There I was, Saturday night alone at one of my favorite concert
venues in the world...L.A.'s Greek Theatre. Sitting high up in Griffith
Park, the Greek's 5700 seat outdoor amphitheater shares its space with
nature...beautiful trees, green leaves and grass, which all are lit up
at night for all to see. I love it there because it feels so
intimate...and there's not a bad seat in the house.
Been going to the Greek for some 13 years now, and have seen some great shows there over the years...the original Bad Company, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, The White Stripes, David Bowie, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant. So, it was a treat to return to the Greek this summer for one concert...and one concert only. Few acts could tempt me out of my cave on a Saturday night to journey to the Greek Theatre alone. Yet this was a must-see...THE act to see at the Greek: Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond, you ask? Yes, NEIL DIAMOND.
Why Neil Diamond you ask? Well, the answer lies with my father. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, my father used to play Neil Diamond songs all the time in the car during our many road trips. I used to look at the old 8-track tapes, and stare at the strange covers as Dad blasted classic Neil Diamond tracks like "Cracklin' Rosie," "Song Sung Blue," "Holly Holy," "Cherry, Cherry," "Sweet Caroline" and others. Though I am not 100 percent certain, I am pretty sure among those tapes was the 1972 classic album Hot August Night...which was recorded August 1972 at (where else?) the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
As I got older and became a rocker, I stayed clear of all things Neil Diamond. My old friend Drew gave me 1980's "Love On The Rocks" single as part of a birthday present to me when I was 12, yet I was very dismissive of it. As a teenager, I thought Neil Diamond to be a corny lounge singer of no importance who sang dated "Grown Up" music. He didn't rock, as far as I was concerned...so I never gave him nor his music the time of day. A friend in high school once brought up his love of "Cherry, Cherry," and informed me that The Monkees' 60's hit "I'm a Believer" was written by Neil Diamond. Also, Diamond had a surge of popularity when he played a lengthy stint at Madison Square Garden when I was 17...yet still, I didn't care.
In the 90's, however, things changed. Neil Diamond songs started popping up in movies. PULP FICTION featured Urge Overkill's cover of Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon." That same year, my girlfriend at the time made me a mixed tape with 1966's "Solitary Man" on it. In addition to all that, my sister Pam told me about a band that she loved called Super Diamond, who performed fast, rock and roll versions of Neil Diamond songs.
It wasn't until years later that it all came flooding back to me...all of the Neil Diamond songs that I heard as a child in my father's car. The power of suggestion knows no bounds, so it only made sense that eventually I'd find my way back to Diamond. When I was 30, I picked up a copy of Hot August Night on CD, and loved it, and soon found myself buying other Neil Diamond discs, falling in love with songs like "Holly Holy,"and "Kentucky Woman." Finally I was ready to admit that Neil Diamond had written some great songs.
In 2008, I thought about seeing Neil Diamond in concert, as he booked a number of dates in the L.A. area. Yet tickets were very expensive, and I just didn't think it was worth it. However, Shauna...a lovely blonde I was dating at the time, invited me join her friends to go see Neil Diamond at the Hollywood Bowl. Shauna and her pals bought a block of cheap tickets...and all was paid for. All I had to do was show up.
...yet it was not good. The concert sounded great, yet I felt as if I wasn't really there. Shauna and I got to the Hollywood Bowl very late, and missed the first half of the opening song..."Holly Holy." Our seats were miles and miles away from the stage...way up in the back of the Hollywood Bowl. We had to squint just to see the video screens. Much of the night was spent passing food around. Shauna and her friends all bought picnic baskets, and tons of food to eat. I think there were ten or so in our group. So, I spent the night passing wine bottles and chicken around. No, it wasn't a complete disaster...yet I didn't really feel as if I got to really experience a Neil Diamond concert. I vowed that one day, I would right the wrong.
