1/19/1991 Paul Simon, Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ


 30 years ago today...

January 19, 1991 - Phoenix, AZ

Rhymin' Paul Simon brought his "Born At The Right Time" tour to Desert Sky Pavilion.

Paul's set drew heavily from the recently-released "The Rhythm of the Saints" album and the Grammy-winning Album of the Year in '87 "Graceland," along with Simon & Garfunkel classics.  Later in 1991, Simon released his first "Best of" album with the same title as this concert tour.

This was one of the first concerts at the new Desert Sky Pavilion, an open air amphitheater built in west Phoenix, a cultural wasteland in those days.  The concert venue had its grand opening just two months earlier in November 1990 featuring Billy Joel.  For a while, the venue would plant a new tree on the grounds for every concert booked, until the sheer volume of events made this impractical.

This was a big date night as it was only the second time Therese had visited me in AZ from her home in Southern California since we met five months earlier.  The primo seats right in front of the stage must have made an impression, as she agreed to move to Phoenix 10 months later in October.  

While a lot has changed over the past 30 years, some things haven't as Therese would submit that I am Still Crazy After All These Years.  

With reserved seating for 7,000 and general admission lawn space for 12,000, Desert Sky (now named Ak-Chin Pavilion aka Cricket Pavilion aka Ashley Furniture Pavilion, etc. as naming rights changed over time) continues to attract many of the large scale major concert tours.

Many concerts that were planned here in 2020 were rescheduled for 2021 with previously-purchased tickets valid for the new date.  It will be interesting to see if the current/revised slate for this summer happens as planned.  We are ticketed for Steely Dan/Steve Winwood and Chicago in June, but I'm not optimistic.  We may have better luck with Chris Stapleton and the Doobie Brothers set for October.  I do not envy concert promoters and event venues at present.  

To see the set list from this Paul Simon concert, visit the page below:

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-simon/1991/desert-sky-pavilion-phoenix-az-5bc85328.html

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