerry Douglas took the stage. It was funny to see Paul running around in his pink shirt with his kids. I thought that Paul sounded great and the show was very very good!!
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I was absolutely stunned by the strength and expressiveness of Mr. Simon´s voice - he sounded like a 30 year old singer, but one with all of the experience and musicality of a mature talent. I have booked tix for the Fox in Detroit, hoping the set list might expand a bit and that we will hear more acoustic sets.
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Best concert i have ever been to. I was in th tenth row and i felt like i was sitting on stage with him. I couldn,t wait for Fox theater in Detroit. What an amazing day. |
What a GREAT SHOW! I was 3rd row center and unlike whaty other reviews said from prev. nights, Paul Simon was having a GREAT time. Maybe people in certain towns dont understand a New York attitude. |
I was able to attend this show with my parents. I was moved beyond my comprehension of music. My father introduced me to the love of music that we now share together, I am grateful for the passion! |
Wow! Once again Pauldelivers such poise andstage presence. I was fifth row center and it felt like Paul was singing directly to me. The set was a perfect blend of all his genres. I was brought to tears during Father and Daughter. Paul gave a sincere anectdote about his daughter and finger painting that was touching. It is nowonderthat this man is as tender in real life not just in what his lyrics reveal.
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I have seen Paul SImon several times over the last few years (w/Robbity Bob Dylan, w/Brian ´I Can´t Beleive He Is Opening His Set List With The Barenaked Ladies song, ´Brian Wilson´ Wilson and a couple of times with Artie in ´03) and Paul had NEVER sounded better than he did last night. The arrangements were remarkable, nothing short of awesome. Paul was in stellar voice and, somewhat surprisingly, that kick ass band of his harmonized so well together it was nothing short of awesome.
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As the roommate of the aforementioned reviewer, I just wanted to add that I had never seen Paul Simon live - so I had no expectations.
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The show was amazing. I was up higher where no one complained about the dancing because almost all of us were. I was surprised by the number of young people. My daughter and I were surrounded by kids in their teens and twenties. Maybe because we were in the cheaper seats. The three young girls next to me said the had all worked at the same resurant and his Greatest Hits album was always playing when they were cleaning up after closing. When they heard he was coming to Milwaukee they just had to see him. They were on their feet the whole concert. The young kid next to my daughter knew the words to every single song.
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Can´t add a whole lot to what´s already been said. My girlfriend and I were 3rd row with our curstom-made t-shirts (´Speedo´ and ´Human Trampoline´). Most of the people down front were really, really lame, especially for the first half. I was standing for the opener and getting shouted down, having stuff thrown at me, etc. I turned around and reminded everyone that ´this isn´t the goddamn handicapped section.´ It´s ok to dance! The band was great, the arrangements were great. The show was a bit short, I really missed the R. of the Saints songs, and Paul wan´t moving around as much as on the You´re the One tour it seemed. Otherwise, great. Before one of the encores, he tripped on something on the stage and shot his stage manager a very severe ´go to hell look´ - ouch, hope she still has her job, he should watch where he´s going! Good time by all. |
Paul Simon finally came on stage after 75 minutes of the warm up band. If you are looking for classic Paul Simon or the Simon and Garfunkel songs that gave him his celebrity, don´t bother coming to concerts in this tour. The painfully few songs from the 60´s and 70´s that he performed were well received by the fans present, but 60% or more of what he played left people scratching there heads and asking one another if they had ever heard this song before. No worries though, it was over in short order after 1 hour and 22 minutes of actual play time including the three songs in the encore, two of which were completely unrecognizable. Oh and, seeming like you were actually interested in being there might be a nice touch if you´re reading this Paul. |
Surprise Pilgrimage
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Wade, its his music, but even on the classics, Simon took great liberty in changing melody, arrangment and instrumentation combined with a mix down that made his vocals so reverberant you coudn´t even understand lyrics on familiar songs. I´m no Paul Simon expert, but an average 40 somthing fan, like most of the other people at the pavillion, who I believe, left dissappointed in the performance. Local radio promotion for the concert featured classic Paul Simon playing in the background, but that was mostly missing from this concert. If you saw Simon on his ´Old Friends´ tour at the Gund in Cleveland in 2003, you left the Plain Dealer Pavillion on Thurday night wondering what happened to the guy we´ve had a musical love affair with since the 60´s? |
The people above obviously missed that this is a Paul Simon tour, not a Simon and Garfunkel tour.
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have to disagree with some of the above. i´m not a big Simon fan but obviously familiar with S&G and Simons´ better known stuff. I thought this was a terrific show, with lots of innovative takes on old songs, great playing, crowd having a great time and simon looking like he was having fun, at least as much as he can. he always strikes me as pretty low key and not a natural performer, but he seemed to be interacting a lot with the front rows.
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Any time to see Paul Simon in concert is a good time and Cleveland was no exception. The venue was smaller than I expected (max 3500) which was nice and the sound was great.
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I thought the show was very fun as well. My first time seeing Paul. The tempo changes caught me a little offguard, but still I enjoyed the show. I thought the crowd was lame, basically sitting down the entire show, except for a few upbeat hits. I wanted to dance and nothing annoys me more than some old ass telling me ´down in front´.
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Beth, your review was right on. The only thing is you need to find the PERIOD button on your keypad...a lot... of... run-on... sentences! Ha! Seriously, the best part of the evening for me was hearing Duncan and Only Living Boy in New York. Wasn´t expecting either of those. Great experience. Had my 20 year-old son with me and he is now hooked. Great to show the younger folks what we were ´raised on´. Truly a voice for our generation in so many ways. And now, Wartime Prayers continues the cycle. Yes Paul, you are still crazy (like a fox) after all these years... |
Absolutley amazing! Paul Simon is my all-time favorite singer/songwriter and I finally got to see him play live. He was and is brilliant and beautiful!!! |
Very disappointed in the concert. I waited all my life to be able to see Paul Simon live in concert and spent a lot of money on seats only to hear arrangements that were different and songs I couldn´t sing to. The only time we had fun was when he sang the songs that made him famous...but there weren´t many. Sorry. |
I won tickets to this concert on the local oldies station just for singing a snippet of ´Kodachrome´ at 7:30 in the morning (the stipulation was ´any song the DJ can RECOGNIZE´). Shortly after we got to the venue, it was apparent the show was not a sellout, so we got upgraded to a lower tier.
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Surprise Tour´¦..Columbus 6.28.06
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Excellent concert review Beth. The set list was dead on.
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You feel Paul understands himself now more than ever before. He has reached the shore of his musical journey. His brilliance is astonishing sometimes, particularly exemplified in the purity of his lyrics and the flow of his chords and tunes. I respect this man and his music so much, it shaped my muscial knowledge. Thanks Paul,
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The last time Paul Simon graced a London stage was two years ago, when he deigned to become half of Simon and Garfunkel one last time and crooned the old hits in front of 50,000 fans in Hyde Park.
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The band included:
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Can it be the same paul simon concert that i saw in new orleans at jazz fest? Surely not. What i saw was a lacklustre performance by a performer who did not seem to realise he was standing in front of thousands of excited fans hoping for a hint that he was pleased to be there. The person I saw did not put on a concert or entertain the audience, he simply walked on stage, perfunctorily performed a few songs, many of which did not do justice to the original, and left the stage. His seeming disinterest was put into even sharper focus in light of the amazing, stirring performance of bruce springsteen and his band of merry men and woman the week before. Now that was entertainment and a real boost for good ol´ Nawlins. |
I left work on Saturday night at midnight and dorve 14 hours to see him, and then I drove 14 hours directly after the concert to make it back to work on Monday. It was totally worth the exhaustion though. He sounded so good,and I was really glad that he played some of his new stuff. If I had all of the money in the world I would become a professonal Paul Simon groupy. I was especially glad that he played Graceland because that song sounds the best live. The first song wasn´t Crazy Love Vol. 2 though it was Gumboots.
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Singer Paul Simon appeared as the special guest Sunday at an impromptu Amagansett charity concert for local chef Sean Rafferty, who was diagnosed with a bladder tumor two weeks ago.
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Hi!
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It was a once in a lifetime concert!We slept in a beautiful penthouse just a stone throw away from the colosseum. No hurry just enough time to inhale this experience minute by minute. There were two sisters with their mum standing behind me. The gospel performance from Paul on Bridge blew me away.He gave us back the roots. And as Art catched his high note....I looked behind and saw tears rolling down this mum her face.
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we were lucky enough to be on holidays in Italy and joined the crowd of 600,000 for this once in a lifetime experience! They were amazing, a concert to tell generations to come about! |
Posted on Sat, Jul. 31, 2004
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Hey everyone,
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I definitely was there! Yeah, let me say that once again: I WAS THERE!!! And I´m incredibily proud (much more than words can describe) to have attended this great and unforgettable event.
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Hello all!
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it was one of the big five in my live. dreaming into the sounds that i know over the years. it takes a time that i realised: it was live.
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I saw them last year in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. Some slightly chances in some of the arrangements. I must say, that especially Paul, was in a great mood yesterday. After the concert my friend was very impressed by Paul´s voice. His voice was strong and clear, (very powerful during bridge) this guy is singing better and better the older he gets. Like good wine! I´m really looking forward to Pauls next solo album, especially what he will come up with his voice.
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Uups! I´m still out of my mind I think,because I
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they were fantastic. they sang very well, but i´m saying nothing new...
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finest concert in my whole life.
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Old Friends
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It was a cloudy day-then the sun came out-and it became a wonderful night in Munich,Germany
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Okay, so here we go again. Probably my last review of a Simon AND Garfunkel concert!
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Thanks Paul & Artie with orchestra for a wonderful music show. Also thanks to the Everly Brothers. This evening in ´The Globe´ will sure be one of
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Simon and Garfunkel in the Globe 2004-07-25 is the best concert I´ve ever seen, and probably ever will see. I myself work as an A&R at one of the major record labels in Sweden and I´ve seen about 2000 gigs in my life.
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Simon and Garfunkel keep their customer satisfied and much more. Very good version of only living boy in new york and keep the customer, sounds and bridged better can nothing be, american tune and slip sliding wourth too die for. Somthing negative a bad version off homeward bound but why complain it was a very very good evening in copenhagen. |
I´m a 17-year-old girl from Finland and a great fan of S&G. I thought I could never see they live on stage until I noticed last spring that they are coming to Sweden. I had to pay 500 euros to get to Stockholm but the concert was really worth that. It was one of the greatest evenings in my life... I still talk about the concert almost every week with my best friend who was there with me. It was an unforgettable moment when S&G came on the stage and began to sing. Their voices sounded as good as (or even better than) then when they were young. I cried almost the whole evening... |
Its was wery good!wonderful concert It was amazing to se paul and art stand at the stage.
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A purley magical night. Above all expectations! Same play-list as earlier - no Brighet Eyes/Graceland though.
