You have to tip your cap at the legendary pop singer/songwriter Neil Diamond. Whether you care to admit it in public or not, chances are you never change the radio station whenever “Sweet Caroline” or “I Am… I Said” comes on. Diamond released his 27th, yes 27th, studio album, Home Before Dark, this week. To celebrate the occasion, he teamed up with MySpace for a secret performance at NYC’s West Village famed music venue, The Bitter End.
Now, to put this in perspective, only the first 200 fans who lined up the morning of the show got it. Yup, The Bitter End is a tiny place, especially for an artist like Diamond. He did greet fans who were stranded in line to get in, and the club even placed speakers outside so that those who couldn’t get in still got to enjoy his performance.
His set included both material from Home Before Dark as well as a variety of fan favorites. He gave acoustic renditions of “Solitary Man, “Don’t Go There,” “Home Before Dark,” “Pretty Amazing Grace,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Cherry, Cherry” and of course, “Sweet Caroline.”
For diehard fans who were unable to attend the show, footage will be available on MySpace at some point early next week. He is also set to embark on a world tour, which will indeed route him back through the US. Check out the photos from his performance at The Bitter End, and we’ll post the tour dates under those.
Neil Diamond North American Tour Dates
07.19.08 – St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center)
07.20.08 – St. Paul, MN (Xcel Energy Center)
07.22.08 – Sioux City, IA (Tyson Events Center)
07.24.08 – Omaha, NE (Qwest Center Omaha)
07.26.08 – Chicago, IL (United Center)
07.27.08 – Chicago, IL (United Center)
07.29.08 – Indianapolis, IN (Conseco Fieldhouse)
07.31.08 – Auburn Hills, MI (The Palace Of Auburn Hills)
08.03.08 – Cleveland, OH (Quicken Loans Arena)
08.05.08 – Washington, DC (Verizon Center)
08.07.08 – Hartford, CT (XL Center)
08.09.08 – Philadelphia, PA (Wachovia Center)
08.12.08 – New York, NY (Madison Square Garden)
08.14.08 – New York, NY (Madison Square Garden)
08.15.08 – New York, NY (Madison Square Garden)
08.18.08 – Pittsburgh, PA (Mellon Arena)
08.20.08 – Albany, NY (Times Union Center)
08.23.08 – Boston, MA (Fenway Park)
08.25.08 – Columbis, OH (Value City Arena)
08.27.08 – Green Bay, WI (Resch Center)
08.29.08 – St. Louis, MO (Scottrade Center)
09.14.08 – Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre)
09.16.08 – Edmonton, AB (Rexall Place)
09.18.08 – Calgary, AB (Pengrowth Saddledome)
09.20.08 – Vancouver, BC (General Motors Place)
09.22.08 – Portland, OR (Rose Garden)
09.24.08 – Seattle, WA (KeyArena)
09.26.08 – Sacramento, CA (Arco Arena)
09.28.08 – San Jose, CA (HP Pavilion)
10.01.08 – Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Bowl)
10.02.08 – Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Bowl)
10.07.08 – San Diego, CA (San Diego Sports Arena)
10.10.08 – Glendale, AZ (Jobing.com Arena)
10.12.08 – San Antonio, TX (AT&T Center)
10.14.08 – Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
10.16.08 – Dallas, TX (America Airlines Center)
10.19.08 – Oklahoma City, OK (Ford Center)
10.21.08 – Tulsa, OK (BOK Center)
10.24.08 – Tampa, FL (St. Pete Times Forum)
10.26.08 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL (BankAtlantic Center)
10.28.08 – Orlando, FL (Amway Arena Orlando)
10.30.08 – Jacksonville, FL (Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena)
