Review: Neil Diamond at the Hollywood Bowl

Eclectric Ink, Music | Good Times Never Seemed So Good…” (“Sweet Caroline”)
Review: Neil Diamond at the Hollywood Bowl
By: Erin “D*J*E” Jacobson

When invited to attend Neil Diamond’s recent stint at the Hollywood Bowl, I had no hesitation in accepting. When a friend asked me “Aren’t you a little young to like Neil Diamond?” I had no hesitation in answering, “Absolutely not.”

While I actually was one of the (chronologically) youngest people at the show, everyone that night was young again, including Neil. Still on the momentum of his recent number one album “Home Before Dark,” Neil gave a performance defying his 67 years of age.

He played a few songs from “Home Before Dark,” but stuck mostly to the hits, giving the fans what they wanted. “I Am, I Said” and “Love on the Rocks” came early in the show, and then we danced to upbeat versions of “Crunchy Granola Suite” and “Forever in Blue Jeans” (one of my personal favorites). Backed by a very talented band, Neil also did a swing-inspired version of his composition “I’m a Believer,” made famous by the Monkees and more recently covered by Smashmouth. During “Brooklyn Roads,” childhood home movies of Neil and his family played on the big screens, making audience members feel closer to Neil, the man, rather than Neil the legend. During “America,” the screens flashed images of European immigrants coming to the United States through Ellis Island, evoking memories of many audience members’ ancestors. “Cherry Cherry” and “Cracklin’ Rosie” were both performed true to the original arrangements, as they should be. Neil closed the show with “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” commonly referred to as “Hot August Night,” completing what could have been classified as a religious experience on our hot October night. However, the highlight for Neil and the audience was “Sweet Caroline.” The song has become a club anthem in recent years, with Justice even sampling the song at the last Coachella festival. After Neil finished the song, the audience would not stop cheering, so he launched into a few more choruses to everyone’s delight.

I personally missed hearing “September Morn” and “Heartlight,” but honestly, I could not have asked for a better show. To the audience, everything Neil did, said or sang was golden. From my box near the stage, I could see Neil’s beaming smile as he basked in the love and appreciation from his audience, projecting it right back to each and every one of us.

For more information on Neil Diamond, including future tour dates, visit www.neildiamond.com.

The photos were taken by my friend, Kateri DeMartino:

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