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It is near the evning, as we passes down Sockholm in the subway, as we get to the globe I really starts to feel the atmosphare, there was so much more young people than I could ever imagne to se a band that had hang on while before their time, a history back in the 1960´s. I thought I was one of the few teenagers who really enyojed the musik of the 60´s, I was wrong. As we steped in to our seats we saw all the people who had gathered here for one reason: to see ´Simon and Garfunkel, Old Friends Tour´, and once again I started to feel the enormus excitment that lied heavy in the air. As the Friends started, i was enchanted by hearin the very same voise I have heared so many times in radio or on a CD, yet hear it was more real and thus I felt the music within me. And the very same feeling as the Simon and Garfunkel feeling, this is two brothers who had played in the early 60´s and still like to play! |
I remember this gig like it was yesterday. Thank God I finally found a bootleg of this wonderful show. Growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the 1970’s everyone had a record player. My parents didn’t have a lot of records, but we did have the Greatest hits/Best off album.
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They chose Oslo to give us a treat! We didnīt get American Tune but 2 solo song!
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I must really say that this concert was the biggest thing that has happened to me in my whole life! (though Iīm just 17). I donīt care if Art maybe missed a few times and they both sounded a bit older; you canīt expect anything else form two guys in that age. And it was fantastic anyway! I really thank God that I got the one chance in my life to experience my favourite artists ever! I brang two of my friends, whoīd never listened to Simon & Garfunkel before, and after the concert they thanked me for it! They did really love it too! The only song I missed was Bleecker Street, but I canīt complain. once again, I did enjoy every second of this evening in Oslo! And if itīs true that a DVD will come, I surely canīt wait for it! |
A truly excellent preformance by the pair! Garfunkel even reached that high note on ītroubled waterī. Heīs sounding a little horse, but thatīs probably due to his age. Paul however, whas in excellent shape, both vocally and physically! He really flared with energy, especially on his guitar openings. Truly excellent! But i donīt understand the review by Trondheim234.
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So yesterday was our great night!
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They were incredible. However, I was right in front of them and the sound was horrible - totally echo and muddle. The performances, I could tell, were great, but the promoters committed pure blasphemy by not making sure that this rare possible last chance to see these geniuses was quandered. I would be interested to hear if anyone else had this experience. Still, of course, 3 cheers to Simon and Garfunkel and the Everly Brothers for still being there for us!!! |
Great koncert, many great spine-chilling moments and brilliant arrangements of old classics.
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Fantastic concert!! I was eleven at the time, and already a fan... We (my family and I) hadn´t got tickets, so we sat right outside at what seemed to be a secret backstage entrance, during the whole concert. We could hear every single word, and it was simply great!!! The sound was very good, though it sounded somewhat strange when they talked. So, altogether, it was a truly great concert. |
WOW what a concert...
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Hi!
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It was during ´El Condor Pasa´ Amber, Jan wrote about it. It was the first stanza and Art was supposed to sing it. He had problems with his microphone - he got to far back with it and the thing was starting to ´sing around´ (do you say it like that in English?). He put the microphone back in the keeper but was so angry that he refused to sing the rest of that part.
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I must say the songs were beautiful, but the live-band (especially the drummer) were far from that.
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I had a great time at the concert... !
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I would really like to thank the people who decided to hold this concert in the Amsterdam Arena, because where I was sitting (2nd ring) the sound was really awful. Paul´s guitar volume was way to low, whic really was a shame. But still, it was brilliant :-) Bridge over troubled water has never been one of my favourites, except the concert in the park 91 version, but last night.. man! When Art hit that high note at the end of the song, and the verse paul sang, it was absolutely magnificent! I hope Paul comes back soon and please, choose a normal venue that time, like Ahoy last time, or maybe De Kuip...? |
Well, I might be prejudiced because I am a big fan of Jim Keltner and his drumming during the records he played on in the seventies. I´m a big George Harrison-fan, and teherfore I was thrilled to see Keltner drumming, because he is on every record George has made. Did you notice that they played five songs from George´s posthumous album ´Brainwashed´ before Art and Paul came on stage? I knew Paul and George were friends, I liked the gesture. |
What a coincedence, I was in 422 too! I´ve been to a lot of concerts, and I must say, I´ve never seen so many irritating people before. Thanks for *almost* ruining my night. If you wanna get drunk and disturb everyone around you, go to a bar or something. |
A great concert. I´m a fan for 26 years now. I´ve seen Paul Simon solo three times and Art Garfunkel twice. I have been waiting for 22 years to see them both at the same time. What more can I say. I enjoyed every minut of the concert in the Arena. It was AMAZING!!!!!! |
I went from Lisbon, Portugal, to see Simon and Garfunkel (specially Paul) at the Arena, in Amsterdam. I am only 14, but a great, great fun of them, so you can imagine my emotion to have had this oportunity. I think the show was good, but I was expecting a little bit more: more songs and more relation with the public. Anyway, the show was fantastic and if you, Mr.Paul Simon, read this, do know that «I´m still crazy (about your music), after all these years», and that even if I am only 14, you have in Portugal a GREAT FAN.
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I attended the concert at the Amsterdam ArenA. It was great fun, but terribly overpriced (cheap place somewhere in the back for EUR 70), and the acoustics just plain sucked. Constant feedbacks even forced Art to stop singing at one point (I believe in ´Cecilia´), while the band kept playing. They should have stopped playing for a while and have the sound problem fixed, but they didn´t even repeat a song.
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Just enjoyed every minute of the whole concert ... I sat back and let the music take me places I´d never been ... if you read this Paul ... Thank you |
´what a strange place for making music´ Paul Simon said as they stepped on stage, and it was but nor the weird acoustics of this stadion nor the fact the vocalist were getting pretty old could make it less beautiful. The last time I heard Art sing live was a couple of years ago and it didn´t go so well, so now I was really curious and a bit nervous to. But their voices were brilliant! And the sound was carried round the stadium over 10,000 people (maybe more) as a cool, cool river...
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I was in 422 too and everything happened in that place. There was a man who was getting a heart atack(I read in the newspaper he is doing fine now).
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Just got back from the concert.
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Waaaw, what can I say? After all is said and done, these two old friends showed that in the end: it´s all about the music. Memorable was the moment when Art got a standing ovation for singing ´Bridge over troubled water´ and then he turned around, looking for Paul who was standing behind him and he nodded, grabbed Paul by the arm and pulled him close to himself, as if to say to Paul: ´This ovation is also for you.´ Furthermore, Paul was in great shape, he looked younger then I imagined him. He had a lot of energy and was laughing a lot.
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Great concert. I loved it :P
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Simon & Garfunkel ´Old Friends´ Tour - Amsterdam ArenA July 21st 2004 8.30pm
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Amsterdam 21/7/04
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I fully agree with Johnny O.D. The Amsterdam Arena was totally unsuited for a S&G concert. I was sitting second ring (422) and hated every minute of it. Not only was the sound quality very poor, I was also surrounded by a beer guzzling horde of Neanderthals who kept going up and down the stairs to satisfy their alcoholic needs. Why do people go to a concert? To listen to the music? To sit in awe and admiration for angelical voices, wonderful songs, the embodiments of our hopes and aspirations when we were young? No, not last night. Most people of 422 were only there to block my view, spill beer over my head and shoulders and to make a terrible nuisance of themselves. They ruined the concert for me. Fortunately, I shall be in Rome on the 31st of July, and hopefully will find a seat at the Collosseum. |
I don´t really care if the concert was identical to the other concerts, as long as they give me the feeling that I am experiencing an unique night. I payed for it (85 euro, my goodness!), but it was well worth it. I was lucky enough to sit next to the stage in the lower regions, so I don´t have the complaints as some of you have about the sound qualities. I´m really sorry to hear that, pity it spoiled some of the pleasure that evening.
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A great show in the ArenA by Simon and Garfunkel. I liked it very much; I’ve been to the concerts of them in Boston (December 13, 2003) and also in Cologne (July 20, 2004). Some people are complaining about the quality of the sound in the ArenA, but I must say it really was better than in Cologne and Boston. Maybe it depends on the place where you were sitting in the ArenA. I was sitting in the back. But as you might remember, Simon also had some thoughts about the place, he said “What an unlikely place for music”. Great show, with two great singers. Garfunkel sometimes had some voice problems, he did not dare to sing with full power (as in Scarborough Fair), strange as the day before in Cologne his voice was even better than in Amsterdam. Hopefully they will ever play in Holland again, but I’m afraid that chance is very small. |
Hello David,
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As usual, this concert began thirty minutes late. And of course the set list was the same as for every other concert! What made the difference was the behavior of the patrons and the performance of Art and Paul.
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Je les attendais depuis longtemps en France et enfin ils sont venues.
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It was a quite good concert but the sound of the POPB was really bad when the band was behind. The Everly brothers where so good and feelib´groovy, at the end of the concert was exciting! |
Absolutely brill!
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Simon and Garfunkel just know what songs you want to hear. I mean I was at the Dublin concert. I´m born and raised in Dublin all my life and thought I´d never see the famous duo ever on stage in Dublin but low and behold there they where I grab the tickets and me and my mates went to see Simon and Garfunkel and let me tell you. The best concert I´ve ever seen and now I´m not just saying it. They sounded perfect together. Even the Brothers where perfect, sounded great (for there age)
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Firstly may i say what an honour it was to watch Simon and Garfunkel perform live.. I´m 22 now and was 21 then and i taught it would never happen. But when i heard the tickets where going on sale. Slap bang my CC was waiting and 4 tickets where bought.
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I was at Simon and Garfunkel in the RDS an Dublin and it was the best concert I´ve ever been at. They really know how to entertain the crowd and I hope they will return to Dublin again soon.
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After a delay of half an hour and several attempts to make a safety announcement, images of S & G over the years appeared on the screens, interceded with events (e.g. Berlin wall coming down) that took place at the same time. The lads themselves then appeared and as with all the other tours launched into Old Friends.
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What a fantastic concert. I saw Paul´s belly! I loved Art´s raincoat, a real fashion statement. I waited not so patiently for three hours, until, finally, the security and safety announcements, yey! Three times i heard those, fantastic. Finally, the duo stepped on stage and the crowd errupted, especially me, who might I add, was probably the youngest person there. I got a good view of Paul and Art. From the opening lines of ´Old Friends´ to the ending of the second encore, the atmosphere was electic. The crowd sang along to all of the songs, even if it was just during the chorus (or in the case of Scarborough Fair, ´Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme´) My friends always ask me why I like Simon and Garfunkel so much, probably because theyre fatastic singers, Paul is the best songwriter EVER and they can still put on a great music show, without the aid of over the top pyrotechnics and backing tracks. SO THERE. Why should I listen to the likes of Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake, when there are artists like Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel around? Well done also to the Everly Brothers who had the crowd in the palms of their hands for their brief, but brilliant set. A fantastic show and an unforgettable experience. |
Saturday July 17th was the Dublin part of the ´Old Friends 2004 tour´. The concert began with film footage of Simon and Garfunkel growing up, black and white footage of people dancing and some events of the past fifty years with America as the soundtrack. I thought that this was a rather moving look back at years gone by. After the film footage, Paul and Art walked on stage and sang their first song, Old Friends/Bookends, which Paul played on an electric-acoustic guitar. I felt quite emotional as I have waited so long to see them play together live. Art briefly told the story of how he and Paul met and said that it was the fiftieth anniversary of their friendship but Paul corrected Art saying that, due to an initial fall out, it was really the 48th anniversary.
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This was the first time I have ever seen S & G and also the first time I have seen any of them live. It was amazing to witness such beautiful music first hand. Kathy´s Song was just amazing and Mrs Robinson was what I have waited 20 years for. Also the way they sang I Am A Rock was stunning.
