So tonight it’s Neil Diamond on his 50th Anniversary tour. Like Noah, Neil seems to have collected two of everything with his 13 piece backing band; two guitarists, two keyboards, two drummers, two backing singers, two times two brass section and a lone bass player. Clearly it’s the other bass player’s night off.
It’s rare that I attend gigs now where I am one of the youngest but tonight’s the night. Long-time fans mingled with a few young ‘uns and we were somewhere in the middle.
There is no point picking any highlights as its hit after hit, singalong after singalong. Sweet Caroline obviously stands out and the venue is like a giant Karaoke bar with 20,000 people belting it out.
Diamond’s voice is still strong as is his stamina with a show of over two hours. It’s a great night but my only gripes were the band seemed a little low in the mix, the unnecessary ten minute interlude where every member of the thirteen got a solo and the final song of Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show which while a good song is not ‘America’ with what he has ended most of the shows with on this tour.
Minor gripes though for a night with this legendary songwriter.
Keep on rockin y’all