Went to see Super Diamond last Saturday and even after everyone telling me how great they would be, the show actually met the hype. Super Diamond is a Neil Diamond tribute band and if you don't think Neil is worthy of tribute you haven't been paying attention to pop culture. Not only did he just release a DVD called Hot August Nights, he's also had a prime time special on CBS in August to promote the DVD and was lionized in the comedy film Saving Silverman a few years ago. Many critics were dismayed by the Oscar snub of that cinematic masterpiece.
However, before I give my review of Super Diamond I have to give serious props to the opening act, Almost Queen. If you are wondering it was not a transvestite band which you'd have to consider based on the name. What a great idea to have a Queen tribute band! I don't care that Bad Company's Paul Rodgers is currently the lead singer of the 2009 version of Queen. When Freddy Mercury died 20 years ago so did Queen. Period. The guys in Almost Queen approach the task with the appropriate combination of musical skill and a great sense of humor. The dude playing Freddy Mercury went all the way in. Super cheesy mustache, white tank, and slicked back hair. Went he spoke to the crowd he addressed us as "darlings." God I hope that mustache was glued on because he'd look like a doofus anywhere else.
They picked great songs: Fat Bottom Girls, Somebody to Love, Under Pressure in addition to the expected classics. Likewise their performances were entirely exaggerated which they had to be if they were to give Queen the proper respect. Fake Freddy's was constantly striking poses with his half mic stand and Brian Maybe was flying on the Guitar with his giant 70s afro. The crowd may have been there for Neil but these boys won everyone over quickly and arguably stole the show from Super Diamond.
Worth mentioning that the Nokia Theater in Times Square is a great theater. Small venue where you stand close if you want or you can sit in the back and still have great seats. Waitresses walk around taking drink orders, 3 separate bars inside the theater, and the tickets were $30. For that kind of setup who needs the real, wrinkled up Neil?
Super Diamond was what you might expect. The five guys dressed like Neil though two of them looked like the were impersonating Elvis thanks to some generous side burns. Nevertheless, all the Neils had sequined shirts with lots of tassels and wavy black hair. I could have stood for more chest hair because I remember Neil had quite the forest growing there in the Jazz Singer. I can't answer if they were all circumcised which might give insight to their respective level of commitment to the tribute. The main Neil was the best looking and his voice was spot on as he sang lead on all the songs.
The crowd was outstanding. Plenty of guys went along and we saw one dude with a black vest over his wide collared paisley shirt. Obviously an older crowd which made me think Courtney Cox should have shot a Cougartown episode there. Quite a few tweens and teens with their mothers and each one looked exceedingly uncomfortable as their mothers started rocking uncontrollably along with Sweet Caroline. I'm all for bringing my kids to concerts but if I'm going to get blitzed and throw my underwear at the stage I'd probably leave junior at home for the night.
Speaking of throwing underwear I couldn't shake the image of the original Neil singing Cherry-Cherry to thousands of teenage girls throwing their thongs at him on stage back in the 70s. If the women in this crowd did that, Super Diamond would have been ducking hundreds of elastic control tops instead. Ain't middle age grand?
Set list was great with every song you'd want to hear. Opened with Hello, Again and closed with America and everyone screamed "Today" and sang the Pledge of Allegiance. The one song that struck me as funny was the ten minute version of Hava Naglia. Now despite the goofy outfits New York is a sophisticated town and I have no doubt 98% of the crowd had attended a Bar Mitzvah or a Jewish wedding so we all know the song and the drill. Numerous women were lifted and carried up and down at some point during the song and everyone had a blast. Still, I'm curious how that plays out in the heartland. My cousin from Sacramento sent me a text before the show telling me I was going to love Super Diamond. Did they do Hava Naglia out there? Would the crowd in Cedar Rapids even know the song? For us it's New York and the day before Yom Kippur so we had fun with it but does the rest of the country?
Bottom line. Next time you hear Super Diamond is in your town grab your granny panties and head on down because we're comin' to America.
TODAY!!
However, before I give my review of Super Diamond I have to give serious props to the opening act, Almost Queen. If you are wondering it was not a transvestite band which you'd have to consider based on the name. What a great idea to have a Queen tribute band! I don't care that Bad Company's Paul Rodgers is currently the lead singer of the 2009 version of Queen. When Freddy Mercury died 20 years ago so did Queen. Period. The guys in Almost Queen approach the task with the appropriate combination of musical skill and a great sense of humor. The dude playing Freddy Mercury went all the way in. Super cheesy mustache, white tank, and slicked back hair. Went he spoke to the crowd he addressed us as "darlings." God I hope that mustache was glued on because he'd look like a doofus anywhere else.
They picked great songs: Fat Bottom Girls, Somebody to Love, Under Pressure in addition to the expected classics. Likewise their performances were entirely exaggerated which they had to be if they were to give Queen the proper respect. Fake Freddy's was constantly striking poses with his half mic stand and Brian Maybe was flying on the Guitar with his giant 70s afro. The crowd may have been there for Neil but these boys won everyone over quickly and arguably stole the show from Super Diamond.
Worth mentioning that the Nokia Theater in Times Square is a great theater. Small venue where you stand close if you want or you can sit in the back and still have great seats. Waitresses walk around taking drink orders, 3 separate bars inside the theater, and the tickets were $30. For that kind of setup who needs the real, wrinkled up Neil?
Super Diamond was what you might expect. The five guys dressed like Neil though two of them looked like the were impersonating Elvis thanks to some generous side burns. Nevertheless, all the Neils had sequined shirts with lots of tassels and wavy black hair. I could have stood for more chest hair because I remember Neil had quite the forest growing there in the Jazz Singer. I can't answer if they were all circumcised which might give insight to their respective level of commitment to the tribute. The main Neil was the best looking and his voice was spot on as he sang lead on all the songs.
The crowd was outstanding. Plenty of guys went along and we saw one dude with a black vest over his wide collared paisley shirt. Obviously an older crowd which made me think Courtney Cox should have shot a Cougartown episode there. Quite a few tweens and teens with their mothers and each one looked exceedingly uncomfortable as their mothers started rocking uncontrollably along with Sweet Caroline. I'm all for bringing my kids to concerts but if I'm going to get blitzed and throw my underwear at the stage I'd probably leave junior at home for the night.
Speaking of throwing underwear I couldn't shake the image of the original Neil singing Cherry-Cherry to thousands of teenage girls throwing their thongs at him on stage back in the 70s. If the women in this crowd did that, Super Diamond would have been ducking hundreds of elastic control tops instead. Ain't middle age grand?
Set list was great with every song you'd want to hear. Opened with Hello, Again and closed with America and everyone screamed "Today" and sang the Pledge of Allegiance. The one song that struck me as funny was the ten minute version of Hava Naglia. Now despite the goofy outfits New York is a sophisticated town and I have no doubt 98% of the crowd had attended a Bar Mitzvah or a Jewish wedding so we all know the song and the drill. Numerous women were lifted and carried up and down at some point during the song and everyone had a blast. Still, I'm curious how that plays out in the heartland. My cousin from Sacramento sent me a text before the show telling me I was going to love Super Diamond. Did they do Hava Naglia out there? Would the crowd in Cedar Rapids even know the song? For us it's New York and the day before Yom Kippur so we had fun with it but does the rest of the country?
Bottom line. Next time you hear Super Diamond is in your town grab your granny panties and head on down because we're comin' to America.
TODAY!!
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