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Old Friends Say Goodbye

Author:   the lambchop herself  
Posted: 7/12/04; 3:54:11 PM
Topic: Old Friends Say Goodbye
Msg #: 77 (top msg in thread)
Prev/Next: 76/78
Reads: 4225

If you've made it this far, you're a pretty hardcore Simon, Garfunkel, or Simon & Garfunkel fan, so I think I'll describe this concert in terms of albums in addition to individual songs.

First, the concert was unbelievable. It started 20 minutes late, which was good because we were 15 minutes late getting there. (Let's say John doesn't do well with directions to restaurants, and leave it at that.) The AmericanAirlines Center was nearly sold out; I think I counted about 20 empty seats, and there were some people sitting almost behind the stage. I hadn't been to this arena since it opened, and it's very, very nice. Much nicer than Reunion.

Anyway, they started with a video montage of, well, the last half of the 20th century, including some video of Paul Simon on 'Saturday Night Live' in the chicken suit, and some of 'The Graduate,' and then the lights went down and there they were, just standing there. I have to tell you, I'm almost positive I own everything either one of these guys has ever recorded, and I never thought I'd get to see the two of them together on the same stage. Honest to God - this was the thrill of a lifetime for me.

So, in terms of albums - they did everything from 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' (their last album) except 'So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright'. They even did 'Baby Driver' and 'El Condor Pasa.' They didn't do anything from 'Wednesday Morning' except 'Sounds of Silence', but they sang it more like the single from the album of the same name, and not like it was first released on 'Wednesday Morning.' (That was the case with most of the songs; they were performed as they were originally recorded, with very little improvisation. A notable exception to that was 'Bridge' itself, when Paul sang the second verse solo.)

Also from 'Sounds of Silence' was 'Leaves of Green' (a very nice surprise!) and 'I Am A Rock.' From 'Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme' came 'Scarborough Fair/Canticle,' 'Homeward Bound,' and '59th St Bridge', which they did on video as well as for their second encore.

Of course, 'Bookends' was the backbone of the show: 'Old Friends' was the opener of the concert, followed closely by 'Hazy Shade of Winter,' 'At The Zoo' (another great surprise), 'Mrs. Robinson,' and 'America.' The first encore was 'Cecelia' and 'The Boxer' (both from 'Bridge'), and the second encore, as I said, was 'Feelin' Groovy.' If there hadn't been so many old people who wanted to beat the traffic out of the parking lot, they probably would have done a third encore; I thought for a minute it was going to happen, but there were too many timid souls there. There were even people who left before the first encore!! (What do people like that think? It's not like they're coming back to do a show tomorrow, you idiots!! Your Lexus will still be in its parking place and you'll eventually get home - that's Paul-freaking-Simon standing there!!)

I thought each would sing more of his own solo songs, as was the case with their 1985 tour. The only songs performed that were not recorded by Simon & Garfunkel, though, were 'Slip Slidin' Away,' which Paul said should have been recorded by both of them, and 'My Little Town,' which has both voices but was released by Garfunkel on his album titled 'Breakaway.' There was nothing from 'Graceland' or from the 'Negotiations and Love Songs' era (Simon's greatest hits between 'Bridge' and 'Graceland'). This was pure duet, and it was incredible. They played for an hour and 45 minutes, and it was over too soon.

The funniest part of the evening was when Art was reminiscing about 2004 being the 50th year they've sung together, which received much applause and cheering. He recalled that they met as 12 year old boys in Queens, and their sixth grade play was 'Alice in Wonderland' wherein Art was the Cheshire Cat. Paul then stepped to the microphone and said that yes, that was true; he particularly enjoyed 'Alice' because his fifth grade production of 'Death of a Salesman' had been so trying. Paul also agreed that they had been singing together since they were 13, but that they had started fighting when they were 14, making this the 38th anniversary of Simon & Garfunkel.

The two of them seemed to be getting along fine, but one could see they aren't best buddies. As you've seen, I'm also a Barenaked Ladies fan; I particularly enjoy BNL live events because Steve Page and Ed Robertson (and Tyler and Jim and Kevin) have so much fun with each other and with the audience. Art and Paul definitely do not get along as well as Ed and Steve. You could just tell that there's a strain there. It didn't really affect the performance, just their interaction together, but I do wish they could truly put their past in the past.

This story is titled 'Old Friends Say Goodbye' because this date, the Dallas concert, was their very last American concert, most likely for good. They've said this is their last tour, and since they're as old as my parents I can understand that they want to enjoy their lives. I'm so grateful I got the chance to see them. When music history - American history - comes near you, you simply must go. That's why we work at our jobs and collect our pay - to enable us to enjoy our lives, take trips, listen to music, go to concerts. If chronic illness has taught me anything, it's that life is so short, and so perilous, that if I don't see the people and things I want to see when I have the chance, I may not have another one. I would have walked to Dallas to see these guys, weekday, 4 AM, freezing rain, whatever. If they can be there, so can I.

I'm so glad I didn't miss this chance. One more thing on my life list is done, and it was great.

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