Paul Simon is 74? Jeeez! That makes me feel old. Seems like only yesterday I was singing along with friends to songs like “Mrs. Robinson” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”. Heck I remember being introduced to his music on MTV with the semi-comical video for “You Can Call Me Al” featuring Chevy Chase who was still pretty hot after hits like “Caddyshack” and “Fletch”. But alas it is 2016 and that one video is now 30 years old. Where does the time fly?

Simon has been a part of pop culture and po p music than most of you have been alive from his days with Art Garfunkel to the days of songs like “Kodachrome” and the monumental album “Graceland”. Not content to rest on his laurels Simon, who doesn’t tour as frequently as in the past and definitely not as much as his former partner, from time to time we are graced by his presence. Simon recently performed at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in part to promote his latest album Stranger to Stranger will be released the first week of June.

That being said, the show at the Fox was more a run down memory lane than the artist trying to run new songs by you as was the case for years by every artist that was ever played on the radio. Radio no longer factors in – and that can be a good thing depending on where you stand on the issue. And with purse strings tight fans these days want more bang fro their buck and quite honestly want to hear the songs they like instead of being introduced to new stuff. And like a true champion Simon delivered.

The set infused predominately of songs most were aware of. Only two songs from the new album made the set list towards the end of the set and in the first of three encores. Simon’s career spans an unbelievable six decades and while his vocals seemed a little tired, more so than usual that is to be expected when you are his age. Despite his vocals not being as powerful compared to his last visit to town they still struck a chord with the crowd on songs like “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and “Homeward Bound” they also displayed playfulness on songs like “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and “You Can Call Me Al”. Any time you get to see Paul Simon in reality is a good time.

Paul Simon Set List

Proof

(Instrumental – Band Only)

The Boy in the Bubble

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Dazzling Blue

That Was Your Mother

Rewrite

Honky Tonk

(Bill Doggett cover)

Slip Slidin’ Away

Mother and Child Reunion

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

Spirit Voices

The Obvious Child

El Condor Pasa

(Simon & Garfunkel song) (snippet)

Duncan

Homeward Bound

(Simon & Garfunkel song)

The Werewolf

The Cool, Cool River

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

You Can Call Me Al

Encore:

Wristband

Late in the Evening

Still Crazy After All These Years

Encore 2:

The Boxer

(Simon & Garfunkel song)

Encore 3:

America

(Simon & Garfunkel song)

– Chris Eason

Tags:  Art Garnfunkel Atlanta Fox Theatre Graceland Paul Simon Reviews Stranger to Stranger

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