NEW YORK (Simon & Garfunkel Fan Website) - The prodigal
Simon and Garfunkel finally brought it all back home to Madison
Square Garden yesterday with a faithful show that packed enough memories to last fans the rest of their lives.
On the final stretch of a three-month tour that Paul Simon says may be their last, one of the defining popular music duos of the 1960s plunged with all four feet into the deep pool of their classics, from an intense "Homeward Bound" to a rocking "Keep the Customer Satisfied."
They were and they did, and they also saluted the city where they were born and raised - and hadn't played a full concert together since 1983. Tuesday's show, the first of three in New York, was a non-stop string of old favourites, with several numbers bringing tears to the eyes of many in the audience who looked old enough to have listened to Simon and Garfunkel many decades ago.
"Good evening, my dear New York friends," said Art Garfunkel. "I'm so sorry it has taken us so many years for us to get here. This is one of the greatest nights of my life."
Simon was more reserved, letting his New York roots come through in songs like "At the Zoo," "The Only Living Boy in New York" and "Feelin' Groovy (The 59th Street Bridge Song)."
Dressed for comfort, with Simon in bright red and Garfunkel in light blue, they punctuated the show with riffs on their relationship, which at times has been publicly edgy. "It's actually just one argument," Garfunkel joked. "When we started, I wanted to call us Garfunkel and Simon."
"Then you should do that," replied Simon.
When they both talked about meeting in a sixth-grade school production of "Alice in Wonderland," Simon deadpanned that as the White Rabbit, he was the lead, while Garfunkel's Cheshire Cat was "a supporting role ... but a very important supporting role."
On a more serious note, Garfunkel repeatedly praised Simon's musical skill. After "American Tune" he pointed to his singing partner and said, "What a writer," sparking a round of applause.
The middle-aged crowd also applauded briefly whenever they recognized an opening chord, which was for almost every song. But once they had applauded, they sat back and listened quietly, more like a'60s folk crowd than a rock audience.
They were rewarded by hearing two voices that still blend like good wine on songs like "I Am a Rock," "El Condor Pasa," "Sounds of Silence," "Baby Driver" and "The Boxer."
A perfect touch was the midset appearance of the Everly Brothers, whom Simon and Garfunkel have long admired and who still sound fine themselves. At the end of the Everlys' appearance, all four sang "Bye Bye Love" together, drawing a standing ovation.
For a first encore, they played 'Cecilia' and 'The Boxer'. For the second encore, they played 'Leaves That Are Green' and 'The 59th Street Bridge Song'.
Simon and Garfunkel return to the Garden tonight and tomorrow, then hit Continental Arena at the Meadowlands on Monday and Tuesday. There have been reports of further activity, but nothing has been confirmed - and if this is really the point at which they slip-slide away, they're still going out on top.