When it was announced that Neil Diamond would perform at the Greek Theatre for the first time in 25 years...to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hot August Night, I knew I had to be there. To see Neil Diamond in August perform at the very same venue where he recorded Hot August Night...an album I'm fairly certain my Dad loved...was a huge deal for me. All the shows sold out fast, yet I managed to score a ticket...a very expensive ticket at that.
I loathe the cost of concert tickets these days. Yet I when I had the opportunity to score a 14th row orchestra seat, I took it without thinking twice. The price was extraordinarily high...yet as far as I was concerned, this was an EVENT...a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I knew would mean a lot to me. This was going to be the one and only time I would see Neil Diamond at the Greek Theatre...and this may very well be the last time I ever get to see him perform. I was going to make it count.
The drive to the Greek Theatre was nice and easy from my apartment...east on Sunset Boulevard, straight up Vermont Avenue, and I was there. I parked my car in the stacked parking lot down the road, and walked uphill to the glorious Greek Theatre. The venue was sparsely filled when I arrived. Video screens on each side of the stage displayed various Tweets from people attending the show (who Tweeted to Neil Diamond via Twitter). The mean age of the audience must have been 47 to 50. I saw very few young people there.
The show began around 8:20pm. The houselights dimmed, and the band began to play the opening strains of 1970's "Soolaimon"...a track that is unfortunately anathema to me. You see, at my office, I am tortured daily with the same songs over and over again over our loudspeakers...to the point that I can't hear them anymore. "Soolaimon" is one of those songs. Nonetheless, the band played, and out Neil Diamond came...in the flesh. At 71 years young, he looked and sounded great. Okay, he looked old...yet still looked good, and sounded great.
Diamond had a huge band backing him...7-8 musicians, 3 backing singers, plus a full string section. The big thing for me though, was Neil Diamond's drummer...the great Ronnie Tutt. He's played with Diamond for over 30 years, yet before that...he played with another legendary singer. From 1969-1977, Ronnie Tutt recorded and toured with Elvis Presley. That's American royalty to me. Almost hidden behind his trademark huge double bass drums, in full white beard, Ronnie Tutt played with a gentle finesse throughout the whole concert...never upstaging the main attraction. I just stared in awe.
I wasn't too familiar with the second song of the night, 1976's "Beautiful Noise," yet 1979's "Forever In Blue Jeans" sounded familiar (maybe Dad played it in the car?). I didn't know the next song "Hello Again," which is from the 1980 soundtrack to THE JAZZ SINGER, yet the next seven songs I knew too well. "Love on The Rocks" was my 12th birthday present, "Play Me" and "Shilo" I knew from my Neil Diamond CDs. "Red Red Wine" I knew mostly from UB40's cover of the song in 1983, and "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" I knew from PULP FICTION, and my HOT AUGUST NIGHT CD. It was a true pleasure to hear Diamond sing all of these great songs...plus great classics like "'Cherry, Cherry" and "Solitary Man."
Next came "Glory Road," from 1969, followed by the iconic 1966 classic "I'm a Believer." Neil Diamond dedicated the song to his wife Katie (who was at the show), saying "I'd like to say I had written the song with you in mind, yet you were not born yet. You were in the works though. I think your parents were dating at the time." The song seems to have meant a lot to Neil Diamond, as he mentioned that it was his first number one song (of a song he had written). He also mentioned that he just recently got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On Saturday night, Diamond performed the song both slow and thoughtful, then later fast and fun.
"I love that song," exclaimed the older gentleman sitting to my left after Diamond performed a duet with one of his backing singers on 1978's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Yet I was more excited about his next song, which Diamond announced was one of a group of songs he would play in honor of the 40th anniversary of Hot August Night (he already had performed no less than eight songs from the album). Though it sounded softer than the Hot August Night version 40 years ago, I still loved hearing/seeing Neil Diamond perform "Crunchy Granola Suite"...the very first track off the classic album.