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im 25 and have seen 100s of bands over the years beging a very keen music fan.bands from bowie rod stewart paul macrtney down to all new uk music.i have loved simon and garefunkell music from hearing it as real youngester. what a night just me and my girlfriend the atmosphere was great loads of fans from all ages truly taken by to true genius what is simon and garefunkell i could not have chosen a better track if i done it my self i thought id never get to here them live i cant tell how good they were and a tear was shead when it was all over.truly one of the gretest moments of my life thanks for everything |
This was amazing. It was the first time I had ever been to an outdoor concert and it was like climbing into my TV when I am watching the Concert In Central Park.
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What an evening! I have been privileged to see Paul and Artie solo in the last few years, but I´m too young to have seen them together before now. It was worth the wait (and the price of a ticket...)!
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With the sun shining, and about to set over the wonderful Hyde Park (where they say you can wonder after dark), the only thing higher than my spirits as I gazed upon the 60ft high stage was the overhead camera.
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Amazing! Paul can fill a decent-sized hall on his own; Art on his own can fill a reasonably-sized room. Put them together, and you get 50,000 people in Hyde Park! To be honest there didn´t seem to be much of a rapport between them - very different from the 1981 concert in Central Park, for example. But never mind - there they were! I didn´t rate the band much, except for the enlarged Mark Stewart. Was it really Jim Keltner on drums? I was worried about some of the timing, especially on songs like America. Hey, but who cares! It was S&G, probably for the last time. For 2 wonderful hours they sang everything we´ve come to know and love, and Art can still get that top A flat at the end of BOTW. And Art was right in saying that American Tune could have been written last week. ´The statue of Liberty, sailing away to sea..´ That says it all! I knew what they were going to say between songs, as I´d read all the concert reviews. But right at the end, Paul introduced Leaves That Are Green (a brilliantly simple song) by saying ´This is an early one.´ Then he smiled to himself as he realised what he´d said and added: ´In fact, they all are.´ But their songs, like Simon and Garfunkel, will never grow old. See you when you´re eighty! |
being only 18 years old at the time this was my first simon garfunkel concert praying for so long that they would do a concert for me to see with me being so young and with them getting older i didnt think this could be but it was i took my partner with me who was pregnant at the time which made this extra special i couldnt ask for any thing better but it was when i heard them to magnificent voices intertwind and pauls playing was like id never heard before it was brilliant and the excitment of the crowd made this concert extra special the emotion and overwelming power of thire voices paul with the beuitiful overwelming of his voice and art with his soft voice just made this one of concert spectacular
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Just got back after the concert. Absolutely fantastic. I have been a fan for years and never thought that I would get to see them live, The set list was the same as before, the arrangements are nothing like 30 years ago loads of guitar riffs and jazz type segments. Still crazy after all these years !!
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Paul Simon had made millions by the time he was 25 and that was before Bookends, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Greatest Hits.
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The concert was Fantastic, and it was a pleasure to be there. The arrangements were amazing, Art singing Kathy´s song was a Joy, The Boxer was amazing... again... and I thought Liverpool 2002 was good. I was absolutely lost for words afterwards, and it took me 48 hours to come back down. I have never seen S&G live together, and suspect that I may never get another chance, and I was praying that it was a good show. I was totally un-prparred for just how good it turned out to be. Art was like a little Axel Roase, bouncing all over the stage. Paul was his typical reserved self in speach, and a genius in song. If the ticket price was a bit high, hey, I don;t care. They deserve it and I am glad for them both. |
An absouloutly brilliant concert.well worth the wait and a suprise to hear many different classic simon and garfunkel songs such as baby driver , a hazy shade of winter and only living boy in new york plus many other brilliant songs.It was packed to the brink and everybody had a fantastic time.it was also great to see paul simon finally getting the credit he deserved for bridge over troubled water and when it was his turn to sing his part it was the most emotional part of the concert.they came on for four encores and got standing ovation for each one.a fantastic night and lets hope they return soon!!!!!! |
An absouloutly brilliant concert.well worth the wait and a suprise to hear many different classic simon and garfunkel songs such as baby driver , a hazy shade of winter and only living boy in new york plus many other brilliant songs.It was packed to the brink and everybody had a fantastic time.it was also great to see paul simon finally getting the credit he deserved for bridge over troubled water and when it was his turn to sing his part it was the most emotional part of the concert.they came on for four encores and got standing ovation for each one.a fantastic night and lets hope they return soon!!!!!! |
I was spellbound! I saw them on the break-up tour at the Albert Hall in 1970, on the saving-Paul-from-bankruptcy tour at Wembley in 1983 and now in Manchester, surely their last hurrah. As a regular concert-goer of forty years experience with an eclectic taste in music I can say that last nights event was one of the greatest I have ever witnessed. Recognisable intros, purity of sound, expansive re-arrangements and a set list taken from a body of work that this contemporary of S & G considers to be equal to the very best of pop music were mixed with anticipation, love, respect, adoration and dollops of nostalgia. Also, how clever (and sincere) was their tribute to The Everleys. Having talked to folks on the slow way out I found I was not alone in my views expressed above. |
I am 20 years old, about 30 years too late to appreciate the wonders of Simon & Garfunkel first time around, but never too young to appreciate their timeless music. When I first heard the Boxer as a child it was a nice rhythm but I took little notice, but then at University, buying a Paul Simon solo album for a mere £5.97 and hearing their music once again struck a new and lasting chord. I was enveloped by the melodies and the harmonies that take me off to another world. When I heard they were coming to England I desperately searched to get a ticket for myself and my friend and thanks to the kindness of a couple in Manchester over ebay I managed to strike a deal.
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NOTE: The July 8th concert was in DALLAS, TEXAS (*not* New Orleans) at the American Airlines Center. Setlist was the same as at previous cities. The house was not quite sold out but the very few empty seats were mostly up in the super-high nosebleed sections. The audience was huge and enthusiastic and it was a fabulous evening. |
It was an awesome concert. It started somewhat later than it was supposed to, and did not open with the Everly brothers, so i assumed that they were not going to be playing, but then Mr Simon introduced them, and after the brothers played two of their own songs, they performed ´Bye Bye Love´ with Messrs Garfunkel and Simon. My personal favourite was ´El Condor Pasa´, which i did not at all expect them to play, given that Los Incas were not in attendance. Good show! |
Concerning 7/8/04 Dallas Texas Old Friends´ Tour at the American Airlines Center:
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Review: Simon & Garfunkel tightknit in show at AAC
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OK, I´ll admit I would rather see a solo Paul Simon show, if only for a chance to hear songs I have more of an emotional attachment to (I was 2 when S&G broke up). The $215 price tag for two tickets and parking was a little steep IMO.
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In front of a packed Toyota Center audience in Houston, Texas, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel appeared on stage after a short video projected scenes from our nation´s recent history and images of the duo from boyhood to manhood. Opening with ´Old Friends/Bookends,´ the classic lyric that sang, ´ ... how terribly strange to be 70,´ rung a peculiar chord with the audience that included life-long Simon & Garfunkel fans and a whole new generation of teenagers in the midst of discovering and appreciating the great works of Simon, one of America´s greatest songwriters.
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July 8, 2004, 12:48AM
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BY CHRISTOPHER GRAY
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Simon and Garfunkel leave Austin fans feelin´ groovy
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By Joe Gross
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July 06, 2004
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The first thing I noticed at the Save-Mart Center in Fresno was that the venue was only about 4/5 full. The people sitting near me were griping alot before the show started, because Paul and Artie were a full half-hour late getting to the stage. I saw them live at Arco Arena in Sacramento last November, and I must say that the crowd at the Fresno show, in comparison, did not seem *quite* as enthusiastic--at first. By the middle of the concert, however, the energy seemed alot more positive. Paul and Art both talked a fair amount to the audience, and seemed quite happy to be there; their performances were spot on, and very energetic. The sound was great, the band was great...what can I say?? It´s Simon and Garfunkel. They´re a true class act, and sounded as good--or even better--than ever on July 2nd. |
The Hollywood Bowl was packed. it was a two hour and ten minute show. All the hits and Art Garfunkel was joyous. But.......... Paul Simon was joyless, miserable, seemed that he hated being there. He talked to the audience with disdain. Hes up there like hes doing you a big favor. They are grossing here in L.A. almost FOUR MILLION DOLLARS for one show and yet Paul Simon acts like an uppity asshole. Next time Paul stay home. Keep your misery to yourself. |
I won´t go into the whole story of why my mother and I were late for the most meaningful musical event so far in my young life, but (curses!) we missed the beginning of ´Old Friends´. The usher practically had to drag us to our seats because I froze right in the aisle as soon as I saw Paul and Artie. I was teriffically excited and emotional as I had not seen either of them in concert before and I still couldn´t believe that I was actually there. So, obviously, it´s difficult for me to put those initial feelings aside and give a critical review of the performance. I was tickled pink to hear ´The Only Living Boy in NY´, though indeed it was more than a little off-key...which is about the only bad thing I can say about the night. In my opinion Paul didn´t act like an ´uppity´ anything at all, though then again, Paul could have recited the alphabet for all I cared! I would´ve just eaten it up. |
Setlist... same as all the other stops. Fabulous night. Haven´t cried and screamed so much at a concert~ever.
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´Only Living Boy´ is the greatest non-hit. Paul seemed a bit old and tired but lit up when the Everlies came on. It was all smiles watching the crowd come out of the Delta Center tonight. |
It was epiphanous. I´m 21 but I´ve been a simon and garfunkel fan since I was 11. My favorite band wasn´t even together my in my life time until just recently I saw them in concert. AMAZING |
The Simon and Garfunkel concert was a life-changing experience for me. I loved the music. I have never felt such emotion in one night as I did that night. I loved it and can´t wait for the CD and DVD to come out of the concert. I will never forget it. |
Setlist same as rest as stops. Art wore purple shirt and was jovial, Paul red shirt and black leather jacket and seamed disinterested. Hightlights were when a fat, burly road crew guy bullied a woman behind me and took away her camera during ´America´ and ruined the enjoyment of that song. Art did a moving rendition of ´Kathy´s Song´ along with a tale of the song´s orgin. The Everly Brothers came out and killed and brought tears to more than one eye and everybody to their feet. ´Scarbrough Fair´ was as lovely live as on record and also brought many a tear. There was an extended jam on ´Homeward Bound´ that really cooked, great piano. Paul did a great guitar solo at the beginning of ´Sounds of Silence´ that was really cool, he shed his leather jacket and did an Elvis pose on ´Mrs Robinson´. The vocal interplay between Art and Paul on ´El Condor Pasa´ was smooth, the lighters came out during ´Bridge Over Troubled Water´. Everybody sang along to ´Cecelia´ and ´The Boxer´ and sat quietly during ´Leaves That Are Green´ and capped the night joyfully to ´The 59th Street Bridge Song´. Thank You Art and Paul and Band for visiting our little city and to the cute blonde girl who I gave my phone number and email address to on my way out of the concert , please call me, I´d like to get the chance to know you!!! |
Taking my wife and three kids to this show was really cool. None of us had ever seen either Simon or Garfunkel in person, so it was first for all of us. My wife, a veteran of many concerts, called it ´a pinnacle.´
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I´ve seen two S & G concerts this tour, within seven months of each other. This is the second one I saw, and I believe it had the exact same setlist as the first one I saw (then again, don´t they all?). Nevertheless, I enjoyed it even more because I brought to this concert a more thorough knowledge of the history of their music as well as their lyrics. My favorite moment, maybe because it was a unique one, was when Paul forgot his ´lines´ in their speech about how they met and started talking about how he had done Death of a Salesman the year before Alice in Wonderland and was looking for an easier role (he was joking, of course) and then said, ´A great deal of the ´70s also seems to have escaped me.´ It was an enjoyable experience even though Old Friends started off shaky, but I heard it usually does, and the music drowned out some of the voices on Baby Driver. They never failed to disappoint.
