The tour-de-force was made up of a strong choice of songs from Simon’s 53-year-long career. Five Simon and Garfunkel songs, five songs from the lush “Graceland” album, a couple from last year’s “Stranger to Stranger,” and 13 more carried the crowd through a 2 hour and 10 minute musical trip. Throughout, Simon hit the right notes, while his band put out striking strong rhythms and soaring psychedelic sounds.

The sermonette came just before the last song:

I feel a little bit funny about saying these things, but I’m giving, I’m allowing myself the privilege of it due to my advanced age. For years it is my observation: Anger is addictive. And we are becoming a nation of addicts. Ask yourself, “Who are the dealers? Who are the pushers? Where, where is that anger coming from?” And be aware of — when you hear it, when you see it — be aware of its source. It’s not, it’s not that we aren’t gonna have reasons to be angry. Of course we do. But decision-making and best choices are made with a cool and a calm mind. And in a well-knit community, practice kindness.

Then he played, in acoustic solo, “The Sound of Silence.”

~~~

Image credit: screen grab from video by Youtube user Max Tetsoshvili

Half-Earth

Paul Simon said that he is giving all the profits of his tour to the Half-Earth project. The Half-Earth project aims to save 85% of Earth’s species from the rapid extinction that is now happening. The Half-Earth organization figures that that can be achieved by setting aside half of Earth’s surface to nature. Half-Earth says that about 15% of land surface and 3% of ocean surface is protected in nature preserves so far.

Video: Sermonette + “Sound of Silence”

by Youtube user Max Tetsoshvili

Set List

Here is the set list from the Paul Simon concert at Nautica in Cleveland, 13 June 2017:

1. The Boy in the Bubble
2. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
3. Dazzling Blue
4. That Was Your Mother
5. Rewrite
6. America
7. Mother and Child Reunion
8. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
9. Spirit Voices
10. The Obvious Child
11. Stranger to Stranger
12. Homeward Bound
13. El Condor Pasa – instrumental part only
14. Duncan
15. My Little Town
16. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
17. You Can Call Me Al
18. Wristband
19. Graceland
20. Still Crazy After All These Years
21. Questions for the Angels
22. The Boxer
23. One Man’s Ceiling Is Another Man’s Floor
24. Late in the Evening
25. The Sound of Silence