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Simon and Garfunkel, 1 Nov 2003, Key Arena
Nov. 2nd, 2003 02:25 pmWow.
No, let me say that a bit more clearly: Wow!
The short take:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
riverheart and I scored a pair of outstandingly good tickets to a once-in-a-lifetime show, and they were worth every penny of the shit-ton of money they cost.
The long take: in many respects, this was the music of my life. Yes, I've been influenced by any number of other artists, not just musically but philosophically. But I've seen Rush in concert, I've seen Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, I've seen Rick Wakeman.
(Side note: I haven't touched a keyboard in quite a while, but I once was an organist of some talent. Fluent in both classical and rock idioms, able to riff on the organ break from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" as communion music in a very staid church. Last time I tickled the ivories was about a year ago, at the Thanksgiving feast whereat I really began to be impressed by how wonderfulriverheart truly is; before that, several years of Walking Away From It All. There's this grand piano in the living room, though, that's been calling my name… but that's another story.)
But I'd never seen either Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel live, and hadn't had a hope in hell of ever seeing them perform together. So watching them last night, two old friends (literally— they've known each other for fifty years!) playing and singing like there had never been a split, never been an argument… it was awe-inspiring.
Second point: I listen to a plethora of musical styles. I joke that I like everything except Grand Opera and Grand Ol' Opry, but (truth be told) I don't even dislike the best of those. And yet, at heart I'm a sucker for a simple ballad or easy rocker, with harmonies I can usually find and lyrics that speak to my soul.
"Hello darkness, my old friend…" "And we've all come to look for America…"
Stuff I can't listen to, even thirty and more years after I first heard it, without tearing up and choking back a lump in my throat.
(Another side note: back in the day, I also played piano in a "folk worship" band at a trendy Episcopal church in San Francisco. One of our standards was "Bridge Over Troubled Water", but nobody in the group— or the congregation— could hit Art Garfunkel's high notes in the original key. So I transposed the music down a minor third, from Eb to C, so we'd have a chance at getting through it without our voices cracking like a pubescent teenager. Just thought you'd like to know.)
Ah, the harmonies. Just as clear and compelling as when I first heard them, late in high school and early in college. Lyrics that everyone knew, everyone could sing along with.
And the whole arena joining in with the "Lie la lie" chorus, so strongly that Art and Paul just stepped back from the mikes and let us all carry it.
They sang a snippet from a tune that was probably the first thing they recorded, back when they were in their teens. Wholly unmemorable, musically and lyrically (something about wanting the girl in the second row to meet him after school, and getting shot down; typical teen angst, 60's-style) except that the chord progressions and vocal harmonies were so obviously influenced by the Everly Brothers. Indeed, they came right out and said that Don and Phil were primary influences on them.
Which brings me to another track from the "BOTW" album…
Performed on stage last night by Don and Phil themselves, with backing vocals by Art and Paul. Two sets of legends, singing and performing right before my eyes.
Which teared up yet again for "All I Have To Do Is Dream", and even more so for "Let It Be Me".
I lost count of how many times eitherriverheart or I were overwhelmed emotionally by the music we heard last night. How many times we were taken back to a time and place of special import, or reminded of someone long ago and far away. I do know that last night, we forged a deeper bond between us, shed tears of joy and sorrow, and made memories that will last the rest of our lives.
For that, and for so much more: thanks indeed to Simon and Garfunkel.
In concert, 1 November 2003, Seattle.
No, let me say that a bit more clearly: Wow!
The short take:
riverheart and I scored a pair of outstandingly good tickets to a once-in-a-lifetime show, and they were worth every penny of the shit-ton of money they cost.The long take: in many respects, this was the music of my life. Yes, I've been influenced by any number of other artists, not just musically but philosophically. But I've seen Rush in concert, I've seen Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, I've seen Rick Wakeman.
(Side note: I haven't touched a keyboard in quite a while, but I once was an organist of some talent. Fluent in both classical and rock idioms, able to riff on the organ break from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" as communion music in a very staid church. Last time I tickled the ivories was about a year ago, at the Thanksgiving feast whereat I really began to be impressed by how wonderful
riverheart truly is; before that, several years of Walking Away From It All. There's this grand piano in the living room, though, that's been calling my name… but that's another story.)But I'd never seen either Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel live, and hadn't had a hope in hell of ever seeing them perform together. So watching them last night, two old friends (literally— they've known each other for fifty years!) playing and singing like there had never been a split, never been an argument… it was awe-inspiring.
Second point: I listen to a plethora of musical styles. I joke that I like everything except Grand Opera and Grand Ol' Opry, but (truth be told) I don't even dislike the best of those. And yet, at heart I'm a sucker for a simple ballad or easy rocker, with harmonies I can usually find and lyrics that speak to my soul.
"Hello darkness, my old friend…" "And we've all come to look for America…"
Stuff I can't listen to, even thirty and more years after I first heard it, without tearing up and choking back a lump in my throat.
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
(Another side note: back in the day, I also played piano in a "folk worship" band at a trendy Episcopal church in San Francisco. One of our standards was "Bridge Over Troubled Water", but nobody in the group— or the congregation— could hit Art Garfunkel's high notes in the original key. So I transposed the music down a minor third, from Eb to C, so we'd have a chance at getting through it without our voices cracking like a pubescent teenager. Just thought you'd like to know.)
Ah, the harmonies. Just as clear and compelling as when I first heard them, late in high school and early in college. Lyrics that everyone knew, everyone could sing along with.
I am just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles
Such are promises
All lies and jests
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
And the whole arena joining in with the "Lie la lie" chorus, so strongly that Art and Paul just stepped back from the mikes and let us all carry it.
They sang a snippet from a tune that was probably the first thing they recorded, back when they were in their teens. Wholly unmemorable, musically and lyrically (something about wanting the girl in the second row to meet him after school, and getting shot down; typical teen angst, 60's-style) except that the chord progressions and vocal harmonies were so obviously influenced by the Everly Brothers. Indeed, they came right out and said that Don and Phil were primary influences on them.
Which brings me to another track from the "BOTW" album…
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye bye, my love, goodbye
Performed on stage last night by Don and Phil themselves, with backing vocals by Art and Paul. Two sets of legends, singing and performing right before my eyes.
Which teared up yet again for "All I Have To Do Is Dream", and even more so for "Let It Be Me".
I lost count of how many times either
riverheart or I were overwhelmed emotionally by the music we heard last night. How many times we were taken back to a time and place of special import, or reminded of someone long ago and far away. I do know that last night, we forged a deeper bond between us, shed tears of joy and sorrow, and made memories that will last the rest of our lives.For that, and for so much more: thanks indeed to Simon and Garfunkel.
In concert, 1 November 2003, Seattle.
