For fans, forever Diamond means forever fun

What kind of guy would wear his unofficial, custom-made Neil Diamond clothing to the superstar's concerts over the weekend in St. Paul?

A guy who plays on a softball team called the Neil Diamonds. Jim Novak, 35, and his teammates took a caricature of the superstar singer and put it on their uniform T-shirts without his permission. On Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center, Novak was sporting his orange team sweatband featuring that caricature.

"When I was a kid, we'd put on the soundtrack to 'Jazz Singer' and clean the house," the Maple Grove fan said of his devotion to Diamond. "I would pretend I was Neil Diamond, and I'd do the moves and play air guitar. The music takes me back to that time, and it's still really fun even if it seems shallow or schmaltzy."

More than 16,000 people -- mostly women wearing official T-shirts like the ones declaring "Neil Diamond Rocks" -- turned out on Saturday and again Sunday to see the first two shows of the 67-year-old pop icon's North American tour. To be sure, there were some opening-night glitches -- like when Diamond, after the first number, shouted, "Hello Saint" and no one heard the "Paul" because of technical difficulties. He also neglected to introduce his longtime band members by name, which he always does, and he eschewed "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," his traditional finale for four decades.

Diamond seemed to take it in stride. He didn't treat opening night differently than any other night, he said in an interview before the concert.

"It's not different; it's pretty much the same," said the tireless veteran, who already took this production to Europe. "It's one guy supported by a wonderful band presenting music to an audience that, hopefully, is receptive and looking to have a good time."

Diamond favored St. Paul for the opener because "it's a great audience; they've always been very kind to me," he said. "It's a great upper to kick the tour off here."

His overly dramatic shtick -- a helping of schmaltzy meat and potatoes and an unexpectedly smaller-than-usual serving of ham and cheese -- plays well in Middle America.

Case in point, Michelle and Bill Stimpson, of Eden Prairie, will see the first four shows on the tour: St. Paul, Sioux City, Iowa, and Omaha.

"Every one is better than the last one. Every time I see him it's more meaningful for me," said Michelle Stimpson, 39, who counts 15 Diamond shows since 1982, including the second row on Saturday and the front row on Sunday at Xcel. "When I felt lonely or sad as a kid, he was always there. His music connects me with me. He really bonds us all. I'm a life coach, and I help people connect with what makes them come alive. He comes alive as soon as he hits the stage."

Pop's Dark Knight

Marlee Ruane, 77, of Bloomington, has seen every Diamond concert in the Twin Cities since 1972. She is a discerning devotee. She thought Sunday's show was "much better" than Saturday's. Indeed, he seemed more relaxed, more animated and in consistently better voice. He was really into "Love on the Rocks," really worked it on "Play Me," and danced in the dark as his band members took solos during "Cherry, Cherry." Ruane thought the crowd was more energetic and Diamond's pacing was better, even though he played the same songs in the same order -- save for closing Sunday with the uplifting "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show."

However, she disliked the dark sport coat and dark shirt he was wearing. "Somebody's who's got that much money can get a better and brighter shirt," she said.

Dark was the message of many of his songs, including such brooding oldies as "I Am ... I Said" and the new "Don't Go There." At one point on Saturday, with furrowed brow, pop's Dark Knight declared, "Enough anguish, enough torment. It's time to dance."

Novak was actually looking forward to the dark, emotional side heard on Diamond's recent, stripped down albums, 2005's "12 Songs" and this year's "Home Before Dark." However, the way those tunes were recast for the stage with more instrumentation made them "less impactful," he said Sunday.

Still, Novak was pleased overall, too. "He sounded good and looked even better," he said. "It was very entertaining. I'd go again. He made us proud to wear his face on our chests every Wednesday night. He did our softball team proud."

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719