Simon and Garfunkel in concert

Cafe Society
1

Saw them last night at the big arena here in Philly. Wasn’t too excited going in – I not only am not into oldies, I have a fairly active loathing of them – but was really knocked out by a good show. They played all the major songs (I really can’t think of a single song I’d’ve liked them to do that they didn’t), and a bunch of lesser favorites. Art can’t hit the high notes the way he once could, but hell, after half a century – !!! – I guess that’s only to be expected. The band was very tight – two guitarists (one electric, mostly, and the other acoustic, mostly); two drum sets; two keyboardists (piano and … synthesizer? organ? I couldn’t tell what it was). The arrangements were lively and fresh updates that honored the original songs – anyone who wanted to sing along, could, but they didn’t try to do reconstructions. They played a bunch of songs, then brought out the Everly Brothers for a few songs – Paul and Art joined in on “Bye Bye Love,” which was great – then played some more. Two encores. They went back and forth between the slow stuff and the fast stuff, the hits and the other songs; very balanced, good overall flow to the show.

My overall impression: Art Garfunkel fills no current need in my life, but my opinion of Paul Simon – already very high – was enhanced. The musicianship of the arrangments and the performance was very clearly about his vision of what he wanted to do. Plus, of course, he wrote all the songs (except the Everly Brothers stuff, naturally). And I always forget that in addition to being a hellacious songwriter, he’s a first-class guitarist (he went back and forth between a 12-string and a 6-string) and an excellent singer. He actually stood there empty-handed for one section of “Bridge over Troubled Water” and just sang – very powerful.

It was interesting to watch the two of them interact – they totally don’t. They spent most of the show not even looking at each other. Art kind of tried to pretend everything was fine – Paul obviously can’t stand him, though.

Good show – enjoyed it a lot. Has anyone else caught them?

2

:: drooooooools ::

In concert. Live.

May I worship you privately, please?

3

Yes, I saw them here in NJ. Awesome. I’ve seen PS by himself before, and he does put on a heck of a show.

4

I saw them in the mid-80s at the Laurel Race Track in Maryland. If not for the JumboTron, I might as well have stayed home and listened to a record.

My sister saw them at Goddard College in Vermont in the mid-60s. Maybe a hundred students in the student union with the two of them playing in the middle…

That would have been great…

5

We saw them at the beginning of the current tour. Great concert. At that time, they seemed friendlier. Touring must be wearing on their relationship, which as you know, has been pretty bad at times, so I suppose that is no surprise.

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Glad to hear you caught them, twick. Saw them in Dec. at Madison Square Garden. Was neat to hear them change a few “solo” arrangements around- Art sang “Kathy’s Song” on his own (same at your show?) in addition to Simon singing some of “Bridge” by himself. He was so corny with the hand gestures, though, I wanted to yell out, Strap the guitar back on! Please!

7

I saw them last December in Atlanta. Great show. There was some interaction between them, but I was struck with how much more comfortable Art looked in front of the audience.

I think the most telling thing was that I had one of the few lighters when it came time for the encore. I don’t smoke anymore, but c’mon this is basic concert behavior. Besides, holding up your cell phone just looks cheesey.