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Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Paul Simon aging gracefully as latest tour, A Quiet Celebration, arrives in Toronto
Former Raptors all-star DeMar DeRozan shares thoughts about playing in Toronto Pickering boy, 13, in custody after 'sadistic' random slaying of elderly woman Paul Simon aging gracefully as latest tour, A Quiet Celebration, arrives in Toronto There's a fragility and honesty combined with humour and charm about Simon in his current state that makes you want to cheer him on Photo by Jake Edwards (photographer) Article content Paul Simon Massey Hall Thursday night RATING: **** (four out of four) Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content Article content Recommended Videos tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Paul Simon aging gracefully as latest tour, A Quiet Celebration, arrives in Toronto Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content Paul Simon isn't slip slidin' away. On the contrary. The 83-year-old master storyteller — who is aging well in his twilight years — instead personifies the final lyrics in the Simon and Garfunkel classic The Boxer: 'I am leaving, I'm leaving, but the fighter still remains.' In short, Simon, backed by a crack band — including three percussionists and a string section — plus his not-so-secret weapon and wife Edie Brickell (formerly of the New Bohemians) who joined her husband for four songs, wowed on Thursday night at Massey Hall during the second of three shows at the venue, which he described as 'a musician's delight. You can hear everything.' Simon's A Quiet Celebration Tour may describe the tone of his two-hour-and-20-minute show — which sees him playing new songs, classics and deep cuts over multiple nights in intimate venues around North America because of the severe hearing loss he's suffered over the last few years — but it doesn't really do justice to the genuinely moving, sometimes melancholy career-spanning performance that unfolds. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content There's a fragility and honesty combined with humour and charm about Simon in his current state that makes you want to cheer him on. For example, when people were shouting out requests during the first encore, Simon cheekily chose instead to do a song he said he 'loathes,' Feelin' Groovy, and the audience couldn't get enough of it. It was during the recording of his latest album, Seven Psalms, that Simon began to steadily lose the hearing in his left ear. The condition initially made touring impossible, but with help from the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, and his own production team, Simon redesigned his entire stage setup to make performing work including moving monitors to surround him. The evening began with all 33 minutes of Seven Psalms, a serious, sombre and religious-minded collection of seven songs that segue one into the other as a continuous piece of music starting with My Lord and ending with Wait (the latter for which he was joined by Brickell plus the previous song The Sacred Harp). Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content #paulsimon sings America @masseyhall. Told us he found America again in Canada, 'a beacon in the dark.' #toronto — Jane Stevenson (@JaneCStevenson) May 30, 2025 Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Then it was time for the mega-hits like the opening verse of America — he explained he'd currently found the best of America in Canada, 'a beacon in the dark,' Graceland, Slip Slidin' Away, Homeward Bound, Under African Skies (with Brickell again), Mother and Child Reunion, Me and Julio Down the Schoolyard, and three encores consisting of Feelin' Groovy, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, The Boxer, which produced lots of singing and clapping, and the show-ending The Sound Of Silence featuring Simon on stage alone with just his acoustic guitar. Me and Julio down by the schoolyard by #paulsimon @masseyhall #toronto — Jane Stevenson (@JaneCStevenson) May 30, 2025 Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The band, meanwhile, which includes Bakithi Kumalo (bass) who's the last remaining band member from the Graceland band sessions, seemed to take as much delight in playing alongside Simon as they did in watching him, along with the rest of us. He is scheduled to play his final Toronto show on Friday night. SETLIST: The Lord Love Is Like A Braid My Professional Opinion Your Forgiveness Trail of Volcanoes The Sacred Harp (with Edie Brickell) Wait (with Edie Brickell) (INTERMISSION) America (First Verse Only) Graceland Slip Slidin' Away Train in the Distance Homeward Bound #paulsimon is Homeward Bound @masseyhall, which he called 'a musician's delight.' #toronto — Jane Stevenson (@JaneCStevenson) May 30, 2025 Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The Late Great Johnny Ace St. Judy's Comet Under African Skies (with Edie Brickell) Edie Brickell joins hubby #paulsimon on Under African Skies @masseyhall #toronto — Jane Stevenson (@JaneCStevenson) May 30, 2025 Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War Rewrite Spirit Voices Mother and Child Reunion #paulsimon classic: Mother and Child Reunion @masseyhall #toronto — Jane Stevenson (@JaneCStevenson) May 30, 2025 Advertisement 9 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (with Edie Brickell whistling) ENCORE: Feelin' Groovy 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover ENCORE 2: The Boxer ENCORE 3: The Sound of Silence (solo without band) Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
What do tickets cost to see Paul Simon at NYC's Beacon Theatre?