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This was the best concert that I have ever seen! This is a must see concert! I am so glad that they did not play a bunch of Paul´s crappy solo songs. I expected a mellow acoustic show and was pleasantly surprised that these guys rocked. Art brought the crowd to their feet with Bridge Over Troubled Water. He can still hit the high note. Art sang most of the songs and told most of the stories and Paul played guitar better than ever. The Everly Brothers did not open the show. Paul and Art introduced them about a half hour into the show. They conveniently played four songs so everyone could take a piss break. You will not regret paying $100.00 to $200.00 to see this show. |
Simon and Garfunkel call their reunion tour ´Old Friends,´ for one of the folk-rock duo´s hits. ´Keep the Customer Satisfied´ would have worked just as well at Conseco Fieldhouse last night.
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Simon & Garfunkel didn´t surprise last night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. They weren´t supposed to.
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I´m a baby boomer who has enjoyed S & G since I was a teenager in the late 60´s. The show was fantastic -- I was amazed by how great they still sound. If I didn´t know better, I would have thought I had been transported back in time 30 years. Their range and tone and energy are still as wonderful as they always were, and they sang every song I hoped they would. The video screen above the stage was a nice addition for those of us who couldn´t afford the $180 tickets to be able to see their faces. Who except S & G can mesmerize the audience, without resorting to fancy lighting or other special effects, with just their phenomenal music? |
I just got back from Simon and Garfunkel in St. Louis. It was the best show ive ever seen. The sound just as good as they used too and were very interested in the croud. They told funny storys and the selection of songs couldnt hv been better. Im so glad i saw them one last time and if i were you i would see them too. |
I saw S&G in Columbus in October 22 for the first leg of the ´Old Friends´ Tour...I thought the Columbus concert was great....but now I know it was just a practice for tonight....As well as I can remember, the setlist was the same....but tonight´s show was absolutely heaven!...The ticket cost me $185 plus Ticketmaster fees, so $203...so more expensive that the earlier show but so worth it....I had a great seat to the right of the stage. about 6 rows up,(section 128, row F) with full view of both performers...as good a seat as fifth row back on the floor....both wore jeans...Artie wore a long sleeve purple cotton tee ...Paul wore a short sleeve orange tee...the Everly Brothers performed as in October...the performance lasted two hours...was so smooth...their voices were so together...just like the old days...S&G also seemed much more at ease with each other and with the performance than the October one....Don´t miss seeing them at any price this trip...may be your last chance....They were fantastic!..... |
This concert was amazing...they still have it and I loved being there. Lots of ´old´ people and many young ones, too. Rock on S&G!!! |
I thought it was exquisite. I´ve never seen another Simon and Garfunkel show, but I pray that I can. It was simply amazing. I really enjoyed the everly brothers as well. |
AMAZING show!!! My little brother and I went and these guys were still beautiful performers. A sold out arena silently consuming the tunes until they finished and we could scream and shout. It was unlike any other show I have been too! |
First time seeing them but was very impressed. Very good show along with a great set list which is the same as the Pittsburgh show. Would love to see them again but next time a smaller venue with a bit less maybe a coffee shop like back in the sixties? |
It was a fantastic night! They made me feel young again!Their voices were as good as ever, and better maybe. They came back out twice to thundering applause and foot stomping demands. Pittsburgh loves Simon and Garfunkle. |
Fabulous show! Their voices are as they were thirty years ago...mellow and harmonious...a marriage of sound that will never end. |
Same set list as in Buffalo last night, a great concert. Grew up with them, but first time I´d seen them. Good thing they finally did The Boxer as an encore. Surpassed all expectations. Great show.
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that song is really good. Really I am cery good of Paul Simon and I know that there is much more things learn from this legendary american singer. It has been a really a remakable thing. I have been enjoying the voice of Paul Simon and Garfunkel. Hence therefore I think myself happy when I heard the song of Paul Simon.
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The concert in Philadelphia was probably one of Simon and Garfunkel´s big kick-starts to get the tour rolling. They had only previously played Albany, NY ´“ and somewhere in Connecticut known as Uncasville [the oddball on the tour if you look at the stops], and you could tell that they were still excited to be on the road.
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I haven´t been to this site in a while, but visited it again once the second leg of Simon and Garfunkel´s Old Friends tour was announced. I went to see them in Atlantic City in November, and this show was even better. The set list was the same, but Simon and Garfunkel seemed to be happier this time around and sounded much better. Like last time, my favorite songs were ´My Little Town´ ´The Only Living Boy in NY´ ´Hazy Shade of Winter´ and of course ´Bridge....´. Paul offered up a few funny moments and generally looked extremely happy to be there, as did Art. The crowd seemed like they enjoyed the show, even though there were much less people in attendance than I thought there would be. Overall a great show by two amazing artists. $87 well spent, even for the second time around. |
Despite a few glitches, this show was actually better than last year´s show. In addition to the feedback, I thought the key change between verses 2 and 3 of Bridge (presumably so Art can hit the high note) was not too smooth. However, I think Paul was really into the music and his playing was really excellent. And they did seem to appreciate the crowd´s enthusiasm.
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I´ve paid upwards of five hundred dollars to see S & G this year. I saw them twice and do not mind paying the money, they were worth it. Mohegan is a small arena, and it wasn´t quite packed like the first time round in November, although the crowd was much more receptive this time. The show started late, forty minutes, but when it did start, the place shook. The set list was exactly the same, with most of the same banter. Paul was much more whitty this time and Garfunkel was his usual charming self. Paul and Art were both in great form to sing. The only problem was there was a lot of feedback, and all night Paul´s monitor kept going in and out, so he kept gesturing to the monitor engineer on house left. Garfunkel´s wife was in the audience, he dedicated Kathy´s Song to her and she stood up and waved to him. My Little Town had more percussion in it, which made it even better. Pino Palidino (bass) was not there. Freddy Washington was there instead, and he too had sound problems and monitor problems. I think Pino is on tour with someone else now. Also Jim Keltner was late in the intro to I Am A Rock. Paul gave him a look. Don and Phil were in great voice also. All in all it was a fantastic show and the crowd was really loud. |
Harmony reunites old friends
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The concert in Albany last night was fantastic. They sang the same songs they did during the Fall tour, but the arrangements to some of the songs were different. Paul played the melody to SOS on the guitar before they sang the song. It was brilliant!. Then they sang SOS like Art sings it in his Across America cd. I love that version. The arena was rocking on Baby Driver, Mrs Robinson, Cecelia and Keep the Customer Satisfied. We loved American Tune and Kathy´s Song, both bringing tears to my eyes. Bridge was great with Paul singing the second verse again and really getting into it. Art was very exuberant and really into the songs.The banter was slightly different and seemed more at ease than in the Fall. The concert was dedicated to Ray Charles.
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USA / New York - Albany - The Only Living Boy in Schenectady |
I had lucked into a ticket to this show. Not just any ticket either, but a box ticket. There was a pretty good view of the stage. There was an extra charge in the air before the concert, and it started with a great video on a large screen while the band played a long opening to ´America´. Then you heard the two chords that begin ´Old Friends´, and there they were. It was a little surreal seeing these two on stage. They sounded good, you might say after all the changes they sounded more or less the same. Paul´s voice is a bit heavier than it once was, and Art´s is more airy. It was impressive though to hear Garfunkel sing some of those higher harmonies. His voice broke only once, I think it was in a chorus of ´I am a Rock´. He recovered instantly. Garfunkel´s singing was mesmerizing and ethereal, singing lightly for the most part, but also bringing in a full voice when the music called for it. Paul was impressive when he took the second verse of ´Bridge over Troubled Water´. Artie had sang a beautiful first verse. But Paul really rang the rafters on the second verse, showing what a powerful natural tenor he is. He wrenched every heart in the place when he sang that verse, and it really stood out as the high point of the show.
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The only thing between us and the roof was one row. I would have left had it been anything less than wonderful............I stayed for it´s entirety. Just wanted to let anyone missing it, they were missing a great one. |
TAMPA - It didn´t really matter that the most recent song performed Sunday night had its first public airing in 1977.
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TAMPA - It takes a band like Simon & Garfunkel to inspire 17,597 fans, young and old, to gather Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum and join the legendary folk duo on another winning stop of its ´Old Friends´ reunion tour. One of this year´s top 20 concerts, the tour is averaging $2.2-million in ticket sales in each city.
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Just got home from the show. It was fantastic. I actually cried at the end of Bridge -- that was a first for this 41 year old. They were out of some of the tour stuff. I really wanted a Navy Golf Shirt in XL. They only had small. The program is great. |
Wow! I´m an 18 yr. old that grew up listening to this stuff via my parents. They sounded perfectly in tune most of the show (the lapses due obviously to age) but they were so minimal i could care less. the whole show was money. I´d pay the whole deal all over again. utterly astounding |
This was a dream come true!!!! Literally. I was raised on folk music particurlarly from the 60´s and Simon and Garfunkel are my favorite. I went to the concert not wanting the hear Bridge Over Troubled Water and when Art sang it I started to cry. It was the most beautiful song I have heard live. Everything else was great too. These two sound just like they did in the begining. Thanks Paul and Art for making the dream come true. |
A little creaky after all these years
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amazing, amazing show! the setlist was similar to all of the other nights, but after 59th street bridge, they came out and played mrs. robinson AGAIN! the crowd was great, everyone was into it the whole night, and paul and art definitely took notice delivered an unbelievable show! |
I was blown away!
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My mom and i went to the S&G concert. It was the best concert that we have ever been! When the concert started, i burst into tears. Because i have been wanting to see them for a long time. I will always remeber this event for as long as i live! Art Garfunkel gave a beatiful vocal on kathys song.
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My mom and i went to the S&G concert. It was the best concert that we have ever been! When the concert started, i burst into tears. Because i have been wanting to see them for a long time. I will always remeber this event for as long as i live! Art Garfunkel gave a beatiful vocal on kathys song.
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Everly Brothers provide needed tonic for Simon & Garfunkel
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Simon and Garfunkel reunion is rare treat
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I was completely unaware that The Everly Brothers were on tour with Simon And Garfunkel! What a surprise for this fan! Loved it!
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Absolutely...........AMAZING show! Artie and Paul both in great voice, from the opening notes of Old Friends to the closing chords of Feelin´ Groovy. So many highlights...Artie´s take on Kathy´s Song....outstanding. Paul´s powerful second verse on BOTW....he out ´Artied´ Artie.....UNTIL the ending note! Still gives chills after all these years. Artie was crystal clear all night, particularly on THE NOTE. The Everlys also in fine form, with S&G soloing on Bye Bye Love, second verse. Cool.
