A great date with "Old Friends"

My partner Greta and I are 1960s vintage.
When we heard that Simon and Garfunkel
were doing an "Old Friends" tour this year,
we wanted to attend one of their concerts.

But, by the time we got around to looking into
it, the only available tickets were at Staples Center
in Los Angeles, an hour away from where we live
in Orange County, located behind the stage. It
was too much money for a rear-end view of
the duo.

But, when I read in the "Orange County Register"
that a previously-cancelled show was rescheduled for
the Arrowhead Pond, I got on the Internet and
secured two seats for a Sunday-night performance.

To make the evening an even more special date, on
the way to the concert we stopped at the El Torito
Grill in Irvine for a plate of appetizers.

When Simon and Garfunkel took the stage, my
initial reaction was, egad, they've aged. The first
few notes were discordant. But it didn't take them
long to regain their old harmony and collect
standing ovations.

They gave the audience-mainly a 1960s
bunch-what they wanted. Every song was an
oldie.

You can't listen to Simon and Garfunkel and not
be reminded of New York City (where I lived
from 1966 until 1970).

I remember back then being dragged against my will by
a date to the movie "The Graduate"
at a theatre on the East Side near 61st and Third
Avenue. When "The Sounds of Silence" opened
the movie with Dustin Hoffman walking through
LAX, I said, "Wow, I'm glad I came." I've
seen that movie five times. Of course, Simon
and Garfunkel did the soundtrack.

So when they sang "The Sounds of Silence"
so magnificently at the Pond, it took me
back 39 years ago to New York City.

Other New York City-related songs-"The Zoo,"
"The 59th Street Bridge Song" and "The Boxer,"
which ended the show--reminded me how fortunate
I am to have lived in that great city.

Simon and Garfunkel brought down the house when
their powerful and talented seven-piece band
cranked up the volume on "Mrs. Robinson," while
flashing clips from "The Graduate" on the
big screen.

The longer they sang the better they harmonized.
You almost forgot you were listening in 2003,
it could have been The Big Apple in 1968 all
over again. The 1960s produced incredible music.

What struck me was how gracious and humble
Art Garfunkel is and how important his
higher-pitched voice was to the success of
that duo. And when you realize how many
incredible songs Paul Simon has written
and performed, you are awed by his talent.

A nice surprise in the middle of the show
was the appearance of The Everly Brothers,
who sounded strong singing four of their
hits, most notably "Wake Up Little Susie."
I remember being on dates, listening to
that tune on the car radio.

The final song before the encore was, of course,
"Bridge Over Troubled Water," during
which, everyone stood. Greta took my hand
and thanked me for a 1960s-style romantic
evening.

If Simon and Garfunkel come to your part
of the country, go see them. You'll be in
for a special treat.

Simon and Garfunkel-they've still got it.

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Reader Comments re: last week's Thanksgiving marriage column

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Bruce, Laguna Beach, "Why not expand on
last week's love story and make it a book and a
movie script?" Response: Good idea, but another
project? Oh my.

Phyllis, Anaheim, "Beautiful Story.
May God bless their lives together."

Joan, Newport Beach: "Not a dry eye in
my house either.

Tina Tessina, therapist and author, Long Beach,
"Two of my friends, both in their 60s, got
married last year, after 18 years together.
Some people just have to try it on longer."
Response: "Try it on" Tina? Like a pair of socks?

Pearl San Antonio, Tx., "Column brought
tears to my eyes." Response: Pearl met the love
of her life on the Internet at age 65.