My friend Ken Craig asked me to tell him about the Neil Diamond concert. Here is what I can remember.
The concert was held was back on Friday, December 16, 2006, in the "E" Center in West Valley.
When tickets went on sale, Karin told me that she wasn’t so interested in going this time (we had gone together back on August 31, 1999), since she had already seen him. I tried to understand her, but that to me is like saying you’ve seen your dad so you don’t need to see him any more. Anyway, suffice it to say that Karin doesn’t share the same passion for the man that I do. I can respect that.
So, since Karin showed no interest in going, I had to find a partner. I couldn’t just go alone, could I? But who would go with me? I wouldn’t go with a woman, unless she were a relative, and none of them wanted to go either. I canvassed my ward and work. None of my buddies wanted to go with me either. Time edged towards the concert date. What was I to do --- go alone?
I finally decided to just go alone --- despite how nerdy, desperate, awkward, and socially unacceptable it might seem. I HAD TO SEE THE DIAMOND.
A couple of weeks before the show, I started searching eBay. Coincidentally, I found somebody selling ONE ticket to the concert. It was a $78 dollar ticket. I thought to myself, “Am I willing to spend up to and perhaps exceeding $78 to see Neil Diamond all by myself?” I answered that question. Time was pressing. I was more than willing.
Long story short: I won that ticket for $41!
My wife Karin helped me prepare by ironing on two different pictures of him on a white t-shirt. I then doctored it up some more: a large “N” on the right shoulder; a large “D” on the left. I also found an example of his autograph on the Internet and forged it on my chest: “To Tim, my biggest fan, Neil Diamond.” It had the write swoop and everything. On the back, by the picture, I wrote, “Not a hot August night, but a night of chillin’ with Neil.” Now I was ready.
When I got to the concert, I sat down in front of two ladies. I came to find out that they were two forty-something bus drivers from the Salt Lake School District. They were nice. We chatted a lot and quickly became Diamond friends. Right before the concert, one of them spilled her entire beer right behind me. Some of it splashed on my arm. The rest drizzled down around my feet. For the entire concert I had excellent footing, because my feet stuck to the floor!
The stage was most interesting and at first confused me. It was a large circle, angled up at the back as if it were being propped up. The middle of the circle was dissected by a large line going down the middle, running from top to bottom. In other words, it was shaped like a large, flat aspirin. The two segments were completely covered with large white drapes.
A few minutes before the concert, the announcer came on to say that the show was about to start. OK..... I couldn’t see how it was possibly about to start. There were no instruments, no microphones, no drums on stage! There was nothing at all! How were they going to put it all together in five minutes?
I never did figure it out until I started hearing music, the beautiful introductory sounds of “Crunchy Granola Suite.” Suddenly, the drapes covering the two segments were sucked down into the floor. Gradually, sections of the band were raised up as the elevating floor ascended! It was so cool!
Then finally Neil came out and we all went berserk, in our middle aged ways. “Dee dee dee; dum dum dee dum dum.... I know a man was out of touch; and he’d hide in his house and he didn’t say much! Deedle dee dee dee dee dee dee doodle ee doo!” I sang along, nerdy alone, to practically every song. People looked at me; I toned it down a little bit.
Highlights during the show:
* About half way through the show a guy in front of me turned and tossed me a bottle of water. He yelled something like, “You look like you need it. You know all the songs!” He and his posse were impressed.
* Neil sang a medley from Jonathan Livingston Seagull. It was beautiful. I would love to have a recording of it. While he sang they showed video clips from the movie in the background.
* He sang “We” from his new album, and, I think, “What’s It Gonna Be.” I can’t fully remember. By the way, check out the album. Stripped down, raw, open, emotional, touching, unplugged. Not what you’d expect from someone his age (no offense).
When he sang “America,” they showed multiple black-and-white video clips of immigrants arriving in Ellis Island. It was touching and inspiring. I love and admire Diamond’s patriotism, especially in a Hollywood world where it is so mindlessly hip to be rebellious and criticize all things dealing with our government. I can’t stand how so many celebrities think they know it all, as if their fame automatically empowers them to heightened political knowledge and clarity.
In a nutshell, the concert was fun, awesome, and memorable. I love Neil Diamond. He is a gracious, grateful, savvy showman. He loves his fans. He gives it his all. He was born in 1941 (that makes him 65).
Enjoy, Ken!
(This is my 10th blog.)
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