Neil Diamond played an intimate little gig at the NYC West Village venue The Bitter End on last night, May 7. He performed classic songs set mixed with new songs from his latest album, Home Before Dark, which I’m listening to as I write this.
The Bitter End only holds a couple hundred people, so this show (sponsored by My Space) was extra special. Thousands of folks got in line once news of this “secret show” leaked, but only the first 200 got in. The ever gracious Diamond took time to greet the long line of fans outside the Bleeker Street club, saying hello and posing for pictures.
Inside the club, Diamond, backed by a small band of members comprising both his studio and touring musicians, gave unplugged performances of “Solitary Man,” “Don’t Go There,” “Home Before Dark,” “Pretty Amazing Grace,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Cherry, Cherry” and “Sweet Caroline.” Speakers were placed in the windows of the club so the hundreds of fans left out in the cold could sing along.
“I sang that song on this very stage 40 years ago,” Diamond said after playing his 1967 hit “Kentucky Woman.”
Home Before Dark, Diamond’s 27th studio album, came out on May 6. The singer kicks off an extensive world tour in Rotterdam, Netherlands on May 24 that will eventually bring him back to NYC in August for a three-night run at Madison Square Garden. Full tour dates are at Neil Diamond’s web site .
