Hands down, my favorite “What the fuck?” album cover of all time is Neil’s 1972 Hot August Night. A perfect one shot of Neil in awkward glory, possibly on the verge of collapse after hours on a tune-grinding drug-fueled session under the stars of a balmy Hollywood night. Thankfully, the decadence and sparkling fancy of The Neil Diamond Experience are still alive and swingin’; however the freewheelin’ ways of the non-stop party have departed from his shows forever. The Hollywood Bowl was packed with blue-hairs and gut-busting duffers, amped from afternoon naps in every stretch of the Southland. Wafts of communal cannabis have now been replaced by waves of kasha or ravioli—whatever granny had prepared for this super-special evening. Nonetheless, the show was fucking great. Neil not only sounded great but also looked healthier than previous reports. “Holly, Holy” opened the evening with highlights going to “Cherry Cherry” and “Crunchy Granola Suite.” Regardless of the decades having taken their toll with the audiences—with narcotics now switched from recreational to pharmaceutical and beer swilling swapped for prune gnashin—the atmosphere was still frenzied, thanks to Mr. Diamond being in top form and sharp as ever.
—Nolan Knight