A “Homeward Bound” Paul Simon goes to “Graceland” and back while sprinkling Simon & Garfunkel gold

Photos provided by Lester Cohen

Barely two years away from his last studio album “Stranger To Stranger” with a calendar full of concerts, Paul Simon didn’t seem ripe for retirement, but at 76-years-old, no one can fault him for wanting to finally slow down. After all, he’s been plugging away fairly consistently since Simon & Garfunkel debuted in 1964, though when the singer/songwriter took time to ponder his next move at the United Center stop of “Homeward Bound – The Farewell” Tour, he admitted to not having any specific plans whatsoever, except of course, to probably continue making music.

And as a hush fell over the arena while a completely alone and acoustic Paul Simon reflected on “The Sound Of Silence,” the scene was not that distant from his days of busking on the New York City streets, bringing the retrospective full circle and assuring that even when that title becomes his truth as far as touring is concerned, this troubadour won’t be forgotten.

But before getting to retreat from the public eye (or at least a modified version of it), there were more than five decades of music to address, starting with the folk duo’s “America” and moving towards to the rumbles of “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” and “The Boy In The Bubble.” Across nearly two-and-a-half-hours, the vocally dependable Simon and his tremendously talented band continued flip-flopping between the softer spoken side of the 1960s and ‘70s through the zesty world beats that kept him atop the charts in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

That meant the expected likes of “Mother And Child Reunion” and “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” alongside the more obscure but just as enjoyable “Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War” and “Can’t Run But” (both performed in a stripped down setting with the contemporary classical ensemble yMusic). Yet it was the material from Simon’s solo groundbreaking “Graceland” and its follow-up “The Rhythm Of The Saints” that painted with the brightest colors and richest textures, coaxing many from the more reserved crowd to their feet for “Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes” and “You Can Call Me Al.”

One of the more poignant moments came during an encore of “Homeward Bound,” which featured vintage photos of Simon from various phases in his illustrious career scrolling across the jumbo screen. It was also hard not to get choked up during “The Boxer,” especially when the reverent audience hummed along to what’s become nothing short of an all-out Simon & Garfunkel standard.

Although it would’ve been nice to hear the pair’s “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” or his own “Slip Slidin’ Away,” no one could accuse the legend of being less than generous throughout a set list stocked with no less than 25 tunes. And as a hush fell over the arena while a completely alone and acoustic Simon reflected on “The Sound Of Silence,” the scene was not that distant from his days of busking on the New York City streets, bringing the retrospective full circle and assuring that even when that title becomes his truth as far as touring is concerned, this troubadour won’t be forgotten.

For additional information on Paul Simon, visit PaulSimon.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the United Center include Harry Styles (Jun. 30); Radiohead (Jul. 6-7); Panic! At The Disco (Jul. 17); Shakira (Aug. 3); Smashing Pumpkins (Aug. 13-14); Sam Smith (Aug. 15); Drake and Migos (Aug. 17-18); Childish Gambino (Sept. 8); Maroon 5 (Sept. 14); BTS (Oct. 2-3); Justin Timberlake (Oct. 5); Fleetwood Mac (Oct. 6); Eagles (Oct. 15); Florence + The Machine (Oct. 19); Phil Collins (Oct. 22); Elton John (Oct. 26-27) and Josh Groban with Idina Menzel (Nov. 6). For additional details, visit UnitedCenter.com.

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A “Homeward Bound” Paul Simon goes to “Graceland” and back while sprinkling Simon & Garfunkel gold

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