Trillium University

The POP Music Journal

O F

Professor Turnbow

Note: E.T. (Professor Turnbow) will be uploading his journals/letters which he has accumulated though decades of concert going. The following is the sixth of many installments to come.

Simon and Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel Open "Old Friends" Concert Tour!


When Simon & Garfunkel Tour Hit Seattle Washington on Saturday, November 1st at The Key arena. Professor Turnbow was onboard for a full review!

Simon & Garfunkel opened the "Old Friends" concert to a wildly appreciative audience. Surprise special guests the Everly Brothers were introduced mid-way and sang three of their classic hits before Simon & Garfunkel returned to the stage to sing "Bye Bye Love" with them.

Here a brief overview of the show Saturday! It was about the 9th stop on an a 30 plus date tour through December. They played Denver before it, and were moving on to Portland next. I bought a collectable poster on thick cardboard as my souvenier. There was no pins or necklaces. Just shirts, cd's, and programs. My poster is wicked. I even sacrificed my ticket to display with it.

I left at about 5 minutes to 6pm I had smooth waters untill about the Tacoma Mall. Half hour back up. Coming into the center was a good 15 minute back-up. Total travel time was a whopping 90 minutes. My ususal spot was taken but there was a pay lot with only 5 cars in it only 3 blocks from the show, right accross the street from the usual spot! One credit card swipe on the visa and it only costs $5.oo. Things were looking my way.

In the door at 8pm. They did not start untill 8:30. Opening number was an instrumental "America" with a ten minute film. Too dark to see the band. Then they were there under the lights with an acoustic only to sing "Old Friends". The band had legendary Jim Keltner on drums (Neil Young, CSNY, Travelling Willburys). Two keyboards, two Guitars, bass, two drums, very full).

Big bonus came 20 minutes in when THE EVERLY BROTHERS came out and sand about 6 of their biggest hits like "Wake Up Little Suzie", "Dreams", and "Let It Be Me". Rejoined by Simon and Garfunkle for a blasting version of "Bye Bye Love". This was am unexspected and cool bonus. REally cool! (But too short!)

The show ran for 2 and a half hours and was over at 11 pm. Their first official last song was "Bridge over Troubled Water". The firsts of 4 big encors was "Cecilia", then "The BOxer" and finnally "Feeling Groovy" the 59th street bridge song. They had a second film moment in the show where they played clips from "The Graduate" and hammered out a rousing rendition of "Mrs. Robinson".

My two bests monents were when Paul sang my favorite Simon and Garfunkle tune, after I was all but certain he would not and it was to obscure. He explained that Artie fly out to film a movie in Mexico called "Catch 22", way back in the year of 1969. He was left home all alone and felt like he was "The Only Living Boy In New York". Here are the lyrics. It is an obscure one, but allways my favorite.

Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in New York From the album "Best Of Simon And Garfunkel"

**************************************
Tom, get your plane right on time.
I know your part'll go fine.
Fly down to Mexico.
Da-n-da-da-n-da-n-da-da and here I am,
The only living boy in New York.


I get the news I need on the weather report.
I can gather all the news I need on the weather
report.
Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile.
Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da here I am
The only living boy in New York


Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where,
And we don't know here.


Tom, get your plane right on time.
I know you've been eager to fly now.
Hey let your honesty shine, shine, shine
Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da
Like it shines on me
The only living boy in New York,
The only living boy in New York.

**************************************


SET LIST