Hello,

I know that this Wee Man's catalogue is musical mogadon to some but I'd beg to differ: this was my third time seeing Paul Simon solo. It was a full house and a standing ovation for him before he even got the chance to sing or play a note. Wow!

His instantly familiar voice showed no sign of any problems that led him to cancel a recent U.K. show and the band were as talented as you'd expect and multi-instrmentalists to boot: you don't often see the drummer pick up a Telecaster and make decent music, hah-hah!

At times the number of folk onstage ranged from nine, including P.S., down to only the Wee Man armed with an acoustic guitar. The band included the fellow who played bass with Simon on 'Graceland', and has been with him since.
There were no tapes or effects used: all the subtleties that you know from the studio releases were recreated organically onstage, if that makes sense. Takes some doing, I imagine.

I enjoyed most of the set-list save a couple of samey slow numbers: this sunny Sunday crowd were more than happy to get up on the good foot at any opportunity and loved the more percussive, up-tempo numbers like 'The Obvious Child'.
The songs played were a mix of the latest album ('So Beautiful Or So What'), oldies and a couple of oustanding covers: 'Mystery Train' and a sublime 'Here Comes The Sun'. Just mesmirising at times.

As well received as the latest album is, this crowd wanted to hear some Simon & Garfunkel classics. He knows it, we know it and you could almost feel the rush of anticipation when P.S. plucked the haunting intro to 'The Sounds Of Silence'. Still makes the hairs stand up after all these years: bloody hell, he wrote that in 1964!

Two hours flash by and after two encores he glad-hands a few folk at the front and finally leaves a unanimously approving audience behind. Maybe not your cup of tea, but a talented man nonetheless.

















Cheers,

Simon.

Just saw him in Toronto. Paul is great. An honor to see him.

Saw the show in London Simon. It had some great moments but I thought he could have delved more into his S&G back catalogue or have classics like American Tune and Me & Julio. But hey, hats off for not relying solely on the war horses like some artistes do!!

Hi Mike,

Yeah, the man could have played for another hour as far as the Manchester crowd were concerned: he has an artistic embarrassment of riches, hah-hah!

Surprisingly, his take on 'Here Comes The Sun' (with another guitarist and accordion player) was at least as moving as 'Sounds...': such a beauty of a song, George.

Cheers,

Simon.

I too have seen Paul three times, and I think is the only Artist I've been to see three times. Each time has been quite a different experience and the man just doesn't put a bad show on and excepting the Capeman debacle and the One trick Pony movie/soundtrack, all of his Cd's are great too.

His new album is sublime. One of the absolute best of 2011 so far. Good to hear that his live show in Manchester was well received...I heard less than complimentary reviews about his Glastonbury show.

national treasure.

Wow,your on a roll for shows lately aren't you Si? Have heard nothing but good things about this tour. Couldn't get tickets for his San Francisco shows. Hope he comes back around again.

Talking about whigs: Why doesn't Paul get one? Mick is not ashamed of his...

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Stoneage
Talking about whigs: Why doesn't Paul get one? Mick is not ashamed of his...

Paul used to have one. Balding throughout the 70s, he appeared in Central Park in 1981 with a full head of hair. I give him credit for finally taking the damn thing off. If you're bald, be bald. If you're grey, be grey.

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tatters

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Stoneage
Talking about whigs: Why doesn't Paul get one? Mick is not ashamed of his...

Paul used to have one. Balding throughout the 70s, he appeared in Central Park in 1981 with a full head of hair. I give him credit for finally taking the damn thing off. If you're bald, be bald. If you're grey, be grey.

"It's just some friends of mine and they're busting down the door"

The new album is fantastic and his live show is the best I've seen in years.
I admire an artist who will play his/her new things, even though the crowd may want nothing but their favorites.
Simon plays enough of his "hits," yet leans heavily on the new album.
It cracks me up when Keith says stuff like an album isn't completed until it's played on the road when the Stones tour behind a new record and play one or two new ones and a ton of warhorses.

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sweetcharmedlife

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tatters

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Stoneage
Talking about whigs: Why doesn't Paul get one? Mick is not ashamed of his...

Paul used to have one. Balding throughout the 70s, he appeared in Central Park in 1981 with a full head of hair. I give him credit for finally taking the damn thing off. If you're bald, be bald. If you're grey, be grey.

Is that a wig at the Central Park gig? Oh, well.

I love Simon's stuff, but...(and here's the but)...
I get the feeling he thinks he's way smarter than his audience, almost to the point of arrogance. At times he comes across as an out-of-touch NYC intellectual.
I remember seeing an interview with him where he bitched about how people can't appreciate time signature changes; they can't understand it going from 4/4 to 12/8 to 5/4 to 2/4 to 20/38 or whatever...and this is after Graceland and Rhythm Of The Saints which sold millions and went to the top of the charts.
Great songwriter though.

1974




1991






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-07-05 15:32 by tatters.

Paul Simon is truly an artist but the poor guy has had some obstacles to overcome. First of all his shortness, then the loss of hair. Enough to discourage any man... . Luckily God gave him talent in abundance!

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tomk

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sweetcharmedlife

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tatters

Quote
Stoneage
Talking about whigs: Why doesn't Paul get one? Mick is not ashamed of his...

Paul used to have one. Balding throughout the 70s, he appeared in Central Park in 1981 with a full head of hair. I give him credit for finally taking the damn thing off. If you're bald, be bald. If you're grey, be grey.

Is that a wig at the Central Park gig? Oh, well.

I love Simon's stuff, but...(and here's the but)...
I get the feeling he thinks he's way smarter than his audience, almost to the point of arrogance. At times he comes across as an out-of-touch NYC intellectual.
I remember seeing an interview with him where he bitched about how people can't appreciate time signature changes; they can't understand it going from 4/4 to 12/8 to 5/4 to 2/4 to 20/38 or whatever...and this is after Graceland and Rhythm Of The Saints which sold millions and went to the top of the charts.
Great songwriter though.

Yeah he's always had a degree of arrogance about him. But if your as talented as he is and put on as good a show,then I guess your entitled. It ain't bragging if you can back it up.

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Lynd8
I too have seen Paul three times, and I think is the only Artist I've been to see three times. Each time has been quite a different experience and the man just doesn't put a bad show on and excepting the Capeman debacle and the One trick Pony movie/soundtrack, all of his Cd's are great too.

He had a throat infection that week and told the crowd that too, but he still did pretty good. Between the infection and being 70 he still sounded better than a lot of rubbish being put today.

Saw him at Glastonbury and wasn't impressed, having said that I was never a big fan of Graceland etc, Plenty of people in the crowd seemed to be really enjoying him, so maybe it was just me. Can't stand the jingly jangly africanesque guitar playing!

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crumbling_mice
Saw him at Glastonbury and wasn't impressed, having said that I was never a big fan of Graceland etc, Plenty of people in the crowd seemed to be really enjoying him, so maybe it was just me. Can't stand the jingly jangly africanesque guitar playing!

Espicially on mescaline.