Simon & Garfunkel / LIVE AT KYOCERA DOME Kyocera Dome Osaka 2009 (2CDR)

Simon & Garfunkel –
LIVE AT KYOCERA DOME (2CDR) SY0991
Live At Kyocera Dome, Tokyo – July 13, 2009

Disc One
1. Introduction
2. Old Friends ~ Bookends Theme
3. Hazy Shade of Winter
4. I Am a Rock
5. America
6. Kathy’s Song
7. Hey Schoolgirl
8. Be-Bop-A-Lula
9. Scarborough Fair
10. Homeward Bound
11. Video: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
12. Mrs. Robinson (incl. Not Fade Away)
13. Slip Slidin’ Away
14. El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
15. Bright Eyes *
16. A Heart in New York *
17. Perfect Moment ~ Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep *

Disc Two
1. Boy in the Bubble #
2. Graceland #
3. Still Crazy After All These Years #
4. The Only Living Boy in New York
5. My Little Town
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water
– Encore 1 –
7. The Sound of Silence
8. The Boxer
– Encore 2 –
9. The Boxer (reprise)
10. Leaves That Are Green
11. Cecilia ~
12. Band Introduction ~
13. Cecilia (reprise)

* Art Garfunkel solo
# Paul Simon solo

Simon & Garfunkel Band
Mark Stewart (Guitars, Cello, Saxophone) / Jamey Haddad (Percussion)
Rob Schwimmer (Keyboards, Theremin) / Jim Keltner (Drums)
Pino Palladino (Bass) / Larry Saltzman (Guitar) / Warren Bernhardt (Piano)

Simon & Garfunkel—the peerless duo known for their crystal-clear vocals and sublime melodies—returned to Japan for the first time in 16 years, performing their timeless, brilliant masterpieces!! This release features a complete recording of the concert held at Kyocera Dome Osaka on July 13, 2009—the momentous opening night of their Japan tour—captured with astonishing, top-tier sound quality that defies the typical acoustics of a dome venue! Virtually free of the reverberation issues common to domes, the recording faithfully captures every sound—from the duo's vocals to every instrument—with stunning realism. Meticulous mastering ensures a seamless listening experience, with fine-tuned volume adjustments made for every song to accommodate the shifts between acoustic and electric sets. Furthermore, the sound avoids the thin, sterile quality often associated with digital recordings, instead delivering a rich, warm tone with full-bodied mid-to-low frequencies. True to the Sylph label's reputation, the recording offers an immersive, spine-tingling sense of presence and power that makes you feel like you're right there in the venue, ensuring that unforgettable night comes vividly back to life! This is a standout release that sets itself apart from the rest; we highly recommend listening through speakers rather than headphones to fully appreciate it!
Although this marked their first Osaka performance in a staggering 27 years, the show is widely acclaimed as the highlight of the tour, featuring a magnificent, moving performance that spans a full two hours. True to the Osaka spirit, Art engages the crowd with MC segments like "Ookini, Osaka" (Thank you, Osaka) and reminisces about the time he once walked from Osaka to Fukui. And then, the highlight of the day: a surprise moment during the first encore performance of "The Boxer." Just as it seemed they had left the stage before finishing the song, they reappeared for a second encore and began singing the final phrase of "The Boxer"! Was it a planned bit of staging, or a simple mistake? The details remain a mystery, but the audience erupted in thunderous applause for this rare rendition of the song! The excitement was palpable, with S&G smiling throughout and the crowd delivering the kind of roaring cheers that define the unique atmosphere of an Osaka concert.
Beyond the duo's energetic performance, the backing band is comprised of top-tier musicians; their skillful, pleasing arrangements are woven throughout the concert, making for a deeply satisfying listening experience from start to finish! This will likely be their final tour... Forty years after their breakup, a must-have memorial release has arrived—guaranteed to move you as timeless classics like "The Sound of Silence" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" are brought back to life through miraculous harmonies.