"Morningside" is unfortunately another office-torture song, so I perhaps didn't enjoy that one as much as I could have. Yet it was soon followed by a great version of one of my favorites..."Holly Holy"...arguably the best track featured on Hot August Night. Where do you go after "Holly Holy"? "Sweet Caroline" of course. Everyone loves "Sweet Caroline." Even Elvis used to play it in concert. The Greek crowd sang along happily...and even Neil Diamond sang along when the crowd sang the traditional shout-out that's not officially part of the song...the "so good, so good, so good!" that occurs during an instrumental break in the chorus. Neil Diamond never wrote that part...it was written by audiences all over the world. Diamond had so much fun performing "Sweet Caroline," that after the song was done, and he played half of the song again. Still feeling the love, Diamond had the band play the chorus one more time...with just the crowd singing along. To close the show, Diamond brought out his 1971 masterpiece that he slaved over for months...."I Am, I Said." Needless to say, the crowd ate it up.
"Cracklin' Rosie" began the encore, and I was so very pleased that Neil Diamond played it. It was the one Neil Diamond song I remember the most from those road trips in my father's car. Before performing 1980's "America," Diamond spoke fondly about his grandmother, and her journey from Russia to Holland to the U.S. I think she was the light of his life, and had a huge influence on him.
Diamond next did a great version of the 1969 classic "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show." After a miscue with a riser (which Diamond almost fell off of as he was walking backwards), Diamond was lifted off the stage on the riser, as he preached the fast talk of the song. The first lines of "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" seem to have been written specifically for the concert I saw on Saturday night (and were in fact the inspiration for the title of Neil Diamond's classic live album): "Hot august night, and the leaves hanging down." Well, It certainly WAS a hot August night at the Greek Theatre, and the leaves WERE hanging down. I was just too glad to be there to experience it.
To close the night, Diamond played 1974s "I've Been This Way Before." Not exactly a big finish, yet it was a sweet and gentle way of saying goodnight...and it was a Good Night.
There I was, at the Greek Theatre, having just seen Neil Diamond in concert. There's no doubt my father would have loved the show, and would have appreciated all of the hit songs that were performed. I wish he could have been there with me. Perhaps he was...
Been going to the Greek for some 13 years now, and have seen some great shows there over the years...the original Bad Company, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, The White Stripes, David Bowie, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant. So, it was a treat to return to the Greek this summer for one concert...and one concert only. Few acts could tempt me out of my cave on a Saturday night to journey to the Greek Theatre alone. Yet this was a must-see...THE act to see at the Greek: Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond, you ask? Yes, NEIL DIAMOND.
Why Neil Diamond you ask? Well, the answer lies with my father. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, my father used to play Neil Diamond songs all the time in the car during our many road trips. I used to look at the old 8-track tapes, and stare at the strange covers as Dad blasted classic Neil Diamond tracks like "Cracklin' Rosie," "Song Sung Blue," "Holly Holy," "Cherry, Cherry," "Sweet Caroline" and others. Though I am not 100 percent certain, I am pretty sure among those tapes was the 1972 classic album Hot August Night...which was recorded August 1972 at (where else?) the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
As I got older and became a rocker, I stayed clear of all things Neil Diamond. My old friend Drew gave me 1980's "Love On The Rocks" single as part of a birthday present to me when I was 12, yet I was very dismissive of it. As a teenager, I thought Neil Diamond to be a corny lounge singer of no importance who sang dated "Grown Up" music. He didn't rock, as far as I was concerned...so I never gave him nor his music the time of day. A friend in high school once brought up his love of "Cherry, Cherry," and informed me that The Monkees' 60's hit "I'm a Believer" was written by Neil Diamond. Also, Diamond had a surge of popularity when he played a lengthy stint at Madison Square Garden when I was 17...yet still, I didn't care.
