Review: Neil Diamond plays new songs — and old favourites — during his greatest hits concerts

REVIEW: Neil Diamond is back for his umpteenth Australian tour. And the music legend has proved he’s still at the top of his game.

Neil Diamond at Rod Laver Arena

NEIL Diamond has spent his adult life making people happy.

Turning 75 next January, Diamond is still at the top of his game and still filling arenas.

His Rod Laver Arena show in Melbourne last night was the first stop on this latest Australian tour and delivered the ideal mix of lots of vintage Neil and just a touch of modern Neil.

Diamond’s never strayed from honest storytelling and new material Seongah and Jimmy (aired in Melbourne before anywhere in the world), The Art of Love and Something Blue (all from last year’s Memory Road) sit nicely alongside Diamond classics Love on the Rocks, Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon, Shilo and Beautiful Noise.

Brassy ... Neil Diamond connects with the masses with ease. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The new tunes are also bravely bunched together, handy if you’re only there for historic Neil and you’ve got a strong thirst or weak bladder. But it was more a trickle than a rush to the bar/toilet once the risky “I’m going to play some new songs” statement, which is a testament to the respect Diamond has as both a songwriter and showman.

The musician also provides interesting backstories — dedicating America to the person it’s about, his immigrant grandmother and using old home footage shot by his father on the autobiographical Brooklyn Roads, a vintage 1968 treat for true believers.

Each Diamond tour sees the audience getting both older and younger, and it’s a treat to see Sweet Caroline, Cherry Cherry, I’m a Believer, Red Red Wine (including a dad rap from Neil), Song Sung Blue, I Am ... I Said, Forever In Blue Jeans and Cracklin’ Rosie unite the wide demographics in mass singalongs.

And mention must be made that Neil Diamond doesn’t use a teleprompter to remember lyrics, with people younger than him (Robbie Williams, John Farhnam, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton) all using technology to jog their memories.

Diamond may attract a more mature audience (it’s nice to see hardly any mobile phones being used to film the show), but that doesn’t stop them dancing.

Still got it ... Neil Diamond turns 75 in January but still has the moves. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Indeed, Diamond has a fiercely loyal following that, like the star himself, visibly enjoy reliving those trademark hit songs they’ve played or heard hundreds or thousands of time. And if you’d paid around $800 for the VIP tickets to get you in the first five rows with a pre-show candlelight dinner, you’d be up for a big night too.

“There’s nothing like hearing women scream out my name,” Diamond says before Hello Again. “It makes me feel like I’m 70 again!”

Sweet Caroline ... Neil Diamond is still popular with the ladies. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The mature screams during Play Me suggest some ladies would be bang up for a hot October night with Diamond, while the two-hour-plus hitfest ends with his ET-inspired ballad Heartlight.

And if the fans didn’t love him enough already, Diamond gave his 97-year-old mother a special shout out — she was streaming the show live from her home in Los Angeles. Bless.

Neil Diamond plays Rod Laver Arena again tomorrow, then Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday, Brisbane Entertainment Centre November 3 and 5, Hunter Valley Roche Estate November 7, Allphones Arena Sydney November 9 and 11, Swan Valley Sandalford Estate November 14 and Perth Arena November 16.

Originally published as Review: Neil Diamond plays new songs — and old favourites — during his greatest hits concerts