Paul Simon
Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 6, 2017
It had been nearly 20 years since Paul Simon performed in Charlotte, but those in attendance on Tuesday night at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre didn't leave disappointed. The 75-year-old singer/songwriter not only sounded fantastic, but he and a talented band opened up the catalog for a 25-song setlist. The crowd was appreciative of moments of banter, sat back and absorbed every folk tune new and old and danced through every rhythmic beat.
From the opening notes of "The Boy in the Bubble," all in attendance knew it would be a special night. Minor changes to the arrangements of classic songs made them sound fresh. Newer tunes fit in right along memorable Simon & Garfunkel songs. For more than two hours, Simon's voice never faltered. Perhaps perfectly, the night wrapped up with Simon standing alone, with only his acoustic guitar, to sing "Sound of Silence." For everyone in attendance, 1999 was a long time ago, but Simon's return to the Queen City was worth the wait.
Setlist
The Boy in the Bubble
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
Dazzling Blue
That Was Your Mother
Rewrite
America
Mother and Child Reunion
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Spirit Voices
The Obvious Child
Stranger to Stranger
Homeward Bound
Duncan
Hearts and Bones
The Cool, Cool River
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
You Can Call Me Al
Encore
Wristband
Graceland
Still Crazy After All These Years
Encore 2
Questions for the Angels
The Boxer
One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor
Late in the Evening
The Sound of Silence