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I went to all three shows. Fantastic. Paul and Artie were on fire. None moreso than during Bridge. All that were there will aggree. They heard the definative version of that great ballad.
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Tickets fell in my lap. The original owner had to stay on for a shift at the hospital he works at, and I was the lucky beneficiary. Great show, great energy, great sound.
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Fantastic performance, Art came out energized and verbal about being in NY. His voice was great from the onset. Paul was slow to warm up; his voice was flat and he was listless for the 1 st half of the show. Slip Slidin away made him come alive and his voice was great for the remainder. Art stole the show during Bride over TW and their harmonizing on Cecelia was a beautiful touch |
I also travelled from Austria to the Auburn Hills Show in October. But the show in New York was so much better and so much more intense. One could feel that Paul and Art have been back in the game again and on the road together for a while. The whole audience was vibrating and MSG was set back right into the 60s by the honest, straight and original S&G sound. Very impressive! |
Excellent, excellent show. Having seen the second show of the tour (Detroit 03-10-19) and being impressed by that, seeing the tour halfway completed was a mystical experience. The harmonies were tighter, the voices were more fluent and the band, wow ... songs were reworked and the little things hammered out, and everyone on stage seemed very very comfortable. It was an unreal, unforgettable experience. The new twists on old songs were incredible.
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I´m one of those people who leaves nothing out...
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Simon and Garfunkel gave a masterful performance tonight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Like a fine wine, these gentlemen get better with age. Add a tremendous backup band and some midset numbers by the Everly Brothers, and you have one memorable night.
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One word to descibe November 28....AMAZING!!! I could have gone to see them in my hometown (Wilkes-Barre), but I was away at college and so drove the 3 hours to Atlantic City. But it was well worth it. The traffic heading into the city was absolutley terrible and I was afraid I would miss the beginning of the concert, but we made it over an hour before they took the stage. I sat there and couldnt believe that I was seeing two legends in concert. Paul Simon is my absolute favorite musician of all time. I had seen him once before, so I was looking forward to seeing him with Garfunkel. They took the stage and I couldnt believe how good they sounded. The sold-out crowd of over 13,000 was in awe. They sang through an impressive set list. My personal favorites of the night included ´My Little Town´, ´Bridge Over Troubled Water´ (When Art hit the high note, it was truely memorable), ´Hazy Shade of Winter´, ´Only Living Boy In NY´, and ´Slip Slidin Away, but don´t get me wrong, every song was amazing. I was also impressed by the Everly Brothers. I enjoyed ´Bye,Bye Love´ because Simon and Garfunkel joined the Everly Brothers on stage. Even though the concert made me broke, remember I am a college student on a budget. $85 for a ticket, $35 for a t-shirt, $15 for a poster, $20 to park, $15 for tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway, $20 for dinner. Wow, Expensive, but so worth it. i will forever remember this night. Paul and Artie looked like they really enjoyed being there. Both cracked jokes and Paul smiled throughout. Art waved many times to the audience(including me :) ) and was always saying ´thank you´ to the crowd. An amazing night in Nj!!!!! |
Since there are no reviews of Arrowhead Pond 9/23 I thought I´d post my own recollections of last night.
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Here´s my take on last night´s show. What a fabulous show!
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By Erik Pedersen LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -
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Concert has been prosponed to Nov. 21 |
Concert has been prosponed to Nov. 20 |
Mind you, this was last fall, so I will try to recall as best I can. I was blown away by this concert. It started about 30 minutes late, but when the lights went down and america played while the video montage was shown, it was amazing. Looking at other set lists for other shows, it appears the same songs were played it the same order, however one of the songs they played towards the end was one that they said they had not played live in some 30 years or so. I dont remember what song it was. At one point in the show, paul simon began to play a completely different song than the rest of the band, so they had to start over, and they had a good laugh about it. During one of pauls guitar solos art walked over and tuned pauls guitar while he played. It seemed most people were surprised the everely brothers were also on hand. For the most part people sat down, except for the big hits. The lighting was amazing and I walked away thinking it was a powerful show, certainly worth the 150 I payed for a solid seat. It was a pleasant contrast to see them actually moving around the stage, instead of simply standing in one place and singing, like they often are seen doing in older footage from concerts from years ago. It was an amazing concert. |
Old friends back at it again by Michael Senft
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Sparked by Everlys, Simon & Garfunkel warm crowd
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WHEN Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel get together for a stroll down memory lane, the experience is more than just cheap nostalgia and a laundry list of hits.
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Stockton Record (c)
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Just got back from the San Jose show. Paul is amazing, he sings great, and the arrangements are lively. Given that they only performed Simon and Garfunkel songs the set was interesting (sorry - no set list, but similar to the ones posted before).
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Having evidently made some kind of peace with each other, Simon and Garfunkel have freed themselves to come to terms with their shared past. In a performance punctuated by bursts of applause and standing ovations, the reunited Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel happily explored the incandescent, five- album career of their youth, something they have both have expressed mixed feelings about in the past, before a capacity crowd Tuesday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
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REVIEWD BY BRIAN McCOY (recordnet.com):
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I was fortunate enough to attend both shows. My seats were ´limited view´ at Seattle as we were seated behind Paul and Artie´s right shoulders. In Portland we were straight out from the stage and both sets of seats were fantastic. There really weren´t bad seats because of the moniters.
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One of the good things about being old friends is that you get to have lots of anniversaries, special ways of marking the important times in life.
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Impressions from an event of a lifetime - it felt like being stabbed in the back with a happy-drug
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A very special event all around. The evening began with a slideshow on the
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THE NEWS TRIBUNE REVIEW:
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Simon & Garfunkel: Seattle, WA 11/1/03 @ Key Arena
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One of the greatest duos of the ´60s had everyone feelin´ groovy Saturday night.
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Excellent Performance! Really enjoyed the old photos shown through out the show and there sharing of individual memories from the past. Bridge Over Troubled Water took on a whole new meaning and Paul Simon´s guitar playing was outstanding on Mrs. Robinson. Art Garfunkel was incredibly intense singing At The Zoo. The Everly Brothers were Fantastic. Wake up little School Girl was a delight along with the other hits. I will share the Denver CO. Pepsi Center was not built for sound and so the mix can really be awful depending on your section. Paul Simon did seem unenergetic compared to other performances I have seen in the past. It was rumored some of the musicians have influenza. This was a most memorable event with the very mellow mile high crowd. Note there was very little to no dancing going on in this arena except for two songs Cecilia and Feeling Groovy! Looking forward to the DVD.
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DENVERPOST REVIEW:
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I was totally amazed......I felt like I was having a once-in-a lifetime experience. This concert was unbelievable. Everything was magical - right from the opening video montage up until the last note, easily the fastest 2 hours I´ve spent in a long time.
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A review that appeared in Variety Magazine:
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THEPITTSBURGHCHANNEL.COM REVIEW:
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What a show! Three moments will stay with me forever, all related to lyrics and ´pindrop listening moments´ at the cavernous United Center:
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Classic songs wear well at United Center
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WOW...............
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I can´t possible review the concert as comprehensively as Erin did (haven´t read that review yet, but will soon), and apologies if I repeat something the others have already noted. I haven´t read anyone´s reviews yet on purpose, in order to keep the experience fresh. So I am just going to add some bits and pieces to my initial posting.
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I ended up going to both nights in St. Paul. It cost me my almost two-week paycheck plus I might have screwed up my midterm on Monday a bit, but it was worth the trouble.... They sounded amazing and looked like enjoying themselves.
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I traveled from Pittsburgh to Columbus to see the show. And I was on time and didn´t leave early!
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Title: S&G Concert
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Just got back from the Cleveland S & G show and will share these quick observations...
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Cheers for `Sounds of Silence´
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Michael Sangiacomo
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What a wonderful and memorable evening the second Auburn Hills (Sunday) concert was. My wife and I had seen Simon & Garfunkel in Detroit in October 1969. To think that 34 years later weīd have the opportunity to see them again.
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Sundayīs show was better than Saturdayīs. The Saturday show had more slightly out-of -synch vocals and Mark Stewart was noticeably off on the backgrounds for īOnly Living Boy.ī Here are some random thoughts on the performance Sunday - America (instrumental) - sounds like this was recorded with the road band. Maybe thatīs what the rumored recording session in Pennsylvania produced. Old Friends/Bookends-solo acoustic, nice blend
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Hey I think that Simon and Garfunkel were wonderful at the first Auburn Hills concert. When they sang their songs together it was like their voices never changed(even though they did). They still had their magic and their talents and their sound at this concert and I´m happy to say that Simon and Garfunkel are one of my favorite music groups.
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This concert was one of the highlights of my life! It was extreamely good. They both sounded like they did on the albums. Art´s angelic countertenor voice is really beautiful. It seemed to soar right across the arena. It was a really good concert |
Found a review on Arts official site:
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AFP REVIEW:Tens of thousands turn out for Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour kickoff
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Simon & Garfunkel/ Oct. 18, 2003/ Auburn Hills, Mich. (The Palace of Auburn Hills)
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USA / Pennsylvania - Wilkes-Barre - Newspaper: Yahoo News - Jason Straziuso |
By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer
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This was my third time seeing S&G. I had seen them in the 60´s, where they performed on a bare stage sitting on stools, just the two of them. Also saw them in Central Park in 1981. See the review in the New York Post for a decent review.
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It would be a lie to say the concert wasn´t a nostalgia act. Art practically said so himself while reminiscing about singing on the streets of Paris with Paul while Kathy collected donations. This all came as the introduction to ´Kathy´s Song,´ which Art labels his favorite love song written by Paul, and which Art sang while Paul played guitar.
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Still great after all these years
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USA / Pennsylvania - Wilkes-Barre - Newspaper: New York Post - Dan Aquilante |
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God I wished I had rediscovered them a few years
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Es war wunderbar, erst der Dauerregen, dann das tolle Konzert, und ich in der allerersten Reihe.
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I (born in 1979) grew up with the sound of Paul Simon. Not silent at all! Everywhere we would go by car, Paul sang his marvelous songs. And he still does.
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Gosh - what an amazing show last night. I'm back in London now, so have had time to collect my thoughts and reflect on just how good it was. I went to Switzerland to take my father, who lives there (about an hour's drive away). On a personal note, when I was an impressionable teenager, I guess around 13 or 14, Graceland came out and nothing (before or since) made a greater impression on me than that album. It was my father who first bought it and played it (mostly and repeatedly in his car) and since then we have spent a lot of time listening to his music and watching his concert videos. It was therefore a real thrill to take him last night to see Paul Simon live for the first time. My younger brother (also a big fan) was also staying with him at the time, and I must thank Nicolas again for having a spare ticket which I bought from him so another member of my family could experience such a wonderful event.
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Hello to everyone! I'm just back now from a 3 concert tour, Rome-Montreux-Berlin and will try to write down the most important things I can remember.
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Paul Simon has entered the new millennium in the same fashion as he left the old one ´“ a legend, a genius and a bona fide first-class entertainer. And when his tour bus came into town on July 17 for his show with Brian Wilson at Hersheypark´s Star Pavilion, he brought all of his accolades with him. And his songs.
