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It was the Secret Show we never thought would happen. But this past Wednesday, beyond all of our expectations, it did. As you may have heard (especially if you spent the past week cruising New York City blogs) the one and only Neil Diamond played a MySpace Secret Show at an extremely tiny club called The Bitter End in the West Village.
And, yes, we're talking about that Neil Diamond. The one who wore sequin suits when most of today's bands were still in diapers. The one that has spent the past forty years singing in corporate-owned arenas across the world. The one that, over the past few years, has recorded two incredibly beautiful albums with producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin (including his latest, Home Before Dark).
Yes, that Neil Diamond, playing a cramped club that you can often find the City's budding singer-songwriters currently performing at. It's a club that Neil outgrew long ago, but that he returned to because the club's original owner Paul Colby (who introduced him onstage) gave him his start there back in the day. We have to give major props to Neil for staying true to his roots and, more importantly, for putting on such an incredible show for his fans.
Many of them began lining up in the early hours of the morning, but when Diamond arrived at the club, only a hundred or so of them got in. But Neil (who has always had a rep for being a gentlemen) had the club aim the speakers towards the club's door, so that those few hundred fans who stuck around could hear Diamond turn out such early hits as "Solitary Man" and "Cherry Cherry," as well as the title track off of Home Before Dark.
As Neil continued on, he and his crack band (which featured former Zwan and Superwolf guitarist Matt Sweeney) played the new single "Pretty Amazing Grace," before finishing things up with "Sweet Caroline." When the opening notes of that particular chestnut rang out, the crowd outside began singing along so passionately that they were louder than the speakers inside. It was truly a special night and it wouldn't have been possible without Neil, Azoffmusic Management, Columbia Records, and the staff at The Bitter End.
So thanks to all of them and, per usual, we'll see you at the next show.
And, yes, we're talking about that Neil Diamond. The one who wore sequin suits when most of today's bands were still in diapers. The one that has spent the past forty years singing in corporate-owned arenas across the world. The one that, over the past few years, has recorded two incredibly beautiful albums with producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin (including his latest, Home Before Dark).
Yes, that Neil Diamond, playing a cramped club that you can often find the City's budding singer-songwriters currently performing at. It's a club that Neil outgrew long ago, but that he returned to because the club's original owner Paul Colby (who introduced him onstage) gave him his start there back in the day. We have to give major props to Neil for staying true to his roots and, more importantly, for putting on such an incredible show for his fans.
Many of them began lining up in the early hours of the morning, but when Diamond arrived at the club, only a hundred or so of them got in. But Neil (who has always had a rep for being a gentlemen) had the club aim the speakers towards the club's door, so that those few hundred fans who stuck around could hear Diamond turn out such early hits as "Solitary Man" and "Cherry Cherry," as well as the title track off of Home Before Dark.
As Neil continued on, he and his crack band (which featured former Zwan and Superwolf guitarist Matt Sweeney) played the new single "Pretty Amazing Grace," before finishing things up with "Sweet Caroline." When the opening notes of that particular chestnut rang out, the crowd outside began singing along so passionately that they were louder than the speakers inside. It was truly a special night and it wouldn't have been possible without Neil, Azoffmusic Management, Columbia Records, and the staff at The Bitter End.
So thanks to all of them and, per usual, we'll see you at the next show.
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