Paul Simon Concert Review
- Date of Concert: Thursday, June 18, 2026
- Location of Concert: PNC Pavilion @Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH
I saw another musical icon Thursday night: Singer/Songwriter Paul Simon!!
I went with my Aunt Kim and our mutual friend Barry to see Mr. Simon play a fairly quiet/intimate show in the Cincinnati area.
Mr. Simon was not touring anymore as of a few years ago, due to most of his hearing going away in his left ear.
However, last year, he decided to go back out and tour with a relatively low volume show that helps him hear enough of the musicians around him so that he can sing his amazing songs.
Mr. Simon is very much a storyteller. If you listen to his phenomenal body of work, you will see that every song tells a story.
This show is maybe not your typical Paul Simon show, however, Mr. Simon has always done things his way and this show is no different.
This show was in two parts. The first is every song (7) from his latest album released in 2023 called Seven Psalms.
Even though the album has 7 songs, each song flows together as essentially one piece of music, which lasts about 33 minutes.
After this set, he and the band take a roughly 20-30 minute intermission then come back to play some of Mr. Simon’s hits and deep cuts from his massive discography.
Like any set list, not everyone is going to be happy, most especially with that much newer material. Although I think most of the audience had a good time, I heard some grumbling, but as I said, you can’t make everyone happy.
Some reviews have said Mr. Simon is not as good as he used to be. Well, he’s 84 years old, he’s basically half deaf, and as of about a year and a half ago, he was not doing this anymore. I’ll take this Paul Simon over no Paul Simon.
And you know what? This Paul Simon is not too bad.
I think his voice is still fine, he looks great, and even with the volume not being too much, the show is still enjoyable. And his band is great.
Along with Mr. Simon, his band includes Edie Brickell helping him out on some of the vocals and whistling, Mark Stewart on guitar, Bakithi Kumalo (the last surviving member of Mr. Simon’s Graceland band) on bass , Andy Snitzer on saxophone, Jamey Haddad on percussion, Mick Rossi on piano and keys, Gyan Riley on guitar, Matt Chamberlin on drums, Nancy Stagnitta on flute, Caleb Burhans on viola, and Eugene Friesen on cello.
They deliver Mr. Simon’s songs very well and everyone gets to shine, musically.
Again, I thought this was a fun show and frankly, I love his latest album, so I think hearing all of it live like this was really cool.
And I seriously will never understand why anyone goes to get food/drink/restroom breaks every time they don’t know a song.
These concerts cost a lot of money to go to, and yet, so many miss so much of the show. If you are really hungry/thirsty/have to go, then so be it. Otherwise, enjoy the show. But I digress.
Anyway, I know Kim, Barry, and myself had fun.
I’m glad we got to see this musical giant!!
Thank you Mr. Simon for returning to the stage and for all of your great albums over the decades, on your own and with Art Garfunkel.
Thank you.
P.S. Photos/videos were not permitted, but I did sneak some pictures right at the beginning and right at the end. Sorry I couldn’t help it. I’m a fan, not a paparazzi.
Set List:
Set 1-Seven Psalms Album
- The Lord
- Love Is Like A Braid
- My Professional Opinion
- Your Forgiveness
- Trail Of Volcanoes
- The Sacred Harp (w/Edie Brickell)
- Wait (w/Edie Brickell
Set 2
- Graceland
- Slip Slidin’ Away
- Train In The Distance
- Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)
- The Late Great Johnny Ace
- St. Judy’s Comet
- Under African Skied (w/Edie Brickell)
- Renee And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War
- Rewrite
- Sprit Voices
- The Cool, Cool River
- Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
- Encore: Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
- 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
- The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel song)
- The Sound Of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel song-Paul played this without the band)
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
3 Comments
GMF
I just saw the first of two nights Paul Simon did at Ravinia – an outdoor music venue with covered stageside seating for 2,850 in the pavilion, and a lawn area that holds up to 13,000 (with video and high quality audio of the performance). The show I had tickets for (July 17) was on the verge of being cancelled due to hazardous air quality from the wildfires, but that fortunately cleared up just in time for the show to go on. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me to see Paul Simon, so I had to splurge for pavilion seating, and I’m so glad I did. Paul and the band put on a phenomenal show that was powerful, fun, and intimate.
During the second set, a fan loudly shouted a request for Kodachrome. Paul kind of realized what was happening, but couldn’t make out the request. After it was relayed more clearly to him, he said “we don’t play that anymore. We’re not gonna play that…unless you give me $20.” Several people rushed the stage waving cash, which Paul took. He made a show of pocketing $40 and handing bills to other band members, and then they played Kodachrome (which doesn’t seem to be on the setlist for this tour). I don’t know how often stuff like that happens at his shows, since I’ve only been to the one, but it was awesome to see it.
More to your point about people leaving during songs they weren’t familiar with: A group in the row in front of me chatted loudly through the entire Seven Psalms set, mindlessly clapping after each segment of it despite Paul clearly explaining it was a continuous, flowing piece before he began the performance. They were incredibly disrespectful and disruptive. It pissed me off to no end, and it would have been better if they actually had left for refreshments, or maybe just hung out on the lawn for that part.
The Ardent Fan
I’m glad you had fun too and I always love these stories. Ha that’s great!! Cool that he played it then. Yeah I just don’t understand it. I know songs become hits because they were/are played on the radio, but I just think when any hit, from before downloads started, became hits, did people leave and go get beer and nachos when those played? Stairway To Heaven or Freebird for example? Did people seriously leave when those songs were played? Oh I don’t know this song so I’m going to get a beer and come back when (insert artist name) plays something I know and like. That’s stupid!! If you really need to get food/drink/go to the restroom, then so be it. Me? I’m there to hear everything. And frankly? I want to hear new material if they have it to play. I just commented on Facebook recently on a post about new music and that several of my favorites (Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, L.A. Guns, Ozzy Osbourne, Ace Frehley, David Crosby, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper, many others) have/had continued making great new music well into old age/past their prime/to the end of their life. The music does not stop at say 1978. New music can continually be made when you are in your 80s or 90s even. The artist just has to want to do it. And whether people like it or not, I think they should because when they’re gone, people are going to say oh I wish they had made more music. Well, many did/have but you all walk out during those songs or don’t buy them/download/stream them. Anyway, sorry for my rant. But I’m glad you enjoyed seeing him. I definitely did too and I think he’s still great. And I really like the Seven Psalms album too.
GMF
I’ve seen a few disparaging comments here and there, like:
“In Denver during this tour, he didn’t perform any of those, but among the oldies were “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes,” “The Boxer,” and “Sound of Silence.” He has hundreds to choose from, all brilliant.”
followed by someone replying
“and he played almost none of them at Ravinia. Had to be bribed to play Kodachrome. Was fundamentally disappointed.”
That was not my take at all. I was fully aware it wasn’t going to be a greatest hits tour when I bought tickets, and enjoyed/appreciated every bit of the performance. It really was a magical experience for me. And as for the jerks who rudely talked through Seven Psalms and probably complained the whole ride home, joke’s on them – they left when they thought the show was over and missed two encores.