Simon & Garfunkel - Manchester
Posted by: count.d on 15 July 2004
Saw them last night at the M.E.N and they were great.
Anyone else go?
Anyone else go?
Posted on: 15 July 2004 by Mike Hughes
Yeah I went and had mixed feelings really. For those of you who weren't there it goes like this.
1) The Everlys don't appear as scheduled as support. MEN staff advised to resort to painful Mexican wave stalling tactics. Everlys do appear for four songs about seven songs into S&G set. Works well but it's obvious that both voices are fairly shot nowadays. Probably worked out for the best in the end. I could be wrong though. Maybe the set was deliberately scheduled like that?
2) S&G were pretty good and played for just over two hours. They slowed a couple of songs and it worked reasonably well but two or three great songs were diverted on inappropriate solos (Mrs. Robinson being a great example of a song that started so well that I had the old tingle down the spine for a song that I'm not even a great fan of but then it lost it totally at the end).
3) Arties's voice is as shot as the Everlys. Several notes he reached as recently as last year were simply not there whereas Paul started poorly but got better and better. They adapted very well to their obvious limitations is probably the best way to put it so it probably wasn't a one off problem.
4) I love Jim Keltner (having been a drummer myself in a past life) but some of the drumming might be best described as heavy handed and, as for the guitarist...!!!
5) A truly great selection of songs but they never really reached the heights they should have. I found myself staring at the ceiling of the MEN on occasions. The last (only other) time I did that was when forced to accompany three pre-teenage girls to see Hearsay (although it was quite fascinating to hear what happens when Autotune goes wrong live!!!).
Glad I went but I can't say it will live long in the memory.
Mike
1) The Everlys don't appear as scheduled as support. MEN staff advised to resort to painful Mexican wave stalling tactics. Everlys do appear for four songs about seven songs into S&G set. Works well but it's obvious that both voices are fairly shot nowadays. Probably worked out for the best in the end. I could be wrong though. Maybe the set was deliberately scheduled like that?
2) S&G were pretty good and played for just over two hours. They slowed a couple of songs and it worked reasonably well but two or three great songs were diverted on inappropriate solos (Mrs. Robinson being a great example of a song that started so well that I had the old tingle down the spine for a song that I'm not even a great fan of but then it lost it totally at the end).
3) Arties's voice is as shot as the Everlys. Several notes he reached as recently as last year were simply not there whereas Paul started poorly but got better and better. They adapted very well to their obvious limitations is probably the best way to put it so it probably wasn't a one off problem.
4) I love Jim Keltner (having been a drummer myself in a past life) but some of the drumming might be best described as heavy handed and, as for the guitarist...!!!
5) A truly great selection of songs but they never really reached the heights they should have. I found myself staring at the ceiling of the MEN on occasions. The last (only other) time I did that was when forced to accompany three pre-teenage girls to see Hearsay (although it was quite fascinating to hear what happens when Autotune goes wrong live!!!).
Glad I went but I can't say it will live long in the memory.
Mike
Posted on: 15 July 2004 by count.d
Well Mike, I won't say it was a surprise that a member of the Naim Forum criticises an event, as it seems to be the norm here. Whether it's to try and appear cool, I've no idea or care. Just like winging that Keith Moon is dead and The Who will never be the same again.
Let's get this concert in perspective. These guys are 62ish. They will never quite hit the mark as thirty years ago. This was a special reunion and very unlikely to happen again, so soak it in, then leave.
If the passing of the years, the beauty of these songs and the unspoken understanding that this is a farewell tour, did not prick your emotions, then the reconciliation between these old sparring partners surely should.
What this breathtaking show proved, yet again, was that Garfunkel needs Simon's songs to give of his best, and Simon needs this sexagenarian choirboy to realise much of his finest work. The two are bookends between which some of the finest songs of the rock 'n' roll age remain wedged.
Art's voice was pretty well spot on and if it wasn't, his many solo's would have grated on the ears.
It will have to stay as a memory, because I very much doubt you will be able to sit in front of them again.