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. One of New York City's favorite sons is returning home. This June, Paul Simon will play not one, not two, not three, not four but five (!) concerts at the Upper West Side's Beacon Theatre as part of his ongoing 'A Quiet Celebration Tour.' They'll take place Monday, June 16, Wednesday, June 18, Friday, June 20, Saturday, June 21 and Monday, June 23. Advertisement These gigs will be his first full shows in the five boroughs — excluding 'Saturday Night Live' appearances and supporting spots — since 2018's 'Homeward Bound Farewell Tour.' Based on our findings at Set List FM, the folk icon has been playing 20-25 songs at all shows on this tour. He typically starts with tracks from his recently-released album 'Seven Psalms' before launching into 'Hits and Deep Cuts,' which includes 'Graceland,' 'Homeward Bound,' 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,' 'The Boxer' and 'The Sound of Silence' among other favorites. If you'd like to sing along with the timeless vocalist live, tickets are available for all five Beacon Theatre shows. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find for any one show was $294 including fees on Vivid Seats. Advertisement Other shows have tickets starting anywhere from $309 to $370 including fees. While that may seem pricey, it should be taken into account that this may be Simon's swan song. The man is 83 and this very well may be his final nationwide trek. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Paul Simons' 'A Quiet Celebration Tour' Beacon Theatre concerts below. All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. Paul Simon Beacon Theatre tickets 2025 Advertisement A complete calendar including all Paul Simon Beacon Theatre concert dates, show start times and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here: Paul Simon Beacon Theatre concert dates Ticket prices start at Monday, June 16 8 p.m. $340 (including fees) Wednesday, June 18 8 p.m. $370 (including fees) Friday, June 20 8 p.m. $329 (including fees) Saturday, June 21 8 p.m. $294 (including fees) Monday, June 23 8 p.m. $309 (including fees) (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. Advertisement They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. Paul Simon 2025 tour schedule In the event you're not in the Big Apple, here's where else you can see Simon this summer. Paul Simon set list Most recently, Simon headlined at Toronto's Massey Hall on May 27, 2025. According to Set List FM, here's what he performed that evening: Seven Psalms 01.) 'The Lord' 02.) 'Love Is Like A Braid' 03.) 'My Professional Opinion' 04.) 'Your Forgiveness' 05.) 'Trail of Volcanoes' 06.) 'The Sacred Harp' (with Edie Brickell) 07.) 'Wait' (with Edie Brickell) Hits and Deep Cuts 08.) 'America' (Simon & Garfunkel song) (First Verse Only – Tour debut and first time since 2021) 09.) 'Graceland' 10.) 'Slip Slidin' Away' 11.) 'Train in the Distance' 12.) 'Homeward Bound' (Simon & Garfunkel song) 13.) 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' 14.) 'St. Judy's Comet' 15.) 'Under African Skies' (with Edie Brickell) 16.) 'Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War' 17.) 'Rewrite' 18.) 'Spirit Voices' 19.) 'Mother and Child Reunion' 20.) 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' (with Edie Brickell) Encore Advertisement 21.) '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' 22.) 'The Boxer' (Simon & Garfunkel song) Encore II 23.) 'The Sound of Silence' (Simon & Garfunkel song) Paul Simon on 'SNL' Simon and Sabrina Carpenter opened 'Saturday Night Live's' 50th anniversary show with a nearly five-minute rendition of his seminal 'Homeward Bound.' Accompanied just by an acoustic guitar and a pair of microphones, you can hear their poignant, triumphant duet here: Advertisement Paul Simon new music On May 19, 2023, Simon released his 15th solo studio album 'Seven Psalms.' The unconventional record — which came to him in a dream — is a single 33-minute track made up seven parts. 'I envisioned 'Seven Psalms' as one long thought, combined with sounds powerful enough to make the thought come alive,' he said. Advertisement For our money, it's a soft, spiritual departure for the sensitive hitmaker. His unmistakable voice is as powerful as ever but there's a real deep feeling here, one of an artist trying to make a final thesis statement. It's simple, lo-fi and a worthy listen for even the most fair weather of fans. And, while, yes, the album is quite heavy, 'My Professional Opinion' is a jaunty, tongue-in-cheek tune that has traces of Simon's playful classics 'Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard' and 'Cecilia' in its DNA if you squint hard enough while tuning in. If you'd like to hear the stirring, acoustic offering, you can find 'Seven Psalms' here. Paul Simon band According to Consequence, here are the artists taking the stage with Simon this spring and summer: Advertisement Caleb Burhans (viola), Jamey Haddad (percussion), Gyan Riley (guitar), Mick Rossi (piano, keys), Andy Snitzer (saxophone), Nancy Stagnita (flute), Mark Stewart (guitar), and Eugene Friesen (Cello). They added that 'Steve Gadd and Matt Chamberlin will alternate on drums.' Simon's wife Edie Brickell will join him on vocals. Classic rockers on tour in 2025 If you still have classic rock radio on repeat, you're in for a treat. Many mega icons from the '60s and '70s are still out and and about, delivering their timeless favorites at venues all over North America these next few months. To make sure you're up to speed, here are just five of our favorites you won't want to miss live. • Yusuf/Cat Stevens • Ringo Starr • Bob Dylan with Willie Nelson • Neil Young • Patti Smith Who else from way back when is pounding the pavement? Take a look at our list of all the biggest classic rockers on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'A beacon in the darkness': Paul Simon returns to Canada after seven years, defying hearing loss with grace and music
In a return to live performance in Canada after 7 years, Paul Simon graced Toronto's Massey Hall on May 27. The 83-year-old singer-songwriter, renowned for his evocative storytelling and musical innovation, is embarking on his "A Quiet Celebration" tour, a series of intimate performances across North America. Dressed casually in jeans, a ball cap, and a purple jacket, Simon opened his second set with the 1968 classic "America." Before starting his song, he reflected on its themes of division and the search for identity, drawing parallels to contemporary times. "I wrote that song many years ago," he shared, noting its relevance today. He then offered a poignant observation: "I'm happy to report that I've found it. It's here in Canada. You really are a beacon in the darkness at this point." The evening commenced with a full performance of his 2023 album, "Seven Psalms," a contemplative piece exploring spirituality and human connection. Accompanied by a chamber ensemble featuring harmonium, flute, strings, and intricate percussion, Simon delivered the seven-movement composition with a blend of spoken word and song. His wife, singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, joined him for "The Sacred Harp," adding depth to the introspective set. The second half of the concert celebrated Simon's extensive catalog, offering reimagined versions of beloved tracks. Highlights included "Graceland," "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War," and "The Late Great Johnny Ace," the latter accompanied by visuals of John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, and Johnny Ace. Brickell returned for a whistling solo on "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," adding a playful touch to the evening. Live Events The encore featured fan favorites "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "The Boxer ," culminating in a solo performance of " The Sound of Silence ." The audience was visibly moved as Simon softly sang, "Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again," bringing the night to a poignant close. Simon, who had previously retired from touring in 2018 due to hearing loss, collaborated with the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to adapt his performances for optimal acoustics. The "A Quiet Celebration" tour continues with additional dates in Toronto on May 29 and 30, followed by performances in Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, and other cities. Who is Paul Simon? Paul Simon is an iconic American singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics, innovative music, and enduring hits both as a solo artist and as half of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel. With classics like 'The Sound of Silence,' 'Graceland,' and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' he has shaped popular music for over six decades.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
'A beacon in the darkness': Paul Simon returns to Canada after seven years, defying hearing loss with grace and music
Paul Simon, at 83, returned to the Canadian stage after seven years, performing at Toronto's Massey Hall as part of his "A Quiet Celebration" tour. He delivered his 2023 album "Seven Psalms" and reimagined classics, with Edie Brickell joining him. Simon, who addressed hearing loss challenges, concluded the night with a moving rendition of "The Sound of Silence." Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who is Paul Simon? In a return to live performance in Canada after 7 years, Paul Simon graced Toronto's Massey Hall on May 27. The 83-year-old singer-songwriter, renowned for his evocative storytelling and musical innovation, is embarking on his "A Quiet Celebration" tour, a series of intimate performances across North casually in jeans, a ball cap, and a purple jacket, Simon opened his second set with the 1968 classic "America." Before starting his song, he reflected on its themes of division and the search for identity, drawing parallels to contemporary times. "I wrote that song many years ago," he shared, noting its relevance today. He then offered a poignant observation: "I'm happy to report that I've found it. It's here in Canada. You really are a beacon