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Paul was in great form in Saratoga Sunday night. He was looser and sounded better than Iīve ever heard him before, including the Beacon shows last year. His singing has also gotten actually better - the songs of this tour have matured nicely, with subtle but interesting alterations, especially in Paulīs phrasing.
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Paul Simon´s Concert at the Tweeter Center Was Great. The highlight of the show was the bass solo on You Can Call me Al. I Heard it alot, but it was amazing hearing it live. It was a great show |
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As it was, the first of two sold-out concerts at the venerable Chicago landmark this past weekend showcased a lifetime´s worth of work for the Rock ´n´ Roll Hall of Famer.
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So where do I begin? First off, it was by far one of the most amazing, emotional, spectacular (okay, if I start off like this, I may run out of adjectives) concerts I have ever seen.
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I went to the concert Monday night in Oakland and thought I´d share some of my thoughts about it with you.
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Hello,
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Hello,
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- posted on alt.music.paul-simon -
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- from alt.music.paul-simon -
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This was the third time that Paul Simon played in Italy, after 1987 and 1991. The Palavobis as very crowdy, but not sell out, and the people was about 3,500 - 4,000. At a quarter past nine he was on stage and received a very warm welcome from a not so young audience. The setlist was the same as the last London show, without ´Scarborough Fair´, and closing with ´Still Crazy After All These Years´ followed by ´The Boxer´. He was backed by an excellent band, as everyone who attended the show may testify. New songs and old songs were played in very interesting sequence, and the show had no low points. Highlights of the concerts were, of course, the old ones, and not only the Simon and Garfunkel era tunes, but also his solo works. Paul Simon offered new arrangements of ´Kodachrome´ and ´I Am A Rock´, that were very appreciated by the fans. Among the songs from ´You´re The One´ had a great applause ´Darling Lorraine´ and ´Hurricane Eye´. The security was not tight inside, and many photos were shot. I saw no tape recorders or cameras taken off. Seems that they were more worried that people stayed sitting during the concert, and - yes, it´s so - even before the concert. There were some guys that moved here and there trying to get everyone to his place, asking to sit also before Paul Simon came on stage. Very strange. All of this was absolutely unuseful when at the end of ´Diamonds´ Paul started ´You Can Call Me All´, and invited the people to get up Everyone was up, and from the balconies people rushed down to the floor and got right in front of the stage. They tried to quiet the fans, but it was unsuccessful. The concert went to end with people just at the feet of the stage. Paul Simon seemed to enjoyed how the crowd welcomed his comeback in Italy, and though he was not talking between the songs, at the end of ´Late In The Evening´ he said ´Italian are a good lookin´ people´. The show grew up in emotion at every minute, and some songs were sung with the singalong of the people. And not only the refrain of ´The Boxer´, but also some parts of ´American Tune´, of ´Still Crazy After All These Years´ and all through ´Bridge Over Troubled Water´ and ´The Boxer´. At the end of the show Paul Simon thanked many times, and he was sure he performed a great show, and gave great sounds to the people that came down and saw him. The show was about two hours and fifteen minutes long, he played one song after the other, and took no intermissions. This gave the concert a very good feeling, and that´s another reason of the ever growing joy. After the concert I went to the backstage and tried to meet the man, together with my wife Cristina, my brother Dario and my friend Roberto. We waited some minutes near a couple of cars where he surely would´ve been in (one was a black limousine), but we were asked by the security to go away. We were five or six guys, not a very numbered crowd, but they accepted no replies, and dared to say that ´the musician wants so´. I replied that it was untrue, because I had no reason to believe that Paul Simon refused to meet his fans at his shows, as was written in these reports by the guys who met him after the London shows, if I remember well. So, we went out, and stayed just outside the gates where the cars had to leave the concert hall. After fifteen minutes two black cars went out, the limousine following the other one. We all tried to look inside the limousine, and in that moment I heard my wife crying ´There he is, there he is´. He was out of his car (that was not the limousine) and moved just to us. We get closer to him, and asked if he could sign. He said ´yes´, he was very relaxed, though a little tired, and signed the ticket that my brother gave him. I passed him the inside booklet of Simon and Garfunkel´s Concert In Central Park, that Artie signed some years ago in Verona, but he kindly refused to sign it (´I don´t sign that´, said). So I gave him my ´Paul Simon´s Concert In Central Park´ insert booklet, he watched at it a few seconds, and said ´I sign tickets, and I sign this´, and so he did. That was just right after that my wife had the back cover of the CD ´Harts And Bones´ signed. Before he went up to his car we shook his hand and thanked for the show, and I thanked him again saying ´Mr. Simon, you´re a great artist, and a gentleman too´. He appreciated, amd said ´thanks´. Then I wished him a good tour in Paris.
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I was first introduced to Paul´s music at the age of 13 when a friend gave me a copy of ´The Concert in Central Park´ (i.e. with Garfunkel in 1981) - an album which blew me away and has remained one of my most significant musical influences.
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Ok, here we go. This is a full report on the Paul Simon concert of October 20th 2000 in The Musikhalle in Hamburg. A lot happened so be prepared for a huge report:-))
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Oh what a night
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Wow, I´m just back home from my first Paul Simon concert. I´m sorry that I can´t send a setlist, I was too taken with the music to concentrate on writing the songs down. The concert started 20 minutes late but it lasted 2hours and 20 minutes. The audience was hillarious, they yelled and applauded frantically. In the middle of the concert nobody was sitting on the chair anymore. Everybody jumped up on the feet to dance along with the rhythm of the songs. Paul played many songs of his new ablum and they sounded great played live. I loved the way he played I´m a rock, it was very dynamic. The rhythm sections with the drum and percussions brought in the end the last sitting
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He played without taking a break. I think it´s because he started at around 21:20. The audience was really getting into it, and Paul obviously enjoyed himself. He hardly spoke to the audience, though. Mark Stewart played the cello on the songs that Paul plays solo. I Am A Rock was an entirely new (*great*) version. He could score a hit with re-releasing that one. Lots of
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My Suitcase and Twenty Guitars In Hand
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Considering the late hour I am too tired to write any detailed review, I´ll just add some short comments:
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I have used Craig´s list so many times not once anybody email me or called me. When were children we acted like children. There was no manual telling us how to love and you can not go down to the hardware store and order up a new face and body. People seemimg to judge what someone looks like. People should look at the people inside not outside. Everyone has some sort of disability one way or another way. Do people rememeber 911. We were scared frightened , we didn´t know what was going to happen. Does it get awfully lonely sleeping with only your pillow to hug? Life is too precisious to throw away. I have a nice home here and would like to share it with someone. I am 6´0´ tall. I love to cook. I use to work at the senior center for 15 years and I use to raise the money for the special olympics. I used to work with Jerry Lewis for the muscular Dystorphy. I am really reaching out if someone out there really cares. I lost my Dad when I was 17 years old and lost my Mom 13 years ago and I lost my dad in my arms. My brother Jim was a suicide, he hung himself in the garage. I realize this must be too much for just anyone to grasp and then when I came back up here to So. Lake Tahoe I was homeless and slept in the mountains when I was 17 years old. I was raped as a child. There was never any love in our family just yelling and screaming. My father passed away I went up to Oregon and the mental Health people up there put me in a room and raped me. I am putting my cards on the table. So now you know everything about me. Back in 1991, I met a girl named Sarah and we were living together and I discovered she had taken out a life insurance policy on me and was trying to kill me. We she found out she was pregnant she put a coat hanger up her privates and killed the baby. I had a nervous breakdown. I have challenged myself in so many ways. I have a sister in Chico and have asked her for the family photos. I get hurt pretty easily. I have grand maul seizures. I want to know to what love is I want you to show me, I want to go where love is I know you can show me, I traveled so far to leave this lonely life. [email protected] (530)541-2421 [email protected]
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It was a perfect day. Unfortunately it takes me 4 1/2 hours to get there. It is a perfect venue to see Paul simon. He is surrounded by friends and family. The doors were suppossed to open at 1pm. I got there 12:45 and they were already letting folks in. I was able to get front row seats ( I had vip tix).In past years, Pauls son Harper did a set with his band?, but there was only canned music this year.Edie Brickell and her band went on first around 3:30. I have to say i don´t really like her voice, so I don´t know her material well. I only recognized one song (what i am?????)she had 2 guitarists and a drummer with her. when she introduced them, she had a southern accent. then Lyle Lovett came on. He had a BIG back up with him, horns back up harmonizers the whole works. I had never known this guys stuff, so I went into my local B & N to hear his new live cd b4 the show. ´Country´ is a bad rap for him. He is fabulous!!!!!
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The Daily News says in big letters HOTTEST JULY EVER and John F. Kennedy Jr.´s face is on every magazine cover. The New Haven line at Grand Central station I´m heading home. Business was so slow in July, I kept waiting to get the tickets, I just couldn´t spend $150 or whatever for a ticket. I figured one of my friends would call and invite me. July 24th comes and I´m at a party, moaning, Bob is playing in Hartford and I´m not there. I had downloaded the play list for the night before , and knew I might be missing ´Visions of Johanna´.
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Not a lot of information about old shows on here, so here´s my humble contribution. This was my first Paul show after hoping for years he´d tour again so I could see him ´“ what better place than in NYC, where I was living for the year. I was in the middle of the first level, to the side and almost behind the open arena stage. Nice veiws there, actually.
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Proof - I did not know that we have something so special in common, but this concert was also my first PS show. Althoug I was a little fan since around 1991 I thought for a long time that Paul Simon gave up his music career. Here in Europe you do not hear much about him, and in the times before the internet revolution your only source have been some small teenage music magazines (which never mentions a Paul Simon)
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I was there, and let me recover my lucidity... it was fantastic, definitely the best show of this tour (I also attended the Anaheim and Hollywood Bowl shows), probably because I was so close to the stage. Yes it was crowded, but I arrived very early and I had the luck to enter the House of Blues before almost anybody else. I even saw the rehearsal from the mezzanine around 6:30pm ! I still do not understand why they let me enter so early, but I didnot ask and I was in heaven. Paul and his band rehearsed ´Proof´ (several times, since there was a technical problem), ´The Boy in The Bubble´, ´The Sound Of Silence´ and several other parts of some songs. There were only a few people in the room, mainly people from the tour, and when they stopped playing, due to a technical problem, Steve Gadd went upstairs, and I realized that the charming young woman who was beside me was in fact his daugther. Being already in the room, it has been easy to get a very good spot for the concert. I was as close to the stage as you could be, just in front of Paul´s microphone. The show was awesome, the set was not very different from the other ones, but much more relaxed. Paul seemed very very happy to be there, and very moved by the overwhelming response of the crowd. I did not take any notes during the concert since I wanted to live these precious moments very intensely, so I will try to remember the best I can: They opened with ´Proof,´ then they played ´Bridge Over Troubled Water,´ ´Can´t Run But,´ ´The Boy in the Bubble,´ ´The Coast,´ ´Trailway Bus,´ ´Mrs Robinson, ´ ´Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard,´ ´Further To Fly,´ ´Graceland,´ ´The Cool, Cool river,´ ´ Slip Sliding Away,´ Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, ´You Can Call Me Al.´ First encore: ´Late In The Evening´ and ´Still Crazy After All These years.´ Second encore: ´Born At The Right Time,´ The Sound Of Silence´ and ´The Boxer´ Third encore: ´Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover´ and a medley of ´Knockin´ On Heaven´s Door´ and Mother And Child Reunion.´ Despite the noise made by the crowd there was no fourth encore, but, as you see, it was a very satisfying set! Every time Paul came back on stage, he seemed very touched by the warm acclamation made by the crowd, saying many times ´Thank you´ and something like ´it goes right to my heart.´ I even noticed that his eyes seemed wet at one time (I can say that for sure because I was so close). He did a small mistake during ´Born at The Right Time´, and without stopping playing he said ´I was thinking to something else.´ That was a very touching moment. His communication with the crowd was great, he shook some hands twice, and seemed relaxed and moved at the same time. Well, that really was a great concert (an understatement), and I think Paul has realized how much we (his fans) have missed him during all these years.
