Paul Simon Begins Intimate Comeback Tour: Set List and Video

Paul Simon started his first tour since 2018-2019 with a transcendent 19-song acoustic efficiency on Friday evening (April 4) at New Orleans’ historic Saenger Theater. “I am as excited as you might be,” he admitted on stage, “and also you’re most likely not as nervous as I’m.”

In fantastic voice once more, Simon devoted the opening set of this aptly named Quiet Celebration Tour to 2023’s Seven Psalms, a stunning uninterrupted 33-minute meditation on struggles with religion that had by no means been carried out in its entirety. After a quick intermission, he returned with a fascinating – and a bit extra vigorous – second set that alternated between his most acquainted songs and a few intriguing deep cuts.

Simon, 83, most likely would not have been allowed to go away the ’20s-era Emile Weil-designed theater with out enjoying tried-and-true favorites like “Slip Slidin’ Away” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.” However he additionally made room for “Prepare within the Distance” from 1983’s Hearts and Bones, “Below African Skies” from 1986’s Graceland and “Spirit Voices” from 1990’s Rhythm of the Saints, amongst different lesser-known gems.

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He’d mounted Homeward Certain: The Last Tour, which included a September 2018 cease on the close by professional basketball enviornment in New Orleans, after struggling since-resolved points together with his listening to. This new tour is smaller in scale, with 50 live shows held on a number of nights at midsized venues, and way more intimate.

Simon spoke virtually confidentially on the sold-out 4,000-seat Saegner when sharing tales about “St. Judy’s Comet” (from 1973’s There Goes Rhymin’ Simon), and “The Late Nice Johnny Ace” and “Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Canine After the Struggle,” each additionally from Hearts and Bones. When not enjoying together with a gaggle of musicians that generally numbered virtually a dozen, Simon appeared to direct them – and the music – with the wave of his hand.

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Edie Brickell, who scored a High 10 hit in 1988 with “What I Am,” joined her husband on stage for 3 songs: “The Sacred Harp” and “Wait” have been amongst six tracks from Seven Psalms that made their stay debuts. (Simon had carried out “Your Forgiveness” in March 2024 on the Late Present With Stephen Colbert.) Brickell additionally changed Linda Ronstadt for the hovering duet on “Below African Skies.” (They modified the lyric from Ronstadt’s hometown of “Tucson, Arizona” to Brickell’s, “Dallas / Fort Value.”)

Simon made solely uncommon returns to his foundational work with Simon and Garfunkel. “Homeward Certain” was featured towards the start of the second set. He started a two-song encore with “The Boxer,” which grew to become a candy singalong in New Orleans, after which stood alone to conclude with “The Sound of Silence.”

His Quiet Celebration Tour continues tonight (April 5) on the Saenger Theater, with upcoming stops in Denver, Kansas Metropolis, Dallas, Nashville, Milwaukee and Toronto, amongst others.

Paul Simon, April 4, 2025, New Orleans
Set 1: Seven Psalms
“The Lord”
“Love Is Like a Braid”
“My Skilled Opinion”
“Your Forgiveness”
“Path of Volcanoes”
“The Sacred Harp”
“Wait”

Set 2:
“Graceland”
“Slip Slidin’ Away”
“Prepare within the Distance”
“Homeward Certain”
“St. Judy’s Comet”
“The Late Nice Johnny Ace”
“Spirit Voices”
“Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Canine After the Struggle”
“Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”
“Below African Skies”

Encore:
“The Boxer”
“The Sound of Silence”