Something About Simon
Format: Music Show
Genre: Folk, Rock & Pop
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool
The stage was perfectly set for Something About Simon, and the Epstein Theatre was buzzing with anticipation for Gary Edward Jones to appear. Something About Simon had finally reached the local performer’s home city after a successful tour which even hit the stages of New York. Gary’s hometown crowd were more than ready to welcome him back to the Epstein with open arms.
Something About Simon is a unique story about the one and only Paul Simon. Combining visuals, stage design and of course the music, Gary Edwards Jones does a fantastic job of reliving and rediscovering those classic songs again.
The set was simple, with a series of painted panels depicting individual, yet collective symbols of Paul Simon nostalgia. These included a reel to reel tape recorder, ABC Camera, Gramophone and a railway bench which were designed in such a way as not to distract the audience but to work as gentle, visual cues.
Something About Simon is not a tribute show, it is simply a celebration and admiring of Simon’s work. However, it is not done so in such simple terms. Gary Edward Jones describes the show as a ‘labour of love’ and you can see how. Stories and anecdotes are delivered in that typical Scouse storytelling way which, although you are sitting in a theatre, you feel like Gary is talking directly to you. Stories about the etymology of Homeward Bound, a glance into Paul Simon’s turbulent marriage to Carrie Fisher and his up and down relationship with Art Garfunkel carry us through this homage of Paul Simon. We also delve into stories behind the songs with Edward Jones giving us insights into The Boxer and the Sound Of Silence where we discover how the American people felt after Kennedy’s assination.
These anecdotes were helped along by visuals displayed behind Edward Jones. Although simple, they gently enhanced the effect of the songs whilst not distracting you away from Gary’s soulful and distinguished voice. First and foremost his guitar skills were second to none, he switched between guitars seamlessly and with ease, never needing to even glance at the fretboard. It sounds cliche, but he was truly ‘one’ with the guitar.
The show covered a wide range of Paul Simon’s repertoire. This aforementioned Labour Of Love focused solely on the music and not just the big sellers. Gary treated us to a live loop version of Wristband as his encore which for the uninitiated is a technique where the performer will slowly and methodically build up a song layer by layer. Thus, at this point in the show we finally learned what the 2nd microphone was for.
Gary’s love for Paul Simon, as he explained, was born out of his father’s love for the album Graceland. An album which Gary himself initially resisted as he deemed it his father’s music. In a similar fashion, I took great delight in bringing my Dad with me to the Epstein theatre who himself instilled his passion for all things Paul Simon in to me. In fact one of my dad’s earliest memories of me as a toddler is bouncing around to Graceland. From that moment on, in our house, it was referred to as the ‘Bouncy Song’!
Something About Simon will please both the most casual of fan right up to the most devoted. Gary’s natural storytelling along with his exceptional guitar skills are the perfect ingredients for a great night’s entertainment.
Overall Rating: 9/10 – Outstanding