As the paper's front page headline said today "best gig I've ever seen". Not sure I quite agree with that, but it was up there.
Let's get this concert in perspective. These guys are 62ish. They will never quite hit the mark as thirty years ago. This was a special reunion and very unlikely to happen again, so soak it in, then leave.
If the passing of the years, the beauty of these songs and the unspoken understanding that this is a farewell tour, did not prick your emotions, then the reconciliation between these old sparring partners surely should.
What this breathtaking show proved, yet again, was that Garfunkel needs Simon's songs to give of his best, and Simon needs this sexagenarian choirboy to realise much of his finest work. The two are bookends between which some of the finest songs of the rock 'n' roll age remain wedged.
Art's voice was pretty well spot on and if it wasn't, his many solo's would have grated on the ears.
It will have to stay as a memory, because I very much doubt you will be able to sit in front of them again.
As the paper's front page headline said today "best gig I've ever seen". Not sure I quite agree with that, but it was up there.
Posted on: 23 July 2004 by Mike Hughes
Hi Count.d,
Been away on hols. for a week so I've only just caught up woth your comments.
Just a few returns over the net!
1) Reread my review. I think it balances the plusses and the minuses. Indeed, "soak it in and leave" is exactly what I did.
2) "If the passing of the years, the beauty of these songs and the unspoken understanding that this is a farewell tour, did not prick your emotions, then the reconciliation between these old sparring partners surely should." Erm, actually I agree with all of that except the last bit. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1263637,00.html says it far better than I ever could about their "reconciliation"!!!
The harsh reality is that they both need the money to bankroll other projects. Artie is cratively bankrupt and Simons' cachet has never been lower since the fiasco of Capeman. At the moment all they can get released are remasters of past glories.
3) "Breathtaking" - well the only time any breath was taken seemed to me when Artie was stretching his way through those solos. I have heard a Cd of the gig and I'm afraid I stand by my comments. He/they adapted well to their limitations but his voice was stretched and strained many times throughout the gig.
4) The songs are awesome. The fact they are being performed in a workmanlike and often perfunctory manner did not (and never will) suffice for me in the live arena. I don't think that's an unreasonable statement when they're taking the best part of £40 off me. Indeed, as my review was requested and recognises both the good and bad of the evening and seems to be borne out elsewhere then you pays your money and you takes your choice.
5) My appearance on this forum does not make me critical. My faculties manage that just fine all by themselves!!! Now, you wouldn't be one of those chaps who applaud because people have managed to walk onto the stage would you???
Mike
Been away on hols. for a week so I've only just caught up woth your comments.
Just a few returns over the net!
1) Reread my review. I think it balances the plusses and the minuses. Indeed, "soak it in and leave" is exactly what I did.
2) "If the passing of the years, the beauty of these songs and the unspoken understanding that this is a farewell tour, did not prick your emotions, then the reconciliation between these old sparring partners surely should." Erm, actually I agree with all of that except the last bit. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1263637,00.html says it far better than I ever could about their "reconciliation"!!!
The harsh reality is that they both need the money to bankroll other projects. Artie is cratively bankrupt and Simons' cachet has never been lower since the fiasco of Capeman. At the moment all they can get released are remasters of past glories.
3) "Breathtaking" - well the only time any breath was taken seemed to me when Artie was stretching his way through those solos. I have heard a Cd of the gig and I'm afraid I stand by my comments. He/they adapted well to their limitations but his voice was stretched and strained many times throughout the gig.
4) The songs are awesome. The fact they are being performed in a workmanlike and often perfunctory manner did not (and never will) suffice for me in the live arena. I don't think that's an unreasonable statement when they're taking the best part of £40 off me. Indeed, as my review was requested and recognises both the good and bad of the evening and seems to be borne out elsewhere then you pays your money and you takes your choice.
5) My appearance on this forum does not make me critical. My faculties manage that just fine all by themselves!!! Now, you wouldn't be one of those chaps who applaud because people have managed to walk onto the stage would you???
Mike