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OK, now that I´ve regained consciousness, it´s time to report in on last night´s show. I saw Dylan in ´86 with Tom Petty, and in ´92, and have never seen Simon before last night.
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It was truly a wonderful evening at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon tonight. With the coliseum filled up to the rafters, I´ll do my best to give my perspective of the concert seen from the first row of the stands directly to the right of the stage (we were right at stage level with a profile view of the performers the entire time). I´ll quickly describe my take on the individual songs first and then my general comments afterwards.
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I doubt anyone will read this, as This concert was more than a month ago, but I had to write.
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Just got back from seeing Paul at a benefit at UCLA he performed Trailways Bus, Slip Slidin Away, Graceland, and Me & Julio. At the end he came back out and joined Stevie Wonder & Don Henley and they did Loves Me Like A Rock & Mrs Robinson followed by Stevie´s song Superstition. He sounded great and seemed to be having a good time..I know I did!
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I was there too and what a treat !!! I thought I would never be able to see him on stage again.
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Went to the Royce Hall benefit at UCLA and got to see Paul´s performance. What
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Yeah, that was quite a night! I just got back to San Diego from the concert. Stevie was really getting into Loves Me Like a Rock, then it was Henley´s turn for a verse. He damn near killed it, at least compared to Stevie´s contribution. I thought Henley gave a fairly uninspired performance overall, although I still enjoyed it. Don Felder played with him, so half the Eagles were there.
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I had driven from Florida to Montauk on my vacation. I saw a sign for a concert - Paul Simon and Friends. It was a benefit for the Montauk Lighthouse and other charities. It was an annual concert that had been held since 1988. This was just too good to be true. All of the regular tickets were sold out, but they had VIP tickets for $250. What the hell. It´s only once, I thought. And part of it was tax deductible so I bought one. I arrived not knowing what to expect. With my VIP ticket, I got special parking, a free t-shirt and lunch. I sat down with a woman who had been there before and knew to reserve a front row seat (actually bales of hay). She invited me to join her and I had my first front row seat at a Paul Simon concert. Jimmy Buffett was the guest performer that day and many in the crowd had parrots on their heads. Edie Brickell and Harper Simon performed as well. I´ve been back for two more of the concerts (1995 and 1999), but nothing can compare with that first one. |
I have been a fan of Paul since I first heard Homeless around age 10. My first unchaperoned concert was Simon and Garfunkel on November 12, 1993 in Toronto, when I was 16. I was BLOWN AWAY by how amazing the show was. Graceland is consistently in my top 3 albums of all time by anyone, often taking the number one position. I can´t imagine how phenomenally moving it would be to see Paul and Ladysmith revisit this album live, but I hope to see it someday (hint, hint).
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I was fortunate enough to see him and Garfunkel at the SkyDome on November 11 of last year. I paid $75 for tickets, but definitely worth it. If it´s the only time I´ll ever get to see my musical hero in concert, I won´t regret it. He was fantastic (but I would have liked to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well) and I think they did a very good set. I was most surprised to hear ´Hearts and Bones´ in among a lot of S&G stuff. I and a friend were just about the only ones to recognize the intro and we clapped wildly.
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O Concerto de Paul Simon em Alvalade no Verão de 1991 foi um dos primeiros a que assisti.
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This open-air concert was cancelled after bad wether.
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I remember that it was a wonderful concert. I was in Prague working for the summer. The weather was great and there was a low full moon hanging right above the stadium. Later, I made my home in Prague and lived only a few blocks away from the stadium where the concert was. It was a great evening |
My cousin and I took a summer vacation trip with an old VW Beetle from Finland to the Czech Republic and back that same year. We noticed that Paul Simon was having a concert in Prague, so we bought tickets there. I also remember that Vaclav Havel was also in the stands with other people. People stood up and gave him a round of applause. The concert was good. |
very short review as it was a long time ago .. was my second time to go to a PS solo concert. I had love the graceland concert so much that I went to this on my own as I found peolple with me were an annoyance. Was a great concert if not quite as emotional as Graceland. The ticket was 18.75 irish pounds with a picture of paul on it (i´l try and scan it in later. I wrote the set list on the back at the time, however I didn´t know many of the 70 songs so missed a few. the ocncert started at 8.25 and went on til10.50. Not once did I notice I was on my own!! |
Last October in his Brill Building songwriting suite, with a characteristic combination of caution and confidence, Paul Simon told Q that his forthcoming series of live shows would be ´intricate, interesting and ...´ he paused, searching, as he so often does in his lyric writing, for the right sounding word, ´hopefully inspired. ´
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Can it really be fifteen years now? I am a veteran of three Milwaukee shows (Graceland June 29, 1987; Born at the Right Time February 18, 1991; Tales of the Capeman (w/Bob Dylan) July 4, 2000. I also had the good fortune of seeing Paul and Artie in St. Paul during the Old Friends 2003 leg (October 27, 2003, the Monday show...)
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First I wanted to submit a correction. This concert was in Tampa, not Miami. The Sun Dome is on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa.
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First I wanted to submit a correction. This concert was in Tampa, not Miami. The Sun Dome is on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa.
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THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE AT THE Oakland Coliseum was dancing to Paul Simon´s Graceland hit ´You Can Call Me All´. So great was the response that when the smiling, buoyant star had completed the tune, he bowed and said, ´We can do it again.´ And with that, the band reprised the song from start to finish as the audience danced with even more enthusiasm.
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This was a very odd show. Artie sang the first verse of Bridge, motioned to Paul that he needed help w/ the second, but some other musician came over, and they didn´t even sing the final verse. They did boxer together, but it sounded badly. All of the musicians were visibly intoxicated/high/loaded/stoned, Paul´s toupee looked awful, Artie sounded awful, and the insistance of ALL the musicians to join in on the songs made this a performance to forget.
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I remember it was at the Forest National, Brussels. My boyfriend (now hubby) and I were stood in the standing area, about half way back on a raised step, so I had a great view.
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It was an incredible show for a great cause and I consider myself lucky to have been there. I arrived expecting a great show and I was very familiar with the large bus sized motorhomes that were on the streets of NYC already helping homeless children. I think this show was to buy the third or fourth one. It was a great sunday night and surprise after surprise showed up onstage. The garden was bussing that night. |
Paul Simon Hosts All-Star Benefit Show
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This rock concert was pure magic. Every icon in Rock and Roll was there. The energy was incredible; Paul Simon, Lou Reed, and Bruce Springsteen made you stand up and shout, and James Taylor to make you cry. This was where I took my wife on our second date. We have been together ever since. It´s as precious a memory as being at Bob Dylan´s concert at Blackbushe Aerodrome in July 1978. It´s a shame no one ever produced an album from this live show, for it was incredible. |
This rock concert was pure magic. Every icon in Rock and Roll was there. The energy was incredible; Paul Simon, Lou Reed, and Bruce Springsteen made you stand up and shout, and James Taylor to make you cry. This was where I took my wife on our second date. We have been together ever since. It´s as precious a memory as being at Bob Dylan´s concert at Blackbushe Aerodrome in July 1978. It´s a shame no one ever produced an album from this live show, for it was incredible. |
I was just talking about this show to someone, and I wanted to revisit a list everyone I saw there. Thanks to everyone who has posted here. I remember so much of it, to this day. So many times, benefits extravaganzas like this one on 13 Dec 87 lack coherence or one thing or other.... this one had heart. Mr. Simon told a story about how he had been going into the studio daily for months at a time ( I think during the making of Graceland), each day around 5:30 am ... and making daily eye contact with a young girl who always seemed to be standing at the same corner, at the same time each day, during his commute in. If I remember correctly, one day she did not show up, and Mr. Simon inquired as to her whereabouts.... and he was told that she had died, and the reason was that she was homeless and had no access to health care. Hence the reason for this benefit to fund a mobile health unit for homeless New Yorkers.
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Best concert I have ever been to. Audience totally engrossed and involved. Standing on their feet the entire time. Simon was awesome as was seeing Ladysmith Black Mambasa (sp) live. Would go see them again in a heartbeat. |
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NOT ONLY HAS THE UNITED NATIONS questioned the political propriety of Paul Simon´s Graceland album but even some longtime fans have been suspicious of the poor guy lately. Sure, Graceland sounds great, they say, but isn´t it opportunistic to use South African musicians just when that country´s woes have become a popular cause? And besides, they grumble, isn´t the album really just pop-coated South African music made more digestible for a bigger audience?
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I was at Paul´s show at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, just outside of Chicago, on August 18, 1984. The place was far from sold out and partway through the show, the management let people from the lawn come under the pavilion just to fill up the empty seats. Despite that, Paul gave an incredible performance. |
I was at this concert like the previous reviewer. Mr. Simon played solo. On stage was a semi-circle of different guitars behind him. My memory says the there were 10 to 12. Also behind him was a large boom box that he played along with recorded music. The pavilion part of the theater was so sparsely populated that Mr. Simon requested that all lawn denizens move down to the pavilion seats. My party sat dead center in the eighth row. It was an intimate and fantastic show. |
I was at this concert like the previous reviewer. Mr. Simon played solo. On stage was a semi-circle of different guitars behind him. My memory says the there were 10 to 12. Also behind him was a large boom box that he played along with recorded music. The pavilion part of the theater was so sparsely populated that Mr. Simon requested that all lawn denizens move down to the pavilion seats. My party sat dead center in the eighth row. It was an intimate and fantastic show. |
I was a volunteer (meetnadevet) in 1983, a group of us borrowed the Kibbutz minibus and drove down. It was a fabulous evening, the atmosphere warm and supportive, it was the first time they had performed in Israel, so especially important for a Jewish man. The lightning of candles was new to a Brit. So special. I still listen to the live performance in Central Park, a cd in my car |
Just saw the fantastic documentary Restless dreams . Reminded me of the concert I saw in Tel Aviv when I was working as a volunteer in a kibbutz. Looked it up when it was and landed here. Great memories of this concert! |
This was the best concert I´ve ever been to and I´ve to a lot. I sat 2nd row front. I paid $50.00 for my ticket, they only sold 2000 at that price. Proceeds went to the Children´s Hospital in San Diego, CA. I was 6 1/2 months pregnant with my first child. I was so into seeing them I stood up on my chair and the security people made me sit down because they thought I would go into labor. I would pay what ever price to see them together again. I love their music. I´ve followed Paul all along and still do. I feel privileged to have been there. |
This was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Everyone in the audience was singing with the group for all of their songs. We sat on the grass about 25 feet from the stage and the place was packed. I remember looking up and seeing the bleachers were almost full. At the end of the concert everyone just kind of floated out of the ball park. No hassles, no arguments and everyone was in such a good mood. I just loved this concert and it is one that I will never forget. Thank you guys for giving us such a wonderful experience. |
This concert is available on Dimeadozen. The sound quality is great. It is by far better than the concert in Central Park. |
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What a wonderful concert. I was in the outfield very near the stage. Towards the end of the concert I thought the upper deck was going to collapse because they played late in the evening, and everyone was dancing...it was awesome! |
I was a new supervisor for the Toronto Transit Commission when Simon & Garfunkel came to Toronto in July, 1983. My job on the day of the concert was to take care of the inbound streetcar traffic and customers. I was in our streetcar loop, not too far away from the CNE Grandstand. It was a beautiful summer´s day - not a cloud in the sky, warm and memorable. I can still feel the warmth of the day, and the stillness of the air. I was setting up down at the loop, with a few hours to go before the crowds started to arrive.
