Having seen Art Garfunkel previously at both Maddison Sq Gardens and Hyde Park in the form of his now legendary duo, before taking in his said other half’s solo show more recently at London’s Albert Hall, it was with some intrigue that I wondered how an Art Garfunkel solo show would stack up.
It was advertised as an ‘Evening Of Songs And Stories’ so an in-conversation type affair was to be expected. The first thing I would advise is go to the right venue, unlike myself and my hapless accomplice who I dragged to Manchester’s Bridgewater hall only to be fronted by a classical performance already mid performance and that sinking ‘oh shit’ feeling.
After a dash to Salford’s Media City and a missed intro, it was time to let the sweat on the forehead dry and see if old Art still delivered the goods. Walking into ‘For Emily, wherever I may find her’ and an explanation of the sensory laden lyrics that Paul Simon had woven together for him soon alayed any fears as to the iconic-level quality of songs we were to be presented with at least..
The stage set up was low-key in keeping with the intimate vibe, lounge lighting, with keyboards and musical direction looked after by US dwelling Englishman Paul Beard and acoustic guitar provided by long term collaborator Tab Lavern. The surprise addition was Art’s son James joining him at times on vocals, the most stand out being a stunning Everly Brothers rendition, after which the patriarch joked with his audience that “he may be the one with the voice now.. but I have all the hits!”
Speaking of the voice, let’s be honest here.. its well documented the singer suffered from Paresis from 2010, making it painful or impossible to sing at times, add in (up until recently at least) a love of the fags and a man in his 77th year and you are not going to get the angelic mature choirboy beauty of the man half his age.
What you do get though is something just as beautiful. A voice etched with experience of a life led, still incredibly moving and emotive. He rattled through classics from ‘Kathy’s Song‘ to ‘The Boxer’ and ‘Homeward Bound’ giving tales and insights into the origin of the songs, with a complimentary nod each time to their writer and his ex collaborator Simon. These he interspersed with words and graciously insightful poetry of his own. If someone had told me before the show I would be sat listening to some of Art Garfunkel’s poetry I think I would have been planning my toilet trips.. how wrong I would have been! what brilliant insights into this fascinating and truly heartwarming human being I would have missed.
On reaching his zenith at ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ he pre-warned that he would not be performing the outro.. this came as no surprise, there are very few who could anyway and the performance was pretty goose-pimple level without it. It was certainly better than the last time I heard it, where Paul Simon inexplicably performed some kind of rap over part of it during the comeback tour after years of the pair no longer speaking. Was Simon stealing a bit of thunder you thought? we all know he wrote the song and I’d hope he is bigger than that.. either way it was bobbins, so please Paul.. never again, let a man have his moment
The overwhelming emotion you experienced watching this truly original vocalist in an intimate live setting like this, hidden away from the post industrial Salford backdrop a mere stone’s throw away, was one where you felt completely privileged to have had that couple of hours in his company. Not knowing really what to expect turned into a thought provoking, hugely emotive night, watching a man in the twilight of his career and his life, passing on his memoirs the best he could. A man you realised that (as a brit at least) you may probably never have the joy of listening to live again.
Nights like that are what make music truly human and truly unbeatable.
