I had the distinct honor of seeing the one and only Mr. Neil Diamond at Madison Square Garden last night. I’m a big fan of his early work, particularly back in the 60s when his shameless display of emotion was paired with copious tambourine banging and back up singers. He sounded like Jesus F. Christ himself on those tracks. Still young and cocky, he also wasn’t afraid to show his pathetic side with the original classic Red Red Wine. Dear God, a singer has never sounded more pathetic or worthy of suicide than on that song. Neil’s last two albums are a bit of a departure from the classic Forever in Blue Jeans stuff, this time produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. His hardcore fans I sense are skeptical of this stuff, but I think history will judge it well, it’s solid music. Granted maybe those with high waisted pants are more likely to dig it than you or I, but it’s good. I wanted to see what kind of show Neil brought to the fans circa 2008, I was not disappointed.

The venture to MSG for the show was impromptu; my lady also likes her some Diamond and she got the tickets; some nosebleed seats in the very highest possible altitude of the arena. We basically had our own beer vendor and eerily empty, clean bathrooms. The show was direct and to the point; it started on time, the stage was pretty simple, and the band was ALL pro. Three backup singers, a percussionist, a drummer, two guitarists, a keyboardist, and the man himself. They rocked. As Neil put it: “Give it up for the greatest band in the land, MY band!”

The concert was how I imaged heaven to be. All my old relatives that have passed on were there, standing, rocking in their old, slow but very sincere way, waving hands, boogying mildly and singing in unison. It reminded me of one of those Pepsi ads where the whole world was united in a big crowd bouncing a giant beach ball around, having a grand old time. But in this case, the beach ball was the Love of the Diamond. Nobody was excluded from rocking to the classics. A very slouchy, somber looking man sitting by himself had a subtle smirk on his face the whole show as if to say, “Neil, you old devil, I’m with you, I believe in you goddamnit” More powerful than a loud yell, he’d occasionally raise his pretzel in approval, toasting the Diamond in his quiet but completely sincere way.

His new songs are as good live as they are on the album, I think they’ll find a home in his classics files someday. Neil is still a very hammy performer; lots of outstretched arms and near-tears facial expressions, but you just can’t help to buy into it. Whether it’s the mass Diamond hysteria going on all around you, or his emotional, balls-out optimism, or his face superimposed over a flying bald eagle and American flag; it’s surprisingly not easy to laugh off. He’s good. No, he’s a genius. A goddamn genius.