Paul Simon and David Byrne Join Forces at Intimate New York Show

Posted on Jun 7th 2011 11:00AM by Dan Reilly
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Kate Mercer, AP

It was surprising enough that Paul Simon would play a show at New York's Webster Hall, a venue with a capacity less than 1,500. What was more of a shock to the audience was when David Byrne came out for a second encore to perform a Talking Heads classic and duet with Simon on 'You Can Call Me Al.'

Backed by Simon's stellar band, the two world-music-loving rockers bounced through a rendition of 'Road to Nowhere,' with Byrne taking lead vocals. 'Al' was more of a duet, the two icons trading verses for a perfect capper on the evening.

If anything, the evening showed that Simon still has the vocal chops of his youth. Perhaps it's because he was never a true belter like some of his contemporaries that's to thank for his voice being as richly delicate as ever. Newer songs such as 'Rewrite' and 'So Beautiful or So What,' the title track to his April-released album, fit in perfectly alongside classics like '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,' 'The Only Living Boy in New York,' 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes' and, during the encore, 'The Sound of Silence' and 'Kodachrome.'

Simon also mixed in a slew of covers including Jimmy Cliff's 'Vietnam,' which segued into 'Mother Child Reunion,' Little Junior's 'Mystery Train' and the Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun,' which featured Simon on guitar, accompanied by a second guitarist and one of his many multi-instrumentalists taking on accordion duties.

In all, the show was one that anyone lucky enough to be in attendance will never forget. And hey, on a day when congressman Anthony Weiner admitted to taking lewd photos of himself, it's good to see one boy from New York give his loyal supporters something to smile about.

Watch Paul Simon and David Byrne Perform 'Road to Nowhere'

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