Recommendations of the Editorial team
A little over a year ago, Paul Simon returned to the stage after a seven-year break – to present his new album “Seven Psalms”. It was an impressive show: in the first part he played the album in its entirety, in the second part there was a mix of hits like “Graceland”, “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and “The Boxer” as well as fan favorites like “Train in the Distance,” “The Late Great Johnny Ace,” and “Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War.”
When the tour reached Seattle’s McCaw Hall, the cameras rolled – and that footage forms the centerpiece of the new concert film “Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert,” premiering June 26 on Disney+ and Hulu. An accompanying live album will be released on October 9th.
“This tour has allowed me to play with musicians again,” Simon said in a statement. “I really missed that. Everyone enjoyed the experience so much. There was this feeling of togetherness and elation because we were playing this piece of music that we really cared about – and that had a lasting impact on me. It was one of the most extraordinary tours I’ve ever done – perhaps the most joyful.”
Hearing loss and comeback
In a short trailer, Simon talks about the hearing loss he suffered in his left ear while recording “Seven Psalms.” “I had no idea how live performances would even be possible anymore,” he says. “It took years before I could play with musicians again.”
The tour’s band included Caleb Burhans, Jamey Haddad, Gyan Riley, Mick Rossi, Andy Snitzer, Nancy Stagnitta, Mark Stewart, Eugene Friesen, Steve Gadd and Matt Chamberlain. And every evening, Simon’s wife, Edie Brickell, joined him for two songs from “Seven Psalms,” as well as “Under African Skies” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.”
Simon has just completed a European tour and began another US tour on June 3rd in Stanford, California. The program includes two concerts at Forest Hills Stadium in his home district of Forest Hills, Queens. The finale will be a performance at Ravinia in Highland Park, Illinois on July 18th.
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Why does Campino think that sometimes it’s good to just keep your mouth shut? Why does he sometimes feel like a drinks delivery man? He provides the answer in our cover story about the Toten Hosen’s big farewell, exclusively in issue 06/26. And that’s not all: the magazine includes the world exclusive 7-inch single “Always just loved” – on which Sven Regener from Element of Crime also contributed. You can easily order the ROLLING STONE edition here.