Liverpool Sound and Vision rating 9/10
Legends only increase in value and heartfelt beauty with time, the song remains the same as the scene before the audience changes, youthful memory gives way to mature understanding, a sense of the distinguished statesman, the adored wisdom of a artist whose sensitivity has never been questioned, suddenly becomes in the eyes of the audience searching for that wonder, a monument made of human emotion and response to the loss of innocence we know for certain will never be found.
There will have been many in the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall audience as Art Garfunkel took to the stage already overawed by the occasion of the day, a memory, of sadness, of tears freely flowing, April 15th always indelibly placed into the minds of the Liverpool crowd, coupled with the thought of a beautiful, and in its own way legendary cathedral being suddenly dropped front and centre into the news, the evening found itself shrouded in a quality of mercy, of tenderness and reflection; a heady mix of emotions that were butterflies floating on a seamless supply of breeze and allowed to glide purposely by the performers on stage.
The Things We’ve Handed Down, a song of our own choices and authorship to which our children have written down into the D.N.A. opened up the evening and with Art’s son – Arthur junior as he was introduced – supplying the necessary range of vocal to bring such a song’s intention to the full exposure of the night, a breaking of the tension that was in the air perhaps, one built upon the foundation of love, respect and fearing arguably that such a visit to the city might be the last one undertaken. As Art Garfunkel was proud to say on a couple of occasions in between songs and readings from his book, he is now 77, and legends sometimes understand that you have to leave an audience wanting more.
With songs such as The Boxer, Real Emotional Girl, Scarborough Fair, the sensational covers of The Everly Brother’s Devoted To You and Charlie Chaplin’s Smile, For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her, the sincere emotion driven home in the classic Bright Eyes, The Sound of Silence, Kathy’s Song, and a heart-breaking reading of the traditional Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep all leaving their mark on the night, it was always going to be a moment in which Art Garfunkel would leave the stage to thunderous applause, well deserved, timely and safe in the knowledge that the distinction of the word legendary, at least in Liverpool, whilst not given freely, is always one that is sincerely endowed upon those that truly justify the response.
An evening which might never come Liverpool’s way again, but the memories will always remain deep and clothed in dreams, raised with Goosebumps.
Ian D. Hall