In the 90's, however, things changed. Neil Diamond songs started popping up in movies. PULP FICTION featured Urge Overkill's cover of Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon." That same year, my girlfriend at the time made me a mixed tape with 1966's "Solitary Man" on it. In addition to all that, my sister Pam told me about a band that she loved called Super Diamond, who performed fast, rock and roll versions of Neil Diamond songs.
It wasn't until years later that it all came flooding back to me...all of the Neil Diamond songs that I heard as a child in my father's car. The power of suggestion knows no bounds, so it only made sense that eventually I'd find my way back to Diamond. When I was 30, I picked up a copy of Hot August Night on CD, and loved it, and soon found myself buying other Neil Diamond discs, falling in love with songs like "Holly Holy,"and "Kentucky Woman." Finally I was ready to admit that Neil Diamond had written some great songs.
In 2008, I thought about seeing Neil Diamond in concert, as he booked a number of dates in the L.A. area. Yet tickets were very expensive, and I just didn't think it was worth it. However, Shauna...a lovely blonde I was dating at the time, invited me join her friends to go see Neil Diamond at the Hollywood Bowl. Shauna and her pals bought a block of cheap tickets...and all was paid for. All I had to do was show up.
...yet it was not good. The concert sounded great, yet I felt as if I wasn't really there. Shauna and I got to the Hollywood Bowl very late, and missed the first half of the opening song..."Holly Holy." Our seats were miles and miles away from the stage...way up in the back of the Hollywood Bowl. We had to squint just to see the video screens. Much of the night was spent passing food around. Shauna and her friends all bought picnic baskets, and tons of food to eat. I think there were ten or so in our group. So, I spent the night passing wine bottles and chicken around. No, it wasn't a complete disaster...yet I didn't really feel as if I got to really experience a Neil Diamond concert. I vowed that one day, I would right the wrong.
When it was announced that Neil Diamond would perform at the Greek Theatre for the first time in 25 years...to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hot August Night, I knew I had to be there. To see Neil Diamond in August perform at the very same venue where he recorded Hot August Night...an album I'm fairly certain my Dad loved...was a huge deal for me. All the shows sold out fast, yet I managed to score a ticket...a very expensive ticket at that.
I loathe the cost of concert tickets these days. Yet I when I had the opportunity to score a 14th row orchestra seat, I took it without thinking twice. The price was extraordinarily high...yet as far as I was concerned, this was an EVENT...a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I knew would mean a lot to me. This was going to be the one and only time I would see Neil Diamond at the Greek Theatre...and this may very well be the last time I ever get to see him perform. I was going to make it count.
The drive to the Greek Theatre was nice and easy from my apartment...east on Sunset Boulevard, straight up Vermont Avenue, and I was there. I parked my car in the stacked parking lot down the road, and walked uphill to the glorious Greek Theatre. The venue was sparsely filled when I arrived. Video screens on each side of the stage displayed various Tweets from people attending the show (who Tweeted to Neil Diamond via Twitter). The mean age of the audience must have been 47 to 50. I saw very few young people there.
The show began around 8:20pm. The houselights dimmed, and the band began to play the opening strains of 1970's "Soolaimon"...a track that is unfortunately anathema to me. You see, at my office, I am tortured daily with the same songs over and over again over our loudspeakers...to the point that I can't hear them anymore. "Soolaimon" is one of those songs. Nonetheless, the band played, and out Neil Diamond came...in the flesh. At 71 years young, he looked and sounded great. Okay, he looked old...yet still looked good, and sounded great.
Diamond had a huge band backing him...7-8 musicians, 3 backing singers, plus a full string section. The big thing for me though, was Neil Diamond's drummer...the great Ronnie Tutt. He's played with Diamond for over 30 years, yet before that...he played with another legendary singer. From 1969-1977, Ronnie Tutt recorded and toured with Elvis Presley. That's American royalty to me. Almost hidden behind his trademark huge double bass drums, in full white beard, Ronnie Tutt played with a gentle finesse throughout the whole concert...never upstaging the main attraction. I just stared in awe.
