You Can Call Me Al: Stephen Colbert Welcomes "The World's Preeminent Paul Simon Tribute Band," Troubled Waters As First Late Show Musical Guest
"Throughout its storied three-year existence,
Troubled Waters
has emerged as the world's preeminent
Paul Simon
tribute band, attracting a passionate fan following in multiple states. Evoking the heavenly vocals, poignant lyrics, and sensible wardrobe of the greatest
Folk-Rock
artist of all time.
has taken every effort to mimic that classic
P-Sim
sound, withe exception of some of the more complex arrangements on
Graceland
," reads the brief artist biography on mysterious
Late Show with Stephen Colbert
inaugural week guests,
Troubled Waters
. "So sit back, feel groovy, and remember what the man himself said: "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls, and whispered in the sound... of
Troubled Waters
," the band's rather sparse website continues, making a few clever allusions to
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
and Simon solo hit
"Feelin' Groovy."
While it was widely assumed to be an intricate joke upon its initial pre-airdate August 24th announcement, Colbert's first musical guest
Troubled Waters
were speculated to be either "a reunited
Pavement
or sort-of-actual-Paul-Simon-tribute-act
Vampire Weekend
" by the diligent sleuthing writers over at
.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
's first self-proclaimed "Friday show ever" featured vastly different, yet equally great, guests comedienne
Amy Schumer
and
Stephen King
during it's first half; "I've always wanted to do the whistling solo to
"Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard"
and so, I called
Paul Simon
... and he said, 'I will not do that with you.' Have you ever met him?" Colbert angrily asked
Troubled Waters
frontman
Alan
. "Technically, no," he replied, after which he added, "you know,
Paul Simon
is
a bit of a jerk," after being further prodded by host
Stephen Colbert
.
Troubled Waters
then ripped through a spirited, laid back rendition of Simon's 1972 hit (re-released in '88)
"Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard,"
which was accompanied by Colbert's drunk 20-something-esque dance moves, feverish whistling, and spot-on closing verse lead vocals.