in the darkness at this point."The evening commenced with a full performance of his 2023 album, "Seven Psalms," a contemplative piece exploring spirituality and human by a chamber ensemble featuring harmonium, flute, strings, and intricate percussion, Simon delivered the seven-movement composition with a blend of spoken word and song. His wife, singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, joined him for "The Sacred Harp," adding depth to the introspective second half of the concert celebrated Simon's extensive catalog, offering reimagined versions of beloved tracks. Highlights included "Graceland," "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War," and "The Late Great Johnny Ace," the latter accompanied by visuals of John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, and Johnny Ace. Brickell returned for a whistling solo on "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," adding a playful touch to the encore featured fan favorites "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "The Boxer ," culminating in a solo performance of " The Sound of Silence ." The audience was visibly moved as Simon softly sang, "Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again," bringing the night to a poignant who had previously retired from touring in 2018 due to hearing loss, collaborated with the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to adapt his performances for optimal "A Quiet Celebration" tour continues with additional dates in Toronto on May 29 and 30, followed by performances in Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, and other Simon is an iconic American singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics, innovative music, and enduring hits both as a solo artist and as half of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel. With classics like 'The Sound of Silence,' 'Graceland,' and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' he has shaped popular music for over six decades.
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: Paul Simon's ‘Quiet Celebration' is a night to lean into his music
'We are in a conversation,' a gracious Paul Simon announced Wednesday at the first of a three-night stand at Symphony Center, a proper location for his 'Quiet Celebration' tour. And what a memorable conversation it was. Opening the two-set concert with a full performance of 'Seven Psalms,' his 2023 album comprised of a continuous suite of seven songs, Simon presented a fearless meditation on mystery, mortality and the great beyond. Those weighty topics extended beyond the potent 'Seven Psalms.' They arose in almost all of the older selections he chose — work that took on new significance and intent given Simon's current reflections, his 83-year-old age and diminished voice. Though the iconic singer-songwriter never issued any overt statements linking the cerebral concepts of 'Seven Psalms' to material he wrote decades ago, common threads about loss, wonder, home and the constant search for meaning informed the 115-minute show. Simon explored tensions between disbelief and faith, envisioned the Lord as both guardian and saboteur, and seldom arrived at definitive answers to his probing thoughts. Seated on a stool with an acoustic guitar and surrounded by a semi-circle of 11 ace musicians, Simon delivered ruminations, deliberations and hymns via soft, deceivingly casual phrasings. Subtle hand gestures, spiritual tones and light rhythms emerged as undercurrents. Tranquil albeit unsettled, the nuanced approach represented the latest mutation of an artist for whom seeking adventure and rejecting stasis constitute career-long constants. The understatement suited his voice, which now demands that Simon play in intimate halls. Robbed of its former range and projection, Simon's once-flexible instrument displayed wear, thinness and frailty. Occasionally, it frayed and quivered, its raggedness somewhat concealed by the low volumes. Humble and sincere, Simon's singing invited the crowd to lean in as if it took the form of a whisper sharing secrets — and to meet it on its own terms before the words dissolved, offering wisdom as the reward. Under no circumstances would Simon's present vocal abilities succeed in an arena environment. It's also difficult to picture him pulling off the sort of greatest-hits routine typically dispatched by vintage artists catering to the whims of nostalgia. A number of his classic songs no longer fit the parameters of his voice and would probably suffer. He seems to understand that. Better still, he possesses the desire to find fresh ideas in the old and new. Particularly amid songs concerning death, mercy, eternity, and clarifying realizations that, if you're lucky, strike you when you can still act upon them. And so, on this evening, Simon skipped 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes' and 'Cecilia.' He bypassed the sure-fire favorites 'Kodachrome' and 'You Can Call Me Al.' Simon didn't entirely ignore his carefree side. A bubbly 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' preceded the encore, which began with the singer