A Hot June Night

Monday 18th June One of the most famous concerts of all time is Neil Diamond's Hot August Night Love at the Greek Performance in Los Angeles nearly 20 years ago. Now - when these famous performers come ones way, the opportunity to see them live should not be easily passed up - especially when their family member fan club is in town. The last time this duo (me and G senior) saw the man himself was June 2008 at the Rosebowl in Southampton. That night - far from balmy - is etched in our memories for traffic flow, watching elderly ladies scramble up the M27 embankment and muddy car park exits - not that the music wasn't good. We hoped that the Wells Fargo (that really is a bank and not a made up name) arena on the outskirts of Philadelphia would surpass those memories and we were not disappointed. The arena was packed to the rafters with a good cross section - the fan club in the front row along with the "You are my Light" banners. The night opened with Soolaimon and a great African drum crescendo. The hits flowed - Beautiful Noise, Forever in Blue Jeans, Red Red Wine, I'm a believer and Sweet Caroline with several encores (full set list recorded here for posterity http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neil-diamond/2012/wells-fargo-center-philadelphia-pa-13df21cd.html). The encore itself included America - written in memory of his grandmother who, at the age of 12, travelled by herself on a train from Russia to Holland and then by boat to USA over 100 years ago - incredible. The star was only booed by the crowd when he talked about his recent marriage - clearly some disappointed followers there. Good band, good backing singers, great lighting effects, well natured enthusiastic crowd and good company. Cracking night out.