I have a question: why does it take so long for some of these concert DVDs
to appear? Live From Philadelphia, an 11-song show from Paul
Simon ’s One Trick Pony tour and performed at The City of Brotherly
Love’s Tower Theater in 1980, was well worth the wait.
The passage of time doesn’t diminish Simon’s talent or his wonderful
band: Tony Levin on bass, Steve Gadd on drums, Richard Tee on piano (Fender
Rhodes specifically), and Eric Gale playing a masterfully understated lead guitar.
Simon runs through a couple of Simon & Garfunkle classics, a bunch of One
Trick Pony stuff, as well as his other hits. It’s a tight little
set under an hour with some great camera work right up on the players. Smiling
rhymin’ Simon is in good voice throughout .
Highlights here include a sounds-just-like-the-record “Still Crazy After
All These Years,” Gadd doing what only Steve Gadd can do on “50
Way To Leave Your Lover” and “Late In The Evening,” the funky
(and underrated in the Simon canon as far as I’m concerned) “One
Trick Pony,” and the last two tunes of the night, “The Boxer”
and “The Sound Of Silence.” This last one sounds especially sweet
as Simon has a go at the tune solo with his electric guitar and sweet, soft
voice.
“American Tune” was really special for me, though I love the Simon
and Garfunkle stuff and am a sucker for “50 Ways.” I guess I’m
just a sucker for the quieter Paul Simon. This concert took place a good six
years before the monumental Grammy-winning success of Graceland,
at around the time that Simon starred in the “One Trick Pony” movie
(catch this film if you can. Lou Reed as an insensitive producer is worth it
if for nothing else). It’s nice to see Paul Simon without the trappings
of all those extra musicians he employed for every concert after Graceland.
The same goes for his attempts at the various reunions with Garfunkle. Live
From Philadelphia showcases one of America’s best songwriters
and most unique artists with a blistering backing band. What more could you
ask for?
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