rhyming on '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.' The tunes stood as exceptions amid a set that dared to go deep on multiple levels, with Simon saying several compositions were seldom performed live. To hear him a few years ago, you would think his days on the stage were finished. The New Jersey native announced he would cease touring in early 2018, the same year he commemorated his legacy with a 'Homeward Bound: A Farewell Tour' that included an acclaimed stop at United Center. Save the sporadic one-off appearance, he stayed true to his word. Then the creative bug bit. Around the time he released 'Seven Psalms,' Simon revealed in an interview that he suffered near-total hearing loss in his left ear. But, having again started to write songs, Simon felt an urge to play the album in front of audiences. Reversing a prior decision, he announced his current 56-date outing after appearing on the 'Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary' special in February. Initially dressed in a sports coat and later donning a ballcap, Simon made himself small in the service of the music. His exceptional group — which included the final surviving original member of the 'Graceland' band, bassist Bakithi Kumalo, plus multifaceted guitarists Gyan Riley and Mark Stewart — exhibited similar restraint and modesty. A rotating stable of woodwinds, strings, glass cloud-chamber bowls, shaken devices and xylophones complemented acoustic foundations built by guitars, pianos and percussion. Mindful of potential overkill, or of drowning out Simon's fragile voice, the collective let the arrangements breathe and valued the spaces between notes. With no one overstepping their boundaries and everyone serving the whole, the discipline and technique mirrored that of an orchestra. Ditto the classical-leaning fades and swells of the 'Seven Psalms' pieces. They eschewed pop conventions and traveled in directions whose fluid, sidewinding motions evoked the surrealism and unpredictability of dreamscapes. 'Your Forgiveness' haunted with Spanish-style accents and pointed chords as Simon posited that humans are merely droplets in God's massive universe. Aided by the smooth, soothing vocal harmonies of intermittent guest and Simon's wife, Edie Brickell, 'The Sacred Heart' drew from Biblical parables about refugees and place as it delved into empathy and the notion of music as a balm. The mantra 'Love is Like a Braid' addressed doubt, transition, innocence and home. They established thematic road maps for Simon's earlier songs, with the welcoming messages of the plucky 'Graceland' no longer confined to Memphis, Tennessee, but hinting at a peaceful destination not of this Earth — and affiliated with the beautiful heaven of 'Wait.' Home, and lasting comfort, further figured in the nimble 'Homeward Bound,' its connotations radically different from those of 60 years ago when Simon penned it as a road-weary folk singer traveling overseas. And they flickered in the detailed descriptions of the melodic 'Spirit Voices.' Enchantment, and the examination of factors outside our control, also instructed practical matters, whether the bedtime-lullaby episodes of 'St. Judy's Comet' or delightful scenes of the patient 'Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War.' That deep cut circled back to Simon's treatment of the passage of time and how it colors perspective, particularly when one looks back on what they cannot change and wish they knew long ago. He imagined such luck in the foot-tapping 'Rewrite,' the narrator's yearning for a redo so desperate that Simon framed it as a pleading prayer. Other protagonists overlooking fortune in their pursuit of 'the thought that life could be better' weren't granted wishful fantasy, while the trio — R&B singer Johnny Ace, John F. Kennedy and John Lennon — chronicled in 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' suffered a graver fate. Emotions as heavy and definite as mortality hung over a finale that found Simon solo and alone, singing his most timeless song in a weather-beaten voice. Coming across as a farewell, 'The Sound of Silence' chilled with its ostensible serenity, its observations about the lack of real communication and connections having evolved from urgent warnings to terrifying realities. And like to the tired fighter in 'The Boxer,' Simon still remained, his prescient lyrics echoing with deafening from Symphony Center in Chicago on May 21: First set ('Seven Psalms') 'The Lord' 'Love is Like a Braid' 'My Professional Opinion' 'Your Forgiveness' 'Trail of Volcanoes' 'The Sacred Harp' 'Wait' Second set 'Graceland' 'Slip Slidin' Away' 'Train in the Distance' 'Homeward Bound' (Simon and Garfunkel cover) 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' 'St. Judy's Comet' 'Under African Skies' 'Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War' 'Rewrite' 'Spirit Voices' 'Mother and Child Reunion' 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' Encore '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' 'The Boxer' (Simon and Garfunkel cover) 'The Sound of Silence' (Simon and Garfunkel cover)
