Diamond delivers grand performance

NEIL DIAMOND, Energy Solutions Arena, Friday

Memories. Life is built on them. And one way to share memories is to attend a Neil Diamond concert.

Not only were the audience members reliving their past while Diamond sang through a hit-parade of his classics, but they were also invited into Diamond's own memories during "Brooklyn Roads."

During Diamond's homage to his rearing, pictures and home movies of his family were projected on two video screens hanging on each side of the tilted stage. The images added to the nostalgic and sometimes poignant feel of the song.

There were plenty of old songs throughout the show that also took people to those dynamic flashbacks.

The set kicked off with "Holly Holy" and then slipped craftily into "Beautiful Noise."

Diamond's band, who have been with him for years, played like a well-oiled machine with a soul. The horn quartet, the back-up vocal trio and the keyboard duo synchronized themselves with the drums, percussion, bass and two guitarists.

The lonely arrangements of "Love on the Rocks" and "Play Me," were offset by the foot stomping "Cherry Cherry."

Diamond also dipped into the song list from his most recent CD, "Home Before Dark." The acoustic numbers included the No. 1 CD's title track, "Don't Go There" and "Pretty Amazing Grace."

Throughout the night, the platforms on which each of the musicians stood glided across the stage, giving the audience a different views of the playing. However, the loudest cheers happened when Diamond's front-and-center platform moved from one end of the stage to the other.

That still didn't help those audience members who bought seats behind the stage. So the ever accommodating Diamond did a few walking laps around the stage and gave those fans a good dose of song.

"Crunchy Granola Suite," "Done Too Soon," "I Am ... I Said" and "Shilo" brought back the nostalgia, but Diamond, who is now 67, sang them with the grand delivery like he did in the past. In fact, his voice still sounded strong, and he sang with hearty conviction.

The show ended with his rock sermon "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show," but before that he went into "Forever in Blue Jeans," "Sweet Caroline," which featured the sold-out audience performing as his back-up singers and the duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," which he sang with Linda Press, who just happens to be the wife of Diamond's bassist and band leader Reinie Press.

Surprisingly, Diamond didn't sing his trademark "Solitary Man," but did a rousing rendition of "I'm a Believer," "Cracklin' Rosie" and the fitting anthemlike "America."

Diamond's rapport with his audience was impeccable and the sound mix on the floor was perfect.

And that helped with one part of the show when Diamond talked about his stop in Oak Island, Texas, which had been razed by Hurricane Ike. He had spoken to the mayor and decided to help all the residents who lost their homes in the storm.

"So, every penny from the merchandise you buy, whether it is a T-shirt or hat or suitcase, will go to the residents in Oak Island."

With that, Diamond added a new chapter in his illustrious career.

E-mail: scott@desnews.com