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Incredible night listening to an incredible group. We stood on the field on the turf of the Akron Rubberbowl 20 feet from the stage. AWESOME!!!! We had tickets for up in the cheap seats of the bowl, but decided we wanted to be right in the middle of the mass of Simon and Garfunkle fans down on the field, so we made our way down and found a spot not more than 20 feet from Paul and Art. We had fantastic time! |
It was a beautiful summer evening. Weather was fantastic. The Rubber Bowl was transformed into a drive-in theater. This was early in the day of live video display of concerts. it was amazing to see the Drive -in movie themed video screen display the show live. The band was an all-star lineup. The sound and lighting was impeccable. It was too long ago to remember the song set-list, but it covered all the bases. they played almost everything you would want to hear. Paul and Art seemed happy and glad to be there. It was almost surreal to see them together back then. this of was also before the day of every broken up band getting back together to make some quick cash. This was special. I worked the show for Belkin as the stage crew. We assembled the staging in 4 days before the show, watched the show, and then took in down in 2 days. Wonderful memories of the summer week! |
My wife and I drove to opening night of the 1983 tour at the Rubber Bowl in Akron. I remember a few things from that night: forgetting the time zone change and realizing we were going to be a half hour late, then the sense of relief when the show was an hour late starting. I thought the musicians were outstanding and I remember thinking that Sid McGinnis (who was looking very punk) didn´t seem like he belonged at a Simon & Garfunkel show. I loved the new songs, particularly ´Song About The Moon.´ ´Bridge´ and ´American Tune´ were also standouts and I really liked the counter-melody Paul sang with ´dreams are on their way, on their way.´ ´American Tune´ was dropped in favor of ´Slip Sliding Away´ after the first week of the tour. The other thing I really remember is that after the show while people were filing out of the stadium, they had a fireworks show and I figured it was the fireworks they couldn´t have at the Concert In The Park. Here´s the Akron setlist (I think):
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Citizen of the Planet was sung here for what is believed to be the only time Live by Simon and Garfunkel, or anyone else for that matter. I don´t know what the entire setlist was, however. Sorry. |
Paul and Arthur,
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In the same summer that my #1 daughter was born, in Berlin, we saw S & G, The Stones and Queen, all at the Waldbuhne, in Berlin - what a year for me and Mrs W!!
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Despite the warm sympathy and dedication with which the Spanish public was given, were delivered as I say soul and body musicians with songs that we danced with the first love.
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As someone who was in the front crowd, I saw something different than most crowd/ people. That concert with the Stones/Police/Iron Madrid aftermath changed Spain and the whole feeling of the whole country. |
Went to the concert and saw Beau Bridges. When I saw Beau I thought I knew him from Birmingham, Alabama, but couldn´t place him. I kept bugging him about ´where do I know you from´ and finally he said ´I´m Beau Bridges´, I was so embarrassed, but he just laughed and we watched the concert together. Nobody knew who he was and I started telling everyone close to me that he was an American movie star, The word must have spread like a ´blitzkrieg´ and they were all clamoring for his autograph. I told him, I had seen all of his movies and he just looked kind of funny at me. I was thinking of Jeff Bridges. So crazy. Anyway we just jump up and down to the music of Paul Simon and he was just a regular guy. After the concert we parted ways when he said he was going backstage to talk to Paul. My only brush with stardom. I wonder to this day if he remembers that. Anyway I´ve always respected him for being a regular guy not arrogant like I thought at that young age that movie stars were. Paul performed an amazing concert with the ´Graceland touch´. The Germans were crazy about him and Beau, even though they didn´t know who Beau Bridges was. I could tell Beau was loving the attention he was getting after I told everyone around me ´He´s and AMERICAN MOVIE STAR! I don´t think he had ever had so much attention even in America at that time in his career. |
Went to the concert and saw Beau Bridges. When I saw Beau I thought I knew him from Birmingham, Alabama, but couldn´t place him. I kept bugging him about ´where do I know you from´ and finally he said ´I´m Beau Bridges´, I was so embarrassed, but he just laughed and we watched the concert together. Nobody knew who he was and I started telling everyone close to me that he was an American movie star, The word must have spread like a ´blitzkrieg´ and they were all clamoring for his autograph. I told him, I had seen all of his movies and he just looked kind of funny at me. I was thinking of Jeff Bridges. So crazy. Anyway we just jump up and down to the music of Paul Simon and he was just a regular guy. After the concert we parted ways when he said he was going backstage to talk to Paul. My only brush with stardom. I wonder to this day if he remembers that. Anyway I´ve always respected him for being a regular guy not arrogant like I thought at that young age that movie stars were. Paul performed an amazing concert with the ´Graceland touch´. The Germans were crazy about him and Beau, even though they didn´t know who Beau Bridges was. I could tell Beau was loving the attention he was getting after I told everyone around me ´He´s and AMERICAN MOVIE STAR! I don´t think he had ever had so much attention even in America at that time in his career. |
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Last time Paul Simon toured in Summer´73, he used a South American group, Urubamba. and an American gospel quartet, the Jessy Dixon Singers (Jessy
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Back before concerts became such a big money machine and the reigns of the major promoters weren’t so great, many colleges and universities were able to host shows. In the late 70’s, most of the Northeast schools presented shows throughout the school year. Mine was no exception. Paul Simon was one of the many great artists who performed while I attended.
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I was at this concert with 8 friends. He played the stuff from Still Crazy with many of the musicians from the recording. Art G came out after the second encore and they sang 5 or 6 songs together. I had 8th row seats. Probably the best concert I ever went to. They sounded like they were recording the album. |
From Art Garfunkel.com :
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London Times , June 8 1973
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Beforehand tickets were being offered for $50 and afterwards a packed Albert Hall endlessly applauded an empty stage exit, so. when, in between Simon and Garfunkel sang some 20 songs using only two voices and a guitar there must have been something special about it. There was. ·Paul Simon is a fine songwriter, performing his songs without frills and that is almost unique in today´s pop scene, where words have become loud and insignificant, a smokescreen before an instrumental battle.
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From what one can make out off a low-quality audience recording, this was a very low-key affair. The backing musicians doesnīt join until Mrs Robinson, but do not play on The Boxer, Silence, I am a rock or Old friends. Bridge, of course, is piano backing only. A highlight of sorts would be Why donīt you write me, with its reggae beat. For Bye bye love, the audience is terribly off-tempo, though everybody seems to enjoy the performance a lot. |
Garfunkel announced that they were going to sing a new song for the first time in a concert. It was ´Bridge Over Troubled Waters.´ I´ve always wondered if it was really the first time. So far I´ve found nothing to disprove it. A few years ago I met someone who had also attended the concert, and he vividly recalled Garfunkel´s assertion. It was the most beautiful, crystal-clear rendition I have ever heard. At the end of the concert Paul´s brother grabbed a guitar and sang along on ´Bye Bye Love.´ |
As I recall Art said something like: ´This is a new song we have just recorded. We´ve never performed it in public. . .we hope you like it.´ This was pretty much confirmed to me about 25 years later by a work colleague who was at the concert as well. . .his memory of the event was pretty much the same as mine. On a CD of the Carbondale concert recorded a week after Wichita, he makes no such claim before performing the song. |
Bye bye love was taken from this concert and included on the Bridge Over Troubled Water LP.
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I not only attended this gig but I met Simon and Garfunkel afterwards.
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I was 15 a Glaswegian who caught the train to Edinburgh with 2 of my best mates George Newbigging and Malcolm Houston. We had great seats close to the front and were blown away by the sheer beauty and joy of their songs and harmonies. I also remember there was an intermission and I managed to buy a pint of Heavy. It was Scotland after all and the bar staff were fairly laid back about serving under age Young lads. Our English teacher included Paul Simon Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan in our poetry lessons and to see Paul Simon live was a literary high in our lives. We were from Easterhouse but we all ended up at Universities. magic memories |
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Best concert I ever attended. Saturday night, July 22, 1967. Two guys, 17, with dates sitting in the box seat section. How we ever got those tickets was and is a total mystery. We bought them at the local Jewel food store’s ticket desk. The stage was bare except for three mics and a stool. Out comes Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and one acoustic guitar. The rest was magic. We basically heard the set list from the CD “Live From New York City,1967” There were no flashing lights, or dancers, or any other distractions. Just to guys and their music. Pure, simple, fantastic! |
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I believe I was at this concert. I was six years old and my parents took me to see Simon & Garfunkel. What I remember is it was a big tent. There were other acts on the bill. One of the acts played a Beatles song.Being six years old I was getting tired so by the time Simon & Garfunkel got on I fell asleep la few songs into their set. That was the first concert I ever went to. |
I saw S&G in concert in July of 1967 at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. I was a child, so I do not know the exact date.
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Now this is a funny gig! At the zoo being introduced as ´an animal song-of sorts´, revealing the reason for writing Feelin´ groovy. And Paul´s humble response to shouts for Cloudy: ´What! You´ve turned into a vicious mob!´, and instead do Benedictus,and as a finisher, says ´I´ve two minutes, this is a song that takes one minute fifty-three seconds´, plays the intro to I am a rock and then changes for Punky´s dilemma, which causes people to laugh at the funny lyrics. A jolly S&G performance if any. |
Not so much a review as such, more a comment or query regarding the stated venue for the Manchester, UK, concert that the duo gave in the city in 1967.
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I just stumbled on this site and it took me back to 18/03/67. The Royal Albert Hall. I still have the ticket 3/6p (17 & 1/2 p) If I remember correctly Paul Simon had Meg the cleaner from Bunjies Folk Club singing in the audience. A fantastic show and I was there with my first girlfriend. All so inocent |
MIT Archive
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DATE: Sunday, 10th, September, 1966
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26 or so minutes into this are some recollections of the night Paul
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Fantastic evening - remember being there with Celia Elliott and some other friends - sat right in front 2 ft away - brilliant atmosphere. We were in the George and Dragon pub at top of the stairs - the stairs were jam-packed with people too and overflowing outside. Would love to turn the clock back and re-live that evening. |
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I will never forget this concert as long as I live. To this day, probably one of the very best concerts I have ever been to, and there have been many. I really do not remember the set list, but I do remember that when they played, ´The Sounds of Silence´, we started to have some heat lightning and distant thunder...it was magical. It´s been a long time, but I remember them as being flawless. A memory I will never forget..thank you! |