Chicago

At 8 PM, we were greeting with that familiar message that Mr. Diamond would be the solo performer and would perform without intermission. House lights will dim abruptly. Take your seats-the show will begin shortly, etc. Second message that the show is about to begin around 8:20. Neil took the stage at 8:24, wearing dark pants and coat-but what is this? A hint of maroon underneath for the shirt?????
We got the first couple of lines of One More Bite of the Apple, then straight into Holly Holy. Lots of smiles, and it looked like lots of energy!!!!! No worries here. Right into Beautiful Noise, and then as I hoped, my first time hearing Street Life live. Powerful version-very true to the original recording.
Love on the Rocks was next.
For Play Me, Neil walked around and performed to the back of the house. After the song, he commented that those people "actually paid for those seats" so he has to go back there once in a while! :)
Cherry Cherry was next, with the fabulous band solos. King was on fire!!!!! Also, Neil was really, really moving during this one. It could have been the 80s again. Especially during the solos, he was really dancing his heart out!
I forget when Neil lost the coat, but it might have been now-and sure enough, it was a deep maroon shirt underneath with a little sparkle.
Thank the Lord for the Nighttime followed.
"Well that was yesterday. And this is today..."
The powerful combo on Home Before Dark, Don't Go There, and Pretty Amazing Grace. I actually prefer how these songs are arranged live to how they are on the studio recording. All three were great, and very well received! Of course, there were a handful of beer-getters, but it was not the mass-exodus that has historically happened (i.e. let's do a few from the Lovescape album-in 92).
Hearing Crunchy Granola Suite as arranged for Hot August Night and then my first time hearing Done Too Soon was a real treat! Enjoyed immensely.
Brooklyn Roads was very powerful. I was moved by this one more than any other time I've seen it. I think it was because of the videos of his childhood on the screen, but it also was how powerfully he performed it-very sensitive.
I Am...I Said. Still a little strange to not hear this nearer the end, but it was a wonderful rendition, and it worked FABULOUSLY right after Brooklyn Roads. Made it seem even more meaningful, if that's possible!
Solitary Man was great. One of my favorites!
Forever In Blue Jeans got some folks standing, thank goodness! Most folks were sitting through the show up in the nosebleeds where I was.
Sweet Caroline was, as always, a huge crowd pleaser. When he was done, the audience ROARED. He looked at us, pretending he didn't know why we were cheering, raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, and started again from "warm touching warm." When he finished the second time, the same thing happened, so we got it a third time!
Straight into You Don't Bring Me Flowers. The new arrangement was pretty, with Neil and Linda singing longer parts solo. I prefer the original arrangmement, personally.
Song Sung Blue. Pretty traditional version. No audience sing along.
I'm A Believer. Yes, we were!!!!!
Long intro to Man of God about his life and how he ended up on this path and that there must have been a purpose. He blamed us for why he was on the road travelling. :)
I've got to tell you, I was really looking forward to Hell Yeah, after hearing so much about how well it works as a closer. Ok, let me tell you, NOBODY can adequately describe this. It was SO beautiful. SO perfect. I literally got chills and tears were falling at the end (and I'm a guy! lol). Exteremly emotional. Very beautiful. ABSOLUTELY perfect. Extremely strong vocal. I wish I could describe it. You just have to experience it.
Neil came back out in a dark blue shirt for the encores.
The encore of Cracklin' Rosie, America, and Brother Love had everybody on their feet! And then, 2 hours and 2 minutes later, the show was over at 10:26.
This was my 9th show, and I think it was one of Neil's strongest vocal performances, actually. It seems as he is aging, he is taking his time more, but in a good way, where he is really thinking through the notes that he is singing. When I think back to my first shows in 92-93, they were very high energy, and in the round, but Neil did a lot of shouting. Here, it was very emotion, very passionate, and seemingly very personal. One of the best shows of his I have seen!
SET LIST:
One More Bite of the Apple-takes stage at 8:24
Holly Holy
Beautiful Noise
Street Life
Love on the Rocks
Play Me (played to back of house)
Cherry Cherry
Thank the Lord for the Nighttime
Home Before Dark
Don't Go There
Pretty Amazing Grace
Crunchy Granola Suite (ala Hot August Night)
Done Too Soon
Brooklyn Roads (with childhood images on video screen)
I Am...I Said
Solitary Man
Forever In Blue Jeans
Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline (reprise)
Sweet Caroline (3rd version)
You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Song Sung Blue
I'm A Believer
Man of God
Hell Yeah
(Hell Yeah walk off instrumental)
ENCORE
Cracklin' Rosie
America (with images on video screen of NYC)
Brother Love
(Brother Love walk off instrumental)
(Sweet Caroline walk off instrumental as band leaves)
Outtro at 10:26