This just in: Neil Diamond did not wear one of his patented garish beaded shirts Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center.
Review: A trimmer, hipper Diamond leaves too much of the fun out
For years, critics told him to drop the gestures and overwrought arrangements. We were wrong.
July 24, 2008 at 3:35PM
That's like Tina Turner not shaking it in a short dress, Cher not sashaying in a wig, Prince not prancing in high heels.
On the opening night of his 37-city North American tour, Diamond was sporting a tailored black sportcoat, black pants with black beads on the outside seams and a black shirt with modest earth-colored appliqué. With this outfit, the 67-year-old pop icon looked trimmer -- younger -- and more modern than last time around at Target Center in 2005.
His approach to his entire presentation on Saturday could have been described as trimmer and more contemporary. He has reined in his overdramatic gestures and overwrought arrangements and put the emphasis on his songs and his voice. That's what critics, including this one, have urged for years.
But you know what? We were wrong.
Saturday's 110-minute show was too much meat and potatoes and not enough ham and cheese. Diamond went for the somber, solitary man and not the hammy, over-the-top entertainer who has the audience in the palm of his hand. This show was long on soulful sincerity and short on schmaltz, drama and, frankly, energy.
This was one of the quietest arenas concerts to ever play in Twin Cities. Not that Diamond has ever been loud, but his sound has been more vibrant and dynamic in the past. His vocals weren't particularly assertive, either. In fact, his voice seemed spotty, a bit unnaturally froggy at times, occasionally pitchy and thin in its upper register.
There wasn't much oomph in his voice, even early on for the can't-miss hits "Holly Holy" and "Cherry Cherry." He bordered on blue on the low-key "Solitary Man" and "Brooklyn Roads," during which priceless childhood movie were shown on big screens.
However, Diamond was effective on selections from his recent (and first) No. 1 album, the elegantly understated and excellent "Home Before Dark," smartly seasoning "Pretty Amazing Grace" with flamenco guitar and mariachi horns, and tastefully turning "Don't Go There" into a Motown-meets-the Middle East arrangement. Two tunes from 2005's stripped down "12 Songs" stood out -- the gospel-lite "Man of God" and "Hell Yeah," which was full of quiet strength.
The old Diamond returned when he started to sing hard near the end of "I Am ... I Said," his existential ode to self-pity. He got emphatic on the mantra-like "Forever in Blue Jeans" and hammy on the feel-good "Sweet Caroline," during which 16,000 concertgoers sang "so good, so good, so good" at him. He even danced a bit on "I'm a Believer," the old Monkees hit (which he wrote) recast as horn-driven funk.
For the encore, Diamond changed into a shimmering lamé shirt, but it didn't measure up to his past. Neither did the encore: He delivered "America" with determination but "Cracklin' Rosie" on cruise control.
And he did not close with "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," his traditional finale for four decades. Maybe he'll pull that one out -- along with an old outfit -- for tonight's return engagement at Xcel.
For a set list and fan comments, go to www.startribune.com/poplife. For a wrapup on Diamond's two-night stand, see Monday's Variety section. Jon Bream • 612-673-1719
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