Martha and the Debbies − 1 October, 2005
So, I have a thing for Neil Diamond. I’m not sure when it started. Perhaps it was seeing the Jazz Singer when I was like 7. Or it was my mom playing her records and my sister and I dancing around the house to them. Or the lure of the shiny, sequined shirts and that deep, raspy voice. At any rate, I love his music, always have, always will.
I’ve tried on numerous occasions to go and see him in concert, but it never would pan out. I was always too busy or it cost too much or there was no one to go with. I know it’s hard to believe, but there aren’t a whole lot of people that I associate with that like Neil. So, up until this last year, the closest I ever got to seeing him in concert was an A&E Special.
Finally, October 1, 2005 at the Staples Center, Neil Diamond in concert! As soon as Ticketmaster alerted me to this I jumped at the chance. I wasn’t doing anything that day, I had the money, and I had…people to go with? I quick called my mom up, “do you want to go see Neil Diamond on October 1?” You can always count on good old mom! “Sure”, she says. “Let me see if Debbie wants to go too.” So Debbie’s in, and so is the other Debi.
October 1, we pile into my mom’s car and take off toward LA, cranking Neil the entire way. We ended up eating dinner at this famous diner, but of course I can’t remember the name of it. All I know is that instead of serving bread when you sit down at the table, they give you a bowl of cole slaw – this is my type of place. And the menu is full of comfort food – I opt for the sirloin tips over egg noodles (my mouth waters just thinking about it). By the time we leave this fine establishment, there’s a line out the door and around the corner.
We head on over to the Staples Center, park, and patiently wait outside until they open the doors. I take an inventory of the people there, I’d guess the median age to be about 45. We joke about me being the young pup with the older ladies that night and I dub them “Martha and the Debbies”.
We file through the doors, up the escalator, and go grab some drinks. We find our seats and sit there and chit-chat about life. The conversation is sort of melancholy as Debi talks about her deceased husband and Debbie talks about her first husband’s affair and subsequent divorce from him, and the proposal and wedding to her new husband. I can’t remember what I talked about, nor my mom, I think we both just let her friends talk, vent, whatever you want to call it.
Neil should be on in 30 minutes, I go get us more drinks.
The lights dim, the music starts, and the spotlight hits the stage! There he is, in the flesh, the raspy voice echoes throughout the arena, and his costume doesn’t disappoint! There was such an energy there, people bobbing up and down to the music, singing at the top of their lungs. I panned the audience and see three relatively young guys sitting together, wearing black pants and Neil Diamond approved sequined shirts, and I think to myself that this is an amazing display of an entertainer that spans generations.
Comments:
wade1j (July 27, 2006. 06:32pm)
I first heard Neil while in my mom's boyfriend's car as we drove to the Colorado River. He had a trailer there with a boat and dune buggy and we would go often in the summer. We would pump Neil in both directions of the 4 hour trip. I've loved him every since.
I did the same as you when I heard he was coming to Staples. I called my parents and they were game. I think that we went to the show on the 2nd. Our seats were not that great, but it was fun to see him in person.
If you're not doing anything, would you like to go with me to see Neil the next time he comes around?