Instead of going to watch Spider-Man 2 last night, I had to suffer through two hours of Simon and Garfunkel.
Okay, maybe “suffer” isn’t exactly the right word; as much as I love Spidey, I’d rather hear Simon sing any day of the week.
Ah, the Simon and Garfunkel concert was a beautiful thing. I can’t recall a better concert I’ve been to, and the only one that even comes close was the Paul Simon/Bob Dylan concert I went to five years ago.
Then again, maybe I just have a thing for Mr. Simon, which could explain why I shouted, “I love you, Paul!” no fewer than three times during the course of the show. After Leslie elbowed me rather harshly, I remembered that I love her, too, and told her so. She wasn’t impressed.
The concert began with a video montage of pictures of Simon and Garfunkel over the course of their lives, with pictures of America interspersed, while an instrumental version of America played. When this was over, the spotlight fell on to the stage, and a standing ovation greeted the duo.
They started with a simple version of Old Friends and Bookends, then jumped into a rather boisterous version of A Hazy Shade of Winter. After a couple of songs, Art said how great it was to be in SLC, and they started to talk about how they met. Art said they met in a sixth grade, having both been cast in the school play “Alice in Wonderland.” With a grin, he noticed that he, of course, got the starring role–that of the Cheshire Cat. Paul took the mic and reminded me how freakin’ hilarious he is. He said, “Yes, it’s true, we met in sixth grade. I had just come off a rather difficult fifth grade production of ‘Death of a Salesman,’ and felt I needed something a little lighter and more musical. When the part of the white rabbit opened up, I knew it was my big shot at fame.”
Paul also noted that they started singing together when they were 13, had their first argument at 14, and thus this made the 48th anniversary of their first argument. He said, “We don’t argue any more, though. We’re past that. Really, we’re exhausted.”
They played a couple more songs, with Art stopping to tell a story about them living in England pre-fame, singing on the sidewalks for money with their friend Kathy–his intro to Kathy’s Song. Therein was my only complaint of the entire evening: Art sang Kathy’s Song. It’s one of my absolute favorite S&G songs, and every recording I’ve ever heard of it has Paul singing it, and that’s the way it’s always been, that’s the way I like it, and that’s how I want it to be.
Paul introduced their first hit, Hey Schoolgirl, saying it was their effort at trying to sound like the Everly Brothers. Then the Everlys themselves walked onstage for a four song set, after which there were general hugs and applause and suchlike, and Simon and Garfunkel retook the stage for the remainder of the evening.
Two non-S&G songs graced the show (well, two besides the four the Everly Brothers played). Before Slip Slidin’ Away Paul said, “This is a song that was never recorded by Simon and Garfunkel, but it should have been.” Art introduced American Tune by saying, “This is my favorite song of the set. Some songs feel like they were written into the future. This song was written 30 years ago, but feels like it could have been written last week.”
Another video montage was tossed in the middle of the concert, this time with Feelin’ Groovy playing in the background while scenes from “The Graduate” were shown, followed by Paul jamming on guitar for Mrs. Robinson.
For the end of the set, a wonderful My Little Town transitioned into Bridge Over Troubled Water. I’m not really a fan of Garfunkel singing solo–I prefer him as a harmonist–but the end of Bridge absolutely blew me away. I have never felt the song like that before.
After a standing ovation, they came back for two more songs, and after another standing ovation, they came back for two more songs, and then the night was over. I could have easily sat in that hard, uncomfortable chair for two more hours, basking in the wonder that is Simon and Garfunkel.
Setlist
Simon and Garfunkel
Video montage (America instrumental)
Old Friends/Bookends
A Hazy Shade of Winter
I Am a Rock
America
At the Zoo/Baby Driver
Kathy’s Song
Hey, Schoolgirl
The Everly Brothers
Wake Up, Little Susie
All I Have to Do Is Dream
Let it Be Me
Bye, Bye Love (with S&G)
Simon and Garfunkel
Scarborough Fair
Homeward Bound
The Sound of Silence
Video montage 2 (Feelin’ Groovy)
Mrs. Robinson
Slip Slidin’ Away
El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
Keep the Customer Satisfied
The Only Living Boy in New York
American Tune
My Litle Town
Bridge Over Troubled Water
First Encore
Cecilia
The Boxer
Second Encore
Leaves That Are Green
Feelin’ Groovy