Concerts - Neil Diamond at Earls Court, London in 2002
It was a hot July night (not a Hot August Night) in London and I
was to see Neil Diamond perform live for the first time. I had
been a fan of his music since my teens but had never been to one
of his concerts. However, I knew that he had passed his 61st
birthday and wondered if he could still actually sing. I needn't
have worried, he could!
For those who don't know the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, it
is a vast open space, sometimes used for trade fairs, sometimes
as a theatre. It has incredibly high ceilings and is not the
warmest and most inviting place in the world. On this evening,
though, there was a buzz as people bought pre-show drinks and
souvenir T-shirts and CDs.
We took our seats, about 20 rows from the front and slightly to
the left - not a bad view of the stage - and looked with
amazement at all the complicated lighting and sound equipment up
in the rafters. There was a guy up there in a sort of cage for
the whole evening. Who'd have his job?
Hanging down the front of the stage was the biggest Stars and
Stripes you ever saw.......then the lights dimmed, the buzz of
audience chatter was silenced and Neil Diamond appeared on,
bounded onto rather, the stage and straight into a rousing
version of "America". Backed by a 17 piece band, many of whom
had been with him for 25 years, Neil moved straight into a raft
of favourites, including "The Boat That I Row" complete with
well choreographed rowing movements from the beautiful ladies
who make up the four piece string section.
Neil Diamond works a stage and an audience like no-one I've ever
seen, whipping the different sections of the audience into a
frenzy of appreciation with an remark here and a look there.
Well worn phrase though it is, he really did have the audience
in the palm of his hands, and what a mixed audience it was. Ages
ranged from 20s to 90s with nearly as many men as women,
throwing themselves into the dancing, clapping and swaying with
as much enthusiasm.
Neil doesn't take a break during his shows (apparently because
he's afraid people won't return after an intermission) and
although the tempo varied during the two and a half hours, he
was on stage, the energy he brought to his performance was
incredible.
Neil sang nearly all the old favourites, dedicating "Captain
Sunshine" to the memory of Vince Charles, the band's steel drum
and percussionist, who sadly died in 2001 and "He Ain't Heavy,
He's My Brother" to the true heroes of America post 9/11, the
police offers, the teachers, the fire fighters and military
personnel serving overseas in order to protect the liberty of
the American people.
Other highlights included "Sweet Caroline" and for one young
lady in particular, "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon", during which
Neil lay supine on the stage caressing and kissing her as well
as the appearance out of the floor of a grand piano, on which
Neil played "I haven't Played This Song In Years" and "You Are
The Best Part Of Me", both from his Three Chord Opera album
Altogether, it was a memorable evening with music performed by a
brilliant and charismatic artiste.