With all rules of course there are exceptions, and this is one of those.
On Saturday evening we went to see Neil Diamond at the Manchester Evening News Arena. I'd* never seen him before but of course I'd heard him, seen him on TV, listened to him and all... over many years since as a child my parents used to listen to him. I've always liked his music of course and his particularly unique voice and I confess that when Linda and I first met, one of only five out of my several hundred CD's that she was prepared to listen to was in fact, "The Essential Neil Diamond". Fair enough I suppose. (Although I still don't know what's wrong with Foo Fighters, Sex Pistols or Clarence Gatemouth Brown!?)
* I have actually listened to Neil Diamond play live once before, but sadly this was from outside of the arena as Linda had taken her parents to see him and I just had to drive back from Heathrow in order to provide a lift home!! So... I stood outside, with my cheesburger, and my fries, and my coke, and I listened.... while they we're all inside... watching! But, like the Murphys... I'm not bitter!
Anyway, this time I did get inside and we've waited for 7 months to see this show since we got hold of the tickets last year. All I can say is "Wow!!". There's a guy on the stage who's years older than my own parents, belting out hit after hit after hit with such strength in his voice and such presence on the stage, absolutely palpable control over the audience and fully in command of his 15'ish piece backing band. The stage was alive too as each section of the band stood upon a mobile rostrum and each section meandered about the stage mechanically as the songs took hold of the magical atmosphere that held aloft this ageing gentleman and the legacy of his 40 years worth of creativity.
The audience immediately took part with arms waving madly, booties and hips doing what booties and hips do best, and by far the best chorus that I've ever heard from any backing group. The highlight of the event for me was being part of a 15,000 strong voice of one, as we all sang our little hearts away, actually drowning out Mr. Diamond, and his band, to the tune of "Sweet Caroline". I swear that every single person on that arena joined in with every word and every beat and every single goose bump on every single body could be seen and felt. As they turned up the arena lights I couldn't help myself and instead of watching the stage, I was watching the audience. What a truly amazing feeling it was to be a part of that shared energy and emotion and elation. Even those without a single note in their heads and those rhythmically challenged individuals doing a great impression of Clyde and Seymore as they tried to clap in time but failed embarrasingly, even they looked perfectly at home and contributed something to what will always be one of the best experiences of my life! What a beautiful noise!
