Simon bids farewell at height of powers
Paul Simon doesn’t need to dance. At 76, the singersongwriter would be forgiven for not wishing to test the limits of his mobility, but age has nothing to do with it. Since the days of his partnership with Art Garfunkel, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has never needed much more than the suggestive tweak of an eyebrow or the promise of a smile tugging at his lips to bring excitement to his shows.
Simon took the stage at Oracle Arena on Friday, May 25, for his final Bay Area appearance after announcing his intended retirement in February. Although the “Homeward Bound” tour may be billed as the renowned artist’s last run of live performances, Simon showed no signs of rust as he dug into beloved tracks like “America” and “Me and Julio Down By the School Yard.”
Instead, he treated the evening like a fireside chat, sharing stories like the time his first guitar was stolen, and how he found the title for “Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War” while browsing Joan Baez’s bookshelves. Much like his musical skill, his charm hasn’t waned in the six decades since he first
Much like his musical skill, his charm hasn’t waned in the six decades since he first shared his music with the world.
shared his music with the world.
At one point a fan’s cry of “I love you Paul!” reached Simon’s ears during a quiet moment between songs.
“Perfectly understandable,” he deadpanned.
During “Wristband” — one of the few recent releases he performed during a concert that included 26 songs and three encores — Simon played the role of both the incredulous artist denied entry to his own show and the security guard unwilling to grant him entry. His joy at inhabiting the world of his lyrics was but one of many moments that made it clear this final set of concerts is in no sense an obligation to fans, but rather a victory lap for one of the most acclaimed musicians of our time.
Compared with his contemporaries still performing stadiums, Simon’s show was notably more intimate. Absent were the flying pigs one could expect to see at a Roger Waters’ concert, or the pyrotechnics that accompany a Paul McCartney gig. For the 16-time Grammy Award winner, his acoustic guitar and a sterling assemblage of talented musicians behind him were all he needed to bring classics like “Graceland,” “The Boxer” and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” to life.
But talented may be an understatement about these musicians. On bass was the incomparable Bakithi Kumalo, who has been with Simon since the “Graceland” days. Members of the modern jazz ensemble yMusic seemed at ease tackling some of Simon’s more complex arrangements. The conceit of a band as a family is often more makebelieve than reality, but in the case of Paul Simon, the crowded stage truly reflected a group that share something deep in their musical blood.
Their stamina was apparently infectious, bolstering Simon’s energy time and time again. He belted out 17 songs before he even removed his blazer.
As if he needed to prove his point further, Simon did dance.
During the opening accordion strains of “That Was Your Mother,” he left the microphone to prance about the stage. However, when it came time to end the evening, Simon stood alone. As the wistful melody of “The Sound of Silence” wafted up to the Oracle rafters, it was once more simply Simon and his guitar.
“The word final is just strange in my psyche,” he said.
For the sold-out crowd gathered to see Simon one last time, the concept was equally unfamiliar. Perhaps he’ll change his mind, but if he doesn’t, Simon will leave the stage at the height of his powers — a final trick from one of music’s most beloved conjurers.