Saw Paul Simon's Farewell Tour at TD Garden last night
I had seen him perform in the 1987 soon after releasing "Graceland" and although the band was superb, I found Paul Simon to be somewhat detached & uninspired, and seemingly unsettled by the audience's adulation.
Last night was a very different story. He was relaxed, engaging, funny, wistful, accepting of the audience's need to say goodby, and most of all, still a terrific musician and performer. He must have had close to 20 musicians with him, who seamlessly slid on and off the stage while he played songs with everything from the entire ensemble to a string & winds sextet, to a rock band, to solo. At the age of 76, to not only be able to play and sing flawlessly (yes, he can still sing!), but to also lead these various groupings as he wound his way through the setlist below, was extaordinary. He also played at various times, 4 different Martins, a 12 string dread, what looked to be two versions of either an M-36 or 0000-28, and what I believe to be an OM-42. If you have the opportunity to see him during this final tour, I highly recommend. The setlist: America 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover The Boy in the Bubble Dazzling Blue That Was Your Mother Rewrite Mother and Child Reunion Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War Can't Run But Bridge Over Troubled Water Wristband Spirit Voices The Obvious Child Questions for the Angels The Cool, Cool River Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes You Can Call Me Al Encore 1: Graceland Still Crazy After All These Years Late in the Evening Encore 2: Homeward Bound Kodachrome The Boxer Encore 3: American Tune Sounds of Silence |
Awesome setlist. It's a great cross section of his entire career. PS is one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
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One of the crown jewels of the past 100 years, that guy
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So good to hear. I had heard him a couple of year ago and his voice was terrible. Maybe it's like the aging athlete who can summon up the talent one last time to go out on top. Not that he has anything to prove.
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We saw him years ago and enjoyed his show. Considdering the number if musicians on his tour we wondered how the tickets paid for all that. With a set list like that nobody could leave disappointed.
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I saw him last night in Nashville. Wow and amen to all the OP said.
He brought Don Everly out and they sang BYE BYE LOVE which was pretty cool, after which Paul played OLD FRIENDS as he said it was fitting for the occasion. Yes, if you get the opportunity to see this concert it is worth the price of the ticket. |
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