#1
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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
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Epiphone Broadway, (2023) / Taylor 717, (2019) Last edited by shekie; 06-16-2018 at 05:08 PM. |
#2
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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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Acoustics: Martin D35 Martin OM-16GT Gibson J-45 Standard Breedlove Pursuit Concerto CE Takamine F400S 12-string Yamaha FG800 Citation CIT8000 "The Survivor" Electrics: Fender Standard Stratocaster (2004) |
#3
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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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Happy Sunsets Taylor 514ce (1999) Taylor K22ce - all Koa (2001) Taylor 612ce (2001) Taylor T5-C2 Koa (2007) Ovation CS28P KOAB - Koa Burst (2017) Paul Reed Smith 305 - Sunburst (2012) Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 - Autumn Sky (2013) Fender Classic Player 60s Strat - Sonic Blue (2012) Roland Juno DS76 (2020) |
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Before the concert began, I actually felt nervous for him, I had heard about his diminished singing and was hoping he wouldn't struggle for 2 1/2 hours. I need not have worried on his behalf. Yes, he's 76 and maybe he can't reach all the highest notes anymore, but he nailed everything else and his phrasing was spot on.
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Epiphone Broadway, (2023) / Taylor 717, (2019) |
#7
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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. |