'Solitary Man' performs with massive band

Last night I had the great priviledge of watching a true entertainer hawk his craft in front of a PACKED HOUSE (that's right, packed) at the SBC center. How often do you get to see someone with 12 top ten hits (38 top 40's) whose chart success actually ranks him the #19 artist of all time. That man is NEIL DIAMOND. He rolled into San Antonio with his 14 member backing band (many of them who have been with him for 30 years) and the most elaborate lighting and hydraulic stage system I've ever seen and rocked that house. He opened the show with "Crunchy Granola Suite" and closed with "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show," two songs immortallized by his HOT AUGUST NIGHT live albums back in the seventies that still sound amazing with the almost big band treatment. In between he pleased the part-geriatric, part-hip swinger crowd with old favorites like "Cherry, Cherry," "Thank the Lord For the Nighttime," "Kentucky Woman" and "Sweet Caroline," which the crowd was very happy to sing along with the horn section. He tapped into his extensive catalog for more obscure tracks like "Shilo," the African influenced "Soolaimon," the late seventies almost disconess of "Desiree" and "Be" from the movie JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGAL. A personal favorite was "America" from the 1980 film THE JAZZ SINGER, preceeded by the schlocky ballad "Love on the Rocks." Neil also brought it down a little with a number of ballads like "Play Me," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," and the lyrical atrocity "I Am...I Said" Two of the highlights were songs he wrote but certainly didn't make famous: the big Monkees hit "I'm a Believer" and "Red Red Wine" which he even reggae'ed up and mocked UB40's number one hit song with new lyrics that amounted to 'it's nice to make money of them anyway.' His penultimate song, "Cracklin' Rosie" inspired much audience sing along Neil knows how to play to his crowd and it was great to see he could still 'shake it.' While I am sure he could do very well in Vegas, it's nice to see he doesn't have to. He played 2 and half hours and still missed several popular songs (such as "Solitary Man," "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," and the number one hit "Song Sung Blue" - oh and "Heartlight" from the E.T. soundtrack). Great show, if you have a chance to see him, don't miss it.