Liverpool Sound and vision Rating 9/10
“…and what a time it was, it was…” there will never be another time like it, nor will there be another American Folk/Rock duo like Simon and Garfunkel, the combination of both the artistes and the time they captured the raw sensibility, the hope and eventual damage caused by a system that was determined to not let the world enjoy the freedom it had sought and fought so hard to win.
The tune carried by Simon and Garfunkel is timeless, admired, freely emulated, but never quite framing the love between the two men and the growing antagonism that surrounded them, a reflection of the times perhaps, the 60s into which they first took tentative steps away from their initial foray into the world of music as Tom and Jerry and the 50s easy pop that went with it, transforming, morphing, into the insight of the new Folk age. The politics of the era capturing the imagination and the fruits of Paul Simon’s growing sensitivity as a song writer, and the wish to perhaps see more of the world into which to learn and contemplate.
It is an era that cannot be easily replicated, but for the cast and creatives of The Simon and Garfunkel Story, the sound that haunted and thrilled the Liverpool audience inside the Empire Theatre in equal determined measure was stunningly beautiful, no sense of regretful tears to be witnessed, memories and recollections overflowing, and the harmony between the two leads was playfully striking.
To seek the essence into which saw Simon and Garfunkel become the epitome of the duo musical persona could be considered a fruitless task, comparable to Sisyphus rolling in vain and discomfort a boulder up a hill, never quite making it stand still before it rolls away into the void, lost forever in the perpetual attention shown. However as songs such Hey Schoolgirl, Kathy’s Song, I Am A Rock, The Big Bright Pleasure Machine, Patterns, For Emily, Whenever I May Fine Her, The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy), Mrs Robinson, Old Friends, America, Cecilia and Keep the Customer Satisfied all lifted their heads in pride and passion, the essence was keenly felt, unlike Sisyphus’ boulder, it stood before the crowd, plainly exquisite in its magnificence.
A sublime evening of music, a story that encapsulates and holds forever what a time it was, endearing and charming, brutally frank, bold, never to be repeated, The Simon and Garfunkel Story is one of absolute richness.
Ian D. Hall