17th
June, 2008
The
Rose Bowl, West End, Southampton, England
On stage; 8.16pm
Off stage; 10.13pm
Concert time; 1hr 57mnts.
Neil wore; Black Jacket, Black shirt with Gold pattern, Black trousers with
Gold pattern piping
Almost 36 years to the day after closing out his UK tour in Southampton at the
Gaumont Theatre (now the Mayflower) on 20th June 1972, Neil Diamond
returned to delight a crowd of over 17,000 in the outer suburbs of the city at
the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club tonight.
This was a superb venue. For the benefit of USA fans, and perhaps others,
Cricket is a very English game, beloved of 99% of the population. As a Scot,
my knowledge of the game ends there, but all my English friends take it very
seriously!
Imagine a miniature Woburn Abbey combined with a larger capacity Greek Theatre
and that is something like this venue. A modern purpose built outdoor bowl
like arena, it has some small surrounding undulating areas, baby hills if you
will, and a number of mature and newer neighbouring trees that make it a
wonderful setting, especially when the dusk falls and the 6 large floodlights
are powered up
As
I write this I can glance out of our hotel window and less than 200 yards away
still see the back of the impressive stage as it is swiftly dismantled for the
next venue!
In
the wonderful afternoon sunshine a number of familiar long time fans decided
to go and sit outside the arena for the sound check, and what a treat we had!
A helpful local showed us a vantage point at the top of the slopes outside the
arena where we could actually see the stage. I wonder if that qualifies us as
“Hill People”?
As
Neil and the band worked through an instrumental version of Cracklin’
Rosie, then vocals on Home before Dark, Girl,
you’ll be a woman soon, You Got to Me and If you
know what I mean we applauded each song and Neil turned and waved to
us, from 500 yards away and shouted “can you hear up there” our enthusiastic
response assured him we could. At the end Neil shouted to us all again “thanks
for coming early” and waved before leaving the stage!
And
so to the main event; the access to the arena was well stewarded and the
facilities were first class. There were no new additions to merchandise on the
stands
As
the pleasant afternoon sunshine turned into a cool agreeable evening Neil was
warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd as he appeared strumming his guitar
and singing One more bite of the Apple from his fantastic new
album Home Before Dark, still riding high in the UK Charts at #2
a full five weeks after it sat atop the heap! Moving smoothly into Holly
Holy Neil looked ready to deliver more magic and the familiar tune
brought roars of appreciation now as it had way back then!
The
instant recognition of Beautiful Noise suggested that more than
just a few fans in this expectant crowd could reel off every song from that
classic album! Neil has previously compared and contrasted cities and venues
with his home town of New York City and while this almost idyllic venue is
worlds apart from Neil’s birthplace the crowd was every bit as appreciative of
this great song as some of those I have been fortunate to witness at Madison
Square Garden itself!
Neil shouted “hello Southampton” and then said he didn’t think he had played
the city before (OH YES HE HAS, SEE BELOW!) And that meant he would have to
do all the songs he could; cue delirium!
The
superb Love on the Rocks was instantly cheered as it reminded
everyone of the quality of the massive selling Jazz Singer album
and was perfectly suited to this warm summer evening, however the serene
atmosphere was shattered as Neil rubbed his hands together and said how cold
it was (the temperature had dropped with the fading sun) and said the only way
to warm up was for everyone to dance, and how they responded to the rocking
Cherry Cherry! Once again, and deservedly so, there was rich
approval of the band that Neil calls “the greatest in the world” and given the
talent on display who would dispute that claim?
Thank the Lord for the Nighttime
continued the great upbeat feel and I wondered where, outside of Woburn, could
Neil have rocked such an otherwise peaceful tranquil setting before?
Then Neil delighted everyone, including at least a dozen of the sound check “Hill
People” and several thousand others by performing the powerfully
dramatic If you know what I mean, and the applause was long and
loud for this classic as it was heard for the first time since Munich.
The
songs from Home before Dark are simply wonderful; the beautiful
title track is already a huge favourite of many fans, and so it appeared here
as it was warmly applauded, Neil singing the song with just microphone in
hand; he returned to his guitar to give us the earthy Don't Go There
and the album’s ambassador Pretty Amazing Grace, both
received generous acclaim too.
The
iconic Hot August Night series of shows actually took place a
matter of weeks after Neil was last in Hampshire in the summer
of 1972 and the welcome accorded to both Crunchy Granola Suite
and the splendid Done Too Soon suggested that many in this great
crowd had bought that definitive album in huge numbers; Red Red Wine
played in this great setting reminded me of Woburn ‘77
Brooklyn Roads is undoubtedly one of Neil’s most
personal songs and surely the great Diamond family home movie footage that
helps tell the story of Neil’s early years is one of the most inspired
elements of this wonderful show. Few songs are so eagerly anticipated and
fervently received as the mighty I Am.. I Said..; tonight was no
exception as Neil’s emotional delivery brought the crowd to its feet in wild
appreciation. Solitary Man simply maintained the high standard
it has produced over the decades and was also performed to a standing crowd.
The
gear shift into Forever in Blue Jeans works so well and barely a
seat was occupied as young and old danced excitedly, and there was even more
electricity generated with everyone’s favourite Sweet Caroline
bringing friends and strangers together in a harmony that is as impressive as
it is enjoyable! It seemed impossible that anyone was not standing and swaying
but as the ovations continued long and loud Neil complained that he saw 3
people sitting in the front row during the song! Well none of our group or the
other easily recognisable fan club members were, but who cares as Neil
demanded and then performed a reprise of Sweet Caroline (3rd
time in this tour so far). First timers at a Neil Diamond show
are often amazed at how many hits they recognize, and yet another giant
followed as Neil and Linda gave a further sensational performance of You
don’t bring me Flowers to add to their impressive catalogue.
