He strolled onstage, small in stature but extra large in musical legendry, and with a slight wave and not a word yet to the crowd, Paul Simon started in on “The Boy in the Bubble” from his most successful solo album to date—1986’s “Graceland.”

He followed with “Dazzling Blue,” an enchanting, bongo-driven number off of his 12th solo album, the April-released “So Beautiful or So What,” for which this tour was planned. The album has received a slew of positive critical acclaim for its blending of world rhythms, its narrative and spiritual lyrical quality and its variation between stripped down intimacy and multi-layered groove—all descriptions which could easily be used to describe Simon’s over 45-year musical career.

Each of those elements was displayed on stage at the Gibson Amphitheater on Wednesday night. After also performing “50 Way to Leave Your Lover,” Simon addressed the appreciative, enthusiastic crowd for the first time. 

"Hello, my friends,” he said quietly. The group of nearly 6,000 cheered wildly, many professing love in frantic yells, allowing room for Simon to quip: "I am not being presumptuous, am I? Is there anyone out there who doesn't love me?”

True to his self-deprecating charm, he added: “I would put myself in that group." 

Backed by an 8-piece band—including bass guitarist Bakithi Kumalo, who has played with Simon since the days of Graceland—he played and moved and sang through a two-hour sampling of his extensive world music-influenced pop catalogue. 

Swooned to near-hypnosis by the beauty of such ballads as “Hearts and Bones,” “Peace Like a River,” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy in New York,” and forced to its feet for Graceland-era favorites “Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes,” “Gumboots” and “That Was Your Mother,” the audience reveled in the witnessing of an enduring musician, age 70 and more than four decades into his career, whose continued relevance proves that the music itself—and not a stage of frill-filled pyrotechnic showmanship—makes for sincere and inspiring entertainment.

Simon’s classics inspired the most uproarious roars from the crowd, but he tackled new material with gusto no less. He seemed to particularly enjoy himself during “Love Is Eternal Sacred Light,” dancing to the lively rhythm section and directing his band like a master maestro.

After a full set, Simon returned for eight more songs throughout two encores, set off by a truly beautiful, you-could-hear-a-pin-drop solo rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” 

“Kodachrome” was next and once again, the crowd was brought to its feet. Most would not again return to their seats.

“Still Crazy After All These Years” was the presumed final finale, but Simon added “You Can Call Me Al” as the actual closer—and after two full hours of Paul Simon live, you can call the crowd fulfilled.

Setlist:

The Boy in the Bubble

Dazzling Blue

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

So Beautiful or So What

Mother and Child Reunion

That Was Your Mother

Hearts and Bones

Mystery Train (Junior Parker cover)

Slip Slidin’ Away

Rewrite

Peace Like a River

The Obvious Child

The Only Living Boy in New York

Love Is Eternal Sacred Light

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

Gumboots

Encore:

The Sound of Silence

Kodachrome

Gone At Last

Here Comes the Sun (Beatles cover)

Crazy Love vol. II

Late in the Evening

Encore II:

Still Crazy After All These Years

You Can Call Me Al

Reach writer Emily Wilson here