Paul Simon Plays First “Kodachrome” Since 2019 for a $20 Bribe

Paul Simon, photo by Stevo Rood

On Wednesday, July 16, Simon took the stage for his fifth and final show at Los Angeles’ Disney Hall. To conclude his triumphant first Southern California series since his 2018 farewell tour, the legendary singer-songwriter presented two sets that paired his powerful 2023 album Seven Psalms with a litany of hits from his six-decade career. While the bulk of his performance was consistent with the carefully crafted setlist he’s brought to theaters across the country with his A Quiet Celebration Tour, which marks his return to the spotlight after seven years away, Simon added a touch of fan service in the form of his first “Kodachrome” since 2019.

Simon’s first set at the iconic venue, specifically selected for its intimate space and exceptional acoustics, consisted of a full presentation of Seven Psalms, the project that encouraged him to overcome his sudden and severe hearing loss and perform again. Supported by an innovative stage setup developed by the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss and his production team, which uses moving monitors to surround him in sound, the artist shared his latest work as a continuous piece of full-acoustic music. For the final two tracks, Simon was joined by his wife Edie Brickell, whose vocals supported a swell of emotion through “The Sacred Heart” and “Wait” into the set break.

The evening’s second act was a moving and energetic collection of his biggest hits, including “Graceland,” “Slip Slidin’ Away,” “The Late Great Johnny Ace,” “Under African Skies,” “Rewrite,” “The Cool, Cool River” and a set-closing “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” with Brickell. As he returned to the stage for an encore, Simon was greeted by the voice of a fan who felt “Kodachrome” was a glaring omission. A fan who caught the moment on video wrote that Simon responded, “I don’t do requests… Unless you got 20 bucks.” Like magic, the fan produced a folded bill, which Simon collected from the proscenium and pocketed before playing the track through the first chorus on his acoustic guitar as the crowd clapped along.

After showing his humorous side to be alive and thriving, Simon closed out the show with a proper encore of “Father and Daughter,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “The Boxer” and “The Sound of Silence.” He’ll return to the stage on Saturday, July 19 at San Francisco’s Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall; find tickets and more information at paulsimon.com.