Linda again stayed out front to help Neil get the crowd up and dancing again
with Song Sung Blue though this wonderful audience needed no
encouragement and showed great reserves of energy to keep rocking through
I’m a Believer with additional all round support
provided by the tireless Maxine & Julia!
In
such a finely tuned show it is almost impossible to select parts that are
“better” than others, the whole experience is nothing short of fantastic, but
I have to say that for me the double delights from the 12 Songs
album are highly polished gems; Man of God simply fits like a
hand in a glove and the truly colossal Hell Yeah has had every
member of our touring group reassessing the line up of our all-time
favourites; while the great preacher in his ragged tent remains at the peak of
my own personal charts this awe-inspiring anthem has moved right up there at
his shoulder!
The
ovations rang around this fantastic venue long and loud as Neil, his face lit
up like a thousand lights, smiled and waved to every quarter before taking his
first leave.
Then he was back and taking us all along on another great wave of emotion and
nostalgia with one of popular music’s great classic hits, that timeless
store-bought woman Cracklin’ Rosie and the radiant looks on
every single face in this crowd was a sight to make the coldest of hearts leap
with joy. America followed with its equally superb video footage
and as the ecstatic crowd bounced around this superb arena the footage
climaxed with the American and United Kingdom flags interlinked
And
then, finally, in a blaze of lights that are simply breathtaking,
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show swept everyone
up, and into his tent and to the most joyful pinnacle possible; I know there
are many who disagree with me, and always will, but in my humble opinion this
is as good as it gets, PERFECTION!
Once again, the greatest live performer of our times had delivered his own
high quality material in his own unique style to old fans and to encouraging
numbers of new ones too, and without a doubt scored an impressive triumph, one
that will surely be remembered forever by all who were privileged to be part
of the experience in this wonderful arena.
As
first Neil, then the greatest band in the world drank long at the fountain of
joyous acclaim (the longest post show ovations by some distance so far)
everyone, as always, moved reluctantly out into the cool night; few would be
home before dark, but the smiles on every face ensured that shining
heartlights would see them safely home, to dream again and again!
In
the votes of our group this superb show was right up there at the side of the
2nd shows in Manchester & Birmingham and just a fraction behind
Cologne in terms of Neil’s great performance, all round energy, excitement and
a fantastic crowd!
A
word of praise for the superb all round organisation at the arena with
varieties of hot & cold food, confectionery and drinks easily available,
toilet facilities aplenty and firm but very friendly stewarding. And the
previously advised post show congestion appeared to be eased reasonably well
by a steady flow of buses for those travelling farther afield than our
adjacent hotel.
Personality Watch; Harry Redknapp, manager of English FA Cup winners
Portsmouth and television presenter Fred Dinage were 3 rows behind us in the 4th
row enjoying the show, and were up and dancing with everyone else.
Tonight's playlist;
#1;One more bite of the Apple/Holly Holy; #2;Beautiful Noise; #3 Love on the
Rocks; #4; Cherry Cherry #5; Thank the Lord for the Night time #6; If you know
what I mean#7; Home Before Dark; #8; Don't go there; #9 Pretty Amazing Grace;
#10; Crunchy Granola Suite; #11; Done Too Soon; #12; Red Red Wine #13;
Brooklyn Roads; #14; I Am.. I Said..; #15; Solitary Man; #16; Forever in Blue
Jeans; #17; Sweet Caroline; #18; Sweet Caroline (Reprise) #19; You don't bring
me Flowers; #20 Song Sung Blue; #21; I’m a Believer; #22; Man of God; #23;
Hell Yeah; WALK-OFF; #24; Cracklin’ Rosie; #25; America; #26; BROTHER LOVE'S
TRAVELLING SALVATION SHOW; Final walk-off Band Walk-off
A
little nostalgia, (and to refresh Diamondville memories)
I
remember with fondness Neil’s 2 shows in one night on 20th
June,1972 at the wonderful old Gaumont theatre in Southampton. (It started
life as The Empire and is now called the Mayflower); strange as it may seem to
some, Neil had a support act that night, the female singer Odetta, and an
interval! The crowd tonight was almost 6 times larger than the combined
audience then, but the songs are just as fantastic, and Neil’s impressive
catalogue has grown considerably in the intervening period!
1972 Playlist; 1st Show;
#1
Missa; #2 Soolaimon; #3 Done too Soon; #4 Solitary Man; #5 Cherry Cherry; #6
Stones; #7 Sweet Caroline; #8 Measles; #9 Black & Blue (from kickin’ myself,
for givin’ you up to somebody else) #10 Girl you’ll be a Woman soon;
#11Chelsea Morning; #12 Song Sung Blue; #13 Cracklin’ Rosie; #14 Holly Holy;
#15 I Am.. I Said...
1972 Playlist; 2nd show;*
#1
Missa; #2 Soolaimon; #3 Done too Soon; #4 Solitary Man; #5 Cherry Cherry; #6
Stones; #7 Sweet Caroline; #8 Measles; #9 Black & Blue (from kickin’ myself,
for givin’ you up to somebody else) #10 Girl you’ll be a Woman soon;
#11Chelsea Morning; #12 Song Sung Blue; #13 Cracklin’ Rosie; #14 Holly Holy;
#15 I Am.. I Said.. #16 Kentucky Woman; #17 I think it’s going to rain today;
#18 Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show.
*Neil
sang a couple of duets with Odetta at the end of her set before he performed
his own show
1972 Band;
Alan Lindgren, Jefferson Kewley, Danny Nicholson, Richard Bennett, Emory Gordy
Junior, Dennis St John;
4
female backing singers
Director; Lee Holdridge
Next Review; The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Ian Graham