London‘s Love Affair with Diamond Lingers Long!

 

21st June, 2008

 

The O2 Arena, London, England

On stage; 8.12pm
Off stage; 10.10pm
Concert time; 1hr 58mnts.

Neil wore; Black sparkling jacket, Black shirt with light plum peacock style pattern on chest

                             

Neil Diamond made a triumphant return to London tonight with a debut appearance at the fantastic O2 Arena in the first of 3 SRO shows at this impressive modern Thames-side venue.

 

A supercharge atmosphere greeted Neil as he arrived on stage and had to wait for some time till the ovations subsided before saying “Thank you London” and starting with One more bite of the Apple; then that walk with great attitude brought him ever closer to his devoted fans and he clicked into the fantastic Holly Holy that had huge sections of the vast arena up clapping and dancing wildly

 

Neil has many times made the comparison between London & New York City and did so again before telling the crowd he had spent the last 18 months working on the new album and just thinking about playing a concert in London again! Then it was party time as the knowledgeable crowd recognised and responded to Beautiful Noise, always a great favourite, with sustained applause for the always stylish contribution from the Horn Dogs.

 

I well remember how London took the Jazz Singer to its hearts all those years ago, the album of course, but also the movie that was a #1 cinema favourite in the West End, so Love on the Rocks received generous applause! Then Neil did his fun routine where he plays each section of the audience against the other for noise levels, and then he sang the beautiful Play Me and how this old favourite was cheered!

 

Cherry Cherry again brought us all to our feet and this classic rocker once more provided a great opportunity for the best band in the world, NO, the best band in the Universe, to strut their high quality stuff; and isn’t it wonderful to see how each and every band member really enjoys their job and works as hard as the legend they support to ensure we all have the best possible experience!

 

Thank the Lord for the Nighttime proved just as popular and the re-tooled version for this tour is simply superb, in fact so hot that Neil dispensed with his jacket early again, and the ladies had a treat as several of the fairer sex in our group pointed out that an extra button or two was undone on Neil’s shirt and they glimpsed some chest!

 

 It was great to see this wonderful arena filled with so many young fans; every one of them looked to be having the time of their lives and sang along perfectly to each and every song! This is really encouraging for Neil as his music is clearly reaching out not only to the next generation but to the one after as well!

 

The enormous crowd simply erupted with unconfined joy as Neil sang the superb If you know what I mean, and if I have ever heard him perform it better than tonight I cannot say when, absolutely stunning!

 

Neil’s transatlantic #1 album Home before Dark was next to be showcased, and Neil asked every one to go out and buy the album, but then feigned panic and pleaded “but not now while I am singing”. The applause was long and he followed with the catchy Don't Go There and the wonderful Pretty Amazing Grace that had a kind of Latin feel to it, and how great to see growing numbers standing and singing along.

 

Hot August Night is undoubtedly the album that brought Neil’s great live performances into clear focus for so many (while not discounting the early and considerable contribution of the GOLD album that captured Neil’s club performances at The Troubadour) and lots of those folk who remember how the old Radio 1 DJS, Tony Blackburn prominent among them, really took to Crunchy Granola Suite and played it none stop over three decades ago were clearly well represented in this fabulous crowd as this classic opening song simply rocked everyone’s socks off! The high quality follow up Done Too Soon is truly amazing to hear live again after so many years and deserves its place among the great songs Neil has composed, while the original slow version of Red Red Wine was welcomed back like an old family friend.

The outstanding personal biography that Neil weaves so superbly began with  Brooklyn Roads, and you could see thousands of pairs of eyes moving excitedly between the live performance and the beautifully captured film footage on the screens. Not for the first time, nor the last perhaps the most passionate response was to the song that is inextricably linked to Neil alone, the iconic I Am.. I Said.. it simply raised the roof and the thunderous ovations were again long and loud before Neil could complete the song; the triumph was again completed with the evergreen Solitary Man that again had the crowd up and clapping happily along to one of Neil’s most enduring favourites.

 

Forever in Blue Jeans was again a recipe for the entire arena to jump up and Neil even had the audience down on his left sing a couple of the lines themselves; hard on its heels came Sweet Caroline and it was quite awesome to look around this vast arena and see huge numbers of swaying singing joyful faces in ever single section as Neil “filled it up with just about 15,842”. Yet again he had to reprise Sweet Caroline before the crowd would allow him to proceed to You don’t bring me Flowers where he enjoyed his wine, and his duet with Linda, before they danced awhile and brought the wonderful cameo to an exquisite finale amid thunderous applause.

 

Song Sung Blue ensured another mass sing along with Linda remaining to help Neil lead the huge choir, and again they received wonderful support from Maxine and Julia during, and all three ladies stayed up front as Neil really rocked through I’m a Believer displaying amazing energy levels.

 

 Neil was in a really relaxed and chatty mood and he begun to talk about his and the bands travels, then his little moving island started to come towards him and he feigned horror and shouted “this thing is trying to get me” then he shouted “stop” and indeed it did! He then went on to talk a little more about how he and the band enjoy touring and singing and all the craziness that goes with it because they see so many smiling faces in the crowd! Well we in the crowd see so many smiling faces on the stage too!, Then we had the magnificent Man of God and what acclaim this received from the passionate crowd and Neil looked delighted too; it is just one of those songs that seems to free itself in the live performance and with each concert its stock is rising.

 

There is now a real sense of anticipation when Neil sings the phenomenal Hell Yeah and yet again tonight was simply sensational. There have been many great songs in recent tours, new ones, oldies polished and re-tooled, and all have stood out, but surely the lasting impact of this amazing anthem will be felt for years to come, how can it be anything other than  a must sing for Neil for evermore!

                                                                                                           

The acclaim for Neil as he took his bows was heartfelt from a great crowd that played a major part in this extraordinary night, and the look on Neil’s face suggested he knew this was just one of those special times that just happens when everything comes together so perfectly!

 

The noise suggested this crowd was not going home without some more partying and when Neil returned in his great change shirt, maroon with darker collar, shoulders and cuffs, he led everyone storming through Cracklin’ Rosie in spectacular style; you could literally feel the arena bounce around and nearly take off in a real feel good flight!

   

As always there is time for a rousing impassioned sermon from the greatest of all preachers, and how this congregation lapped up the stunningly brilliant Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show with the spectacular light displays, what a way to be saved!

 

                   

Tonight's playlist;

#1;One more bite of the Apple/Holly Holy; #2;Beautiful Noise; #3 Love on the Rocks; #4; Play Me; #5; Cherry Cherry #6;Thank the Lord for the Night time #7; If you know what I mean #8; Home Before Dark; #9; Don't go there; #10 Pretty Amazing Grace; #11; Crunchy Granola Suite; #12; Done Too Soon; #13; Red Red Wine #14; Brooklyn Roads; #15; I Am.. I Said..; #16; Solitary Man; #17; Forever in Blue Jeans; #18; Sweet Caroline; #19; Sweet Caroline (Reprise) #20; You don't bring me Flowers; #21 Song Sung Blue; #22; I’m a Believer; #23; Man of God; #24; Hell Yeah; WALK-OFF; #25; Cracklin’ Rosie;  #26; BROTHER LOVE'S TRAVELLING SALVATION SHOW; Final walk-off Band Walk-off

 

 

Next Review; The O2 Arena, London, England, 2^nd Show