Phoenix Blog

Mending that bridge over troubled waters never felt so good

It makes sense these days for some older acts to get out on tour and start playing some shows. Just looking at this past weekend in the Valley, we saw Springsteen, Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen all unravel some shows well in the twilight of their respective careers. Paul Frederic Simon and Ira Arthur Garfunkel, better known as Simon & Garfunkel, have just announced they will give their fans a much needed reunion tour, kicking off June 13th in Auckland, New Zealand. So far they have only planned dates in Australia and New Zealand, but this economy will probably prompt the folk rock duo to bring their act homeward bound to America. Simon & Garfunkel are hot right now, especially considering Garfunkel's cameo appearance on a recent episode of HBO's Flight of the Conchords. Is it a coincidence the duo is kicking off their tour in New Zealand, then? I think not...

The two played a surprise show this past February at New York's Bacon Theatre, so this reunion news doesn't come as that big of a shock. The two were able to mend their own bridge over troubled waters to come together and reunite for the fans. The forthcoming concerts will end the 25 year sounds of silence for Simon & Garfunkel, sure to bring plenty out of old friends. Fans old and new will most likely flock in droves to attend the concerts -- fans like Mrs. Robinson, the boxer and good ol' Julio, everyone's friend who loves hanging out by the schoolyard. Still, after all these years, it isn't crazy to think that the two would amicably reunite, given their past bitterness.

So get on the bus, Gus, and drop off that key, Lee, and get on out to these once-in-a-lifetime shows. Granted, the last few puns were Paul Simon-specific, but these two have given us music rife with plenty of puns, so I could not resist seizing the opportunity to make you groan. Will Ladysmith Black Mambazo be at some of the shows? I don't think so, but I wouldn't rule out such a thing.

Check out the official Billboard report here.

As an added bonus, you can check out Art Garfunkel's cameo appearance on Flight of the Conchords here.