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July 16, 2006 - USA / New Jersey
Holmdel - PNC Bank Arts Center

Setlist

Gumboots
The Boy in the Bubble
Outrageous
Slip Slidin´ Away
You´re the One
Me and Julio Down by the School Yard
How Can You Live in the Northeast?
Mrs. Robinson
Love Me Like a Rock
That Was Your Mother
Duncan
Graceland
Father and Daughter
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Still Crazy After All These Years
Cecilia

E1:
You Can Call Me Al
The Only Living Boy in New York
The Boxer

E2:
Wartime Prayers
Bridge Over Troubled Water

The band (not all members are present at all shows)

Vincent Nguini - Guitar
Bakithi Kumalo - Bass
Steve Gadd - Drums
Mark Stewart - Guitars, Cello, Saxophone, selfmade instruments
Robin diMaggio - Drums, percussion
Tony Cedras - Accordeon, Keyboard, Guitars
Andy Snitzer - Saxophone, Synthesizer
Harper Simon - Guitar
Adrian Simon - Keyboards

Fans who attended this show

This was a joyous, rhythmic, exhilirating show, which many beautiful melodies, soul-rocking beats, sweet harmonies, elegant guitar lines, and a beautiful bottom which packed a punch with two drum kits and a rock solid bass player.
Man, this was tasty.
I would have loved another half hour of music, too.
But what the heck. Paul is 64 years old, it was hot and humid as it could possibly be, and the music cut through the night air like a cool, crisp, refreshing breeze that made you glad to be alive.

seeing Paul for the first time since 1982, it was real exciting. The Jerry Douglas Band were great. and as the crowd was getting a little anxious to see Paul, when he came out he played a phenomenal set. Coming out for encore 2 & 3 playing great despite the heat and humidity I certainly had the time of my life.. I was slightly shocked that he didnt play 50 ways or Kodachrome, but I guess if Paul Simon had to play all his hits the concert would be a heck of alot longer and The band would have melted out thre. Thanks again Paul and the band for a great night of music

I personally thought the crowd was a little lame. We got yelled at for dancin twice... We heard the sound check at around 5 and the where rehearsing late in the Evening so I was thinking they would play it but no...I think they could of used another horn or two in the band...Northeast was by far the best new song live and one of the best period.

Bravo Paul- you gave us what we came for- all your old stuff and a sample of the new. Excellent show!! Thanks

Excellent show, Paul was amazing. The crowd didn´t know some of the songs (especially the new ones) but he was on fire. I danced a lot in the second half and had a great time. Paul looked like he was having the time of his life during Me and Julio. You Can Call Me Al was probably his best song. Mark Stewart and the whole band was great too. Just a great show, Paul always delivers.

Okay, it´s 2 a.m. and I just got home, and my review is rather long. I had the BEST night ever!

I started out with 2 lawn seats, and the person I was supposed to go with bailed on me, so I ended up going alone. I had a little extra cash, so I went to the box office and asked if I could upgrade my tickets. They told me I could do it for $60, but I figured I would see how the lawn seats were first. I knew right away that the lawn wouldn´t be fun, as soon as I spilled a drop of water on a woman´s blanket, turned to her and said that I was extremely sorry, and she looked at me like I was the devil. I sat down for a moment, and thought to myself that I did have the money, and I had been waiting for this day for so long, so I might as well go for it and get better seats, and hopefully be in better company. I went back to the box office, and I got 3rd row on the left of the stage. When I got to my seats, I was so excited to see how close I was.

The Jerry Douglas Band was VERY good...I was very impressed with them, and now I want to get their CD. After they were finished, I noticed there was an empty seat in the first row, so I asked the security guard if I could move there once Paul came out if it was still empty. Sure enough, Paul came out and it was still empty! I moved to the front row, and that´s where I stayed the entire concert!

I must say I enjoyed every single song that Paul sang. There wasn´t a bad one in the bunch. The audience, at least from my perspective, was very responsive and fun. After reading some of the other reviews, I was afraid that the audience wouldn´t be into it, or would yell at people who wanted to stand and show appreciation (I´ve had this problem at other concerts). But, ss soon as Paul came out everyone was on their feet. There were standing ovations after many of the songs, and as soon as he started doing songs like Me and Julio, You Can Call Me Al, Cecelia and The Boxer, to name a few, everyone up front was on their feet and dancing the entire time. I felt like I was part of the world´s biggest Paul Simon party, and it was so amazing to be part of that experience.

I have been a fan of Paul Simon since I was 5 years old, when my mom would play his music in our house. So basically, for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to see him live. This is the first chance that I had to do this, and it was more than I ever could have dreamed it to be. I have grown up on his music, and it has greatly influenced me and become a big part of who I am. This was, honestly, the best concert I have ever attended, and I couldn´t have asked for anything more. I feel like now, I can die happy. Thank you, Paul!

The Jerry Douglas Band appetizer was OK, but not who I was there to hear -

Paul initially has us annoyed for making us sit there in the sweltering heat until he decided to grace us with his presence - didn´t come on until well past 9; for what amounted to a 90+ minute performance - he could just have easily shown up by himself, (without the steel guitar guy), started at 8:30, perormed his set, and had us home at a relatively godly hour - I guess they don´t sell enought beer that way...

Anyway the show was great, with outstanding arrangments of classig S&G, solo, and more recent tunes.

If only I could enjoy them , without having to dodge people were constantly walking in and out the of show (why people can´t sit still for two hours is beyond me), cell phones, drunk frat-boy shouting screaming - I don´t that anyone really heard what a great group of musicians Paul had up there, and what really great perfomances we were hononered with. His rendition of ´You´re The One´ was haunting, but heavens - that´s a new one so no one felt like they needed to hear it - despite the fact the Paul´s voice get´s better with age - we found out after the show that he had cancelld a sho over the previous weekend due to ´illness´, but he was in fine voice last night...

Looking forward to the DVD release, so I can hear it without drunk-mom go-go girl getting in the way...

I write this ´review´ only because I do not know where else to sound off. I am soooo tired of being expected to ´sit still´ for 2 hours at Paul Simon concerts. Having been to roughly 30 PS shows over the last 20 years, all across the country, I can say without hesitation that the audience has become more and more lifeLESS. I can count on one hand when the audience appeared to be alive and responsive to the rhythm and melody coming off that stage when Paul and gang (Mark, Bahkiti, Tony and Vincent and Steve Gadd) are in top shape. Nothing compels me (and many other people) to get up and dance, than hearing a song like Cecilia or Outrageous, or even Loves Me Like A Rock. I think the reason for the ´stiff´ feeling in the crowds of late, is the high ticket prices. At last night´s show the house lights went up before the first encore. A signal that everybody is invited to get up and dance. I saw people in my row (230) looking at each other as if to say ´is it ok to get up´??? Really, really sad. There was one exception in recent memory. It was during the Your the One Tour. A show in Boston. The crowd was on their feet for the lion´s share of the evening (save for ballads). As far as the PNC show last night...it was really, really good. The new drummer joining Steve Gadd was really good. It is also cool to have Duncan and Gumboots in the set. A good show, and Paul seemed to have fun. Too bad I could not!!!!