Only one word can describe certain concerts: Wow. Last Friday, rock legends Bob Dylan and Paul Simon performed together at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

The duo are around the two-thirds mark on their 30-city tour. Although both have been in the music business for nearly 40 years, Dylan and Simon had never actually met until a few years ago, at Willy Nelson’s birthday party. They got together again earlier this spring and decided to try to put together a tour.

Friday, over 16,000 people scattered themselves across the infield of Canterbury Park, a horse track, to see the show. All seats were general admission, and while the crowd varied widely, all were packed in like Kosovar refugees. You were as likely to be seated next to a yuppie couple as to some high school hippie.

The show began around 6 p.m., with opening act The BoDeans. Their set wasn’t great, wasn’t terrible and basically killed some time. The show really began when Paul Simon took the stage.

Simon began his set with an exceptional rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The arrangement focused on a clean electric guitar, instead of the orchestra used on the original.

Simon, who hasn’t toured since 1994, played a number of songs off of “Rhythm of the Saints,” as well as a couple off of his short-lived Broadway musical “The Capeman.”

Based on these tunes, as well as the material off of “Graceland,” it seems appropriate that Simon’s band featured several African percussionists. Unfortunately, the “World Beat” sound that Simon was going for often caused the arrangements to become boring.

Simon didn’t always connect with the audience during some of the slower tunes. While “Slip Slidin’ Away” and “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover” worked, the crowd clearly lost interest during “Further to Fly” and “Coast.”

Perhaps in response to this, Simon ended his set with more up-tempo favorites. “Mrs. Robinson,” and “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” involved the crowd, and “You Can Call Me Al” got most everyone dancing.

During his encore, Simon brought out Bob Dylan to a huge reaction. Simon and Dylan performed Simon’s “Sounds of Silence,” Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and a medley of country standards “I Walk the Line/Blue Moon of Kentucky.”

Dylan’s harmonica thoroughly enriched “Sounds of Silence,” and the “Graceland” style arrangement of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” sounded great as well.

Originally, Dylan and Simon were going to alternate as to who played first each night, but Simon always plays before Dylan now. After seeing Bob Dylan’s set, it’s easy to understand why.

Dylan’s band was much smaller than Simon’s, but they sounded incredible. After a slightly lackluster start with “Hallelujah, I’m Ready to Go,” Dylan and band peeled off an impressive rendition of “Mr. Tambourine Man.”

One of Dylan’s trademarks is his tendency to constantly change how he plays his songs, and this night was no different. Dylan turned the epic “Desolation Row” into a mid-tempo blues jam, with impressive results.

Dylan’s set featured a number of crowd pleasers, among them “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and “Tangled Up in Blue.”

The weather had been overcast all day, but the only downpour occurred right as Dylan ripped into a rocking “All Along The Watchtower.” As the song ended, so did the rain, leading to speculation that Dylan may have an “in” with God.

Unlike Simon, Dylan was able to keep the crowd engaged even during some slower numbers. The lyrical genius of “Not Dark Yet” kept all ears trained on every word.

Adding to the thrill of the set, was that Dylan really seemed to be enjoying himself. He is as much of a showman as Simon, who jumped around and lead the crowd in hand claps. But on this night Dylan danced around with his guitar and even smiled a few times.

After an encore that featured “Like A Rolling Stone,” “It Ain’t Me, Babe” and Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away,” the crowd still wanted more. The cheers continued for several minutes, until the crowd lights were brought up signifying that the show was over.