I wasn't too familiar with the second song of the night, 1976's "Beautiful Noise," yet 1979's "Forever In Blue Jeans" sounded familiar (maybe Dad played it in the car?). I didn't know the next song "Hello Again," which is from the 1980 soundtrack to THE JAZZ SINGER, yet the next seven songs I knew too well. "Love on The Rocks" was my 12th birthday present, "Play Me" and "Shilo" I knew from my Neil Diamond CDs. "Red Red Wine" I knew mostly from UB40's cover of the song in 1983, and "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" I knew from PULP FICTION, and my HOT AUGUST NIGHT CD. It was a true pleasure to hear Diamond sing all of these great songs...plus great classics like "'Cherry, Cherry" and "Solitary Man."
Next came "Glory Road," from 1969, followed by the iconic 1966 classic "I'm a Believer." Neil Diamond dedicated the song to his wife Katie (who was at the show), saying "I'd like to say I had written the song with you in mind, yet you were not born yet. You were in the works though. I think your parents were dating at the time." The song seems to have meant a lot to Neil Diamond, as he mentioned that it was his first number one song (of a song he had written). He also mentioned that he just recently got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On Saturday night, Diamond performed the song both slow and thoughtful, then later fast and fun.
"I love that song," exclaimed the older gentleman sitting to my left after Diamond performed a duet with one of his backing singers on 1978's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Yet I was more excited about his next song, which Diamond announced was one of a group of songs he would play in honor of the 40th anniversary of Hot August Night (he already had performed no less than eight songs from the album). Though it sounded softer than the Hot August Night version 40 years ago, I still loved hearing/seeing Neil Diamond perform "Crunchy Granola Suite"...the very first track off the classic album.
"Morningside" is unfortunately another office-torture song, so I perhaps didn't enjoy that one as much as I could have. Yet it was soon followed by a great version of one of my favorites..."Holly Holy"...arguably the best track featured on Hot August Night. Where do you go after "Holly Holy"? "Sweet Caroline" of course. Everyone loves "Sweet Caroline." Even Elvis used to play it in concert. The Greek crowd sang along happily...and even Neil Diamond sang along when the crowd sang the traditional shout-out that's not officially part of the song...the "so good, so good, so good!" that occurs during an instrumental break in the chorus. Neil Diamond never wrote that part...it was written by audiences all over the world. Diamond had so much fun performing "Sweet Caroline," that after the song was done, and he played half of the song again. Still feeling the love, Diamond had the band play the chorus one more time...with just the crowd singing along. To close the show, Diamond brought out his 1971 masterpiece that he slaved over for months...."I Am, I Said." Needless to say, the crowd ate it up.
"Cracklin' Rosie" began the encore, and I was so very pleased that Neil Diamond played it. It was the one Neil Diamond song I remember the most from those road trips in my father's car. Before performing 1980's "America," Diamond spoke fondly about his grandmother, and her journey from Russia to Holland to the U.S. I think she was the light of his life, and had a huge influence on him.
Diamond next did a great version of the 1969 classic "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show." After a miscue with a riser (which Diamond almost fell off of as he was walking backwards), Diamond was lifted off the stage on the riser, as he preached the fast talk of the song. The first lines of "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" seem to have been written specifically for the concert I saw on Saturday night (and were in fact the inspiration for the title of Neil Diamond's classic live album): "Hot august night, and the leaves hanging down." Well, It certainly WAS a hot August night at the Greek Theatre, and the leaves WERE hanging down. I was just too glad to be there to experience it.
To close the night, Diamond played 1974s "I've Been This Way Before." Not exactly a big finish, yet it was a sweet and gentle way of saying goodnight...and it was a Good Night.
There I was, at the Greek Theatre, having just seen Neil Diamond in concert. There's no doubt my father would have loved the show, and would have appreciated all of the hit songs that were performed. I wish he could have been there with me. Perhaps he was...
