THUNDER BAY – With poetic lyrics, exquisite harmonies, and a sound that revolutionized music, the impact of folk duo Simon and Garfunkel can still be felt today.
Fans and newcomers alike can enjoy not only the music, but the story of this fundamental group in the upcoming show The Simon and Garfunkel Story, coming to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on May 19.
Elliott Lazar of Winnipeg takes on the role of Paul Simon opposite Max Pinson of New York who plays Art Garfunkel.
“It was a great opportunity. When I first heard of it, I loved the music of Simon and Garfunkel,” said Lazar.
“I loved the idea of bringing that all the way around the continent. For me, I really love doing touring shows. Especially something like this. People still really love their music and this is a great opportunity for them to hear it.”
The Simon and Garfunkel Story has been performed on stages around the world and is currently on a 25-date tour across Canada and the United States.
Lazar described the show as more of a concert but it also includes extra historical context of Simon and Garfunkel’s story and the period during which they wrote and performed music.
Simon and Art first began performing together in 1956 under the moniker of Tom and Gerry.
But it was throughout the 1960s and 1970s, performing as Simon and Garfunkel, that the duo released some of their most iconic songs and records, including Mrs. Robinson, Sound of Silence, The Boxer, I Am a Rock, and Scarborough Fair.
“I think they’ve made a massive impact,” Lazar said. “They were a global hit. Bridge Over Troubled Water when it came out was the best-selling record of the year for three years running.
"It was the highest selling record of all time. They really made a big, big impact.”
Taking on the role of such an iconic performer was unlike anything Lazar has ever done before and, while there were challenges, it was worth the work.
“This is definitely a big task and it took some time to get up the nerve to do it,” Lazar said. “What helps is how fun it is to perform the music and how much I love the music, and that really helped me.”
A distinguishing skill that set Simon and Garfunkel apart from other artists at the time, and even today, was the harmonies the two singers were able to perform.
Lazar said it took some time to lock everything in to place in a perfect way with his co-star Pinson, but luckily both had a background in choral singing, which made the harmonies come more naturally.
“Simon and Garfunkel are really fluid in how they sing,” Lazar said. “There is an element that feels like they are reading each other’s minds live, where they kind of bend rhythms and pitches and they do it so in sync.”
Mastering Simon’s guitar work also proved a challenge for Lazar, who has experience playing guitar and singing, but not at the same time with a full backing band.
“To be really trying to master Paul’s finger style and playing the guitar and doing that while performing and keeping the show going, that has been the biggest new thing for me,” he said. “But I love it. It’s fun, it feels like being a rock star.”
And while the music is front and centre, another aspect of the Simon and Garfunkel story is their parting of ways in 1970, with Garfunkel focusing more on his film work and Simon wanting to push forward on their music.
“We talk about it. It’s an important part of their story and interesting enough not the end of it,” Lazar said. “They break up but they also reunite for multiple performances over the years. But we talk about it and give you the context. We don’t shy away from it.”
Lazar said those coming to the show can expect a night of great music, an incredible band, and for fans, a wonderful trip down memory lane.
And while most people will have at least heard a Simon and Garfunkel song at some point, for those not entirely familiar with the duo, the show still offers a great night of iconic music.
“For the fans, we definitely have some deeper cuts and songs, but if you’re not a fan, we are playing all the hits and you are getting all the information about them as you are hearing it. You are really able to follow along with the trajectory of their careers and the evolution of the music that they made. Even for a first-time listener it is a great opportunity,” Lazar said.
“To get to interact with this music in a live setting and get the story of their career is a great show to make Simon and Garfunkel fans.”
The Simon and Garfunkel Story is coming to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available now through the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium website.
