HEADLINE: SCOUT CHRONICLING STORY OF ST. PAUL TREES
BYLINE: Don Boxmeyer, Staff Columnist
BODY:
A young East Side Eagle Scout candidate has this preposterous notion that St. Paul harbors majestic trees just as historically significant as some of its most treasured buildings.
Joe Quick's "heritage tree" proposal is so off the wall that people from the mayor's office to state legislators are praising it and wondering why no one had ever thought of it before.
"When I was young," says Joe, who is 13, "I saw an old, old tree in Minneapolis that I'd heard was around when Columbus came to America. I wanted to learn more about that tree, but I couldn't find any history on it anywhere."
Joe, now a seventh-grader at Battle Creek Junior High School, wants to produce a guidebook to heritage trees of St. Paul by encouraging the city's residents to share their memories of earlier eras through the nomination of those special trees for heritage designation.
A pair of peach leaf willows at the south end of Lake Phalen are good examples of the kinds of trees that deserve heritage designation. Both trees are believed to have been planted in 1894 at the time Phalen Park was established, and together they form a natural gateway to the lake from Johnson Parkway.
"This program will provide an opportunity to individuals and families to share with each other the history of St. Paul trees and the neighborhoods in which they grow," says Chuck Armstrong, assistant chief of staff to Mayor Norm Coleman.
"This sounds like a great project," says Rep. Steve Trimble, DFL-St. Paul, who also teaches history at Metropolitan State University. "It'll have great value to the city, the schools and, in a sense, to tourism. It'll be almost like one of the blue highway books."
The National Register of Historic Places, for instance, includes almost 100 notable structures in Ramsey County ranging from its Carnegie libraries, the Robert Street Bridge and the Church of the Assumption to Mickey's Diner.
Each of those places is listed for some significant quality that makes it worthy of preservation. Why not single out special trees, some of which may be a century or more older than some of the buildings?
St. Paul still has some trees that may be as old as 250 years, city arborist Dave Sundmark says. Years ago, he began a listing of significant trees on a city "tree trek," a project that was never completed.
"This is something I've always wanted to do," says Sundmark, "but somehow never found the time."
He knows of many special trees, including a ceremonial grouping of trees in Mounds Park known as Eastern Star Grove, and a cluster of horse chestnut trees by the Cathedral.
There is, somewhere in St. Paul, a Kentucky coffee tree and, somewhere in Como Park, a cucumber magnolia tree.
"I stumbled on a huge Norway maple in someone's back yard in Highland Park," Sundmark recalls. "Eighty inches in diameter when I first saw it. It's storm-damaged now and doesn't have its original full canopy, but it is still there."
What if, someplace in St. Paul, there is still a spreading chestnut tree under which the village smithy used to toil? Are there trees with commemorative plaques still attached? What about the plantings of the Depression-era WPA? The work of the boys and girls of Tree Trust?
"There's a honey locust on the West Side worthy of note," says Sundmark, "and there used to be a tree growing right in the middle of a street in Highwood. That's unusual."
Dutch elm disease took 80 percent of St. Paul's boulevard elms in the 1970s and denuded hundreds of miles of streets that had been majestically canopied. A few of those mature elms still stand and might be candidates for heritage designation.
Joe Quick's project includes the development of a nomination form on which St. Paul residents will identify and locate trees they feel should be designated. They'll also be encouraged to share photos and remembrances of tree-related events.
The nomination form will attempt to pinpoint the species and age of the tree, and its development through family photos taken around the tree at baptisms, graduations and other celebrations through the years.
If you have a tree to nominate, you can get a nomination form from any branch library. You can also phone me at 228-5568 for a form.
I'll be involved in the project as a member of Joe's committee, and I'll print some of the stories about significant trees as you send them in and after they've been evaluated.
Joe hopes to have all nominations in by the end of July. Eventually, a guidebook to St. Paul's heritage trees will be published, hopefully with the help of the Ramsey County Extension Service and the Ramsey County Historical Society.
"Through this project, we'll be able to locate some of those remnant trees that reflect St. Paul's older landscape," Rep. Trimble says.
Don Boxmeyer's column runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
GRAPHIC: Photo: Scott Takushi, Pioneer Press
Joe Quick, a 13-year-old Eagle Scout candidate, is working to compile
a "heritage tree" registry for St. Paul. Included on the list would
be such trees as this peach leaf willow at the south end of Lake
Phalen. It and its mate are believed to have been planted in 1894 at
the time Phalen Park was established.
me2...you talked about this to me in Como...where can I get my hands on this???
oh thats something else- we have that at RCHS - its similar to what I was telling you about with the map of trees in cono. you should come down and see me sometime- check out the files.
And I've been this way before And I'm sure to be this way again; For I've been refused And I've been regained
And I've seen your eyes before And I'm sure to see your eyes again
Once again.
Some people got to laugh Some people got to cry Some people got to make it through By never won'dring why. Some people got to sing Some people got to sigh Some people never see the light Until the day they die; But I've been released And I've been regained And I've been this way before And I'm sure to be this way again
Once again. One more time again Just one more time.
The story of my life Is very plain to read It starts the day you came And ends the day you leave
The story of my life Begins and ends with you The names are still the same And the story's still the truth
I was alone You found me waiting And made me your own I was afraid That somehow I never could be The woman that you wanted of me
You're the story of my life, And every word is true Each chapter sings your name Each page begins with you
It's the story of our times And never letting go And if I die today, I wanted you to know
Stay with me here Share with me, care with me Stay and be near And when it began I'd lie awake every night Just knowing somewhere deep inside That our affair just might write
The story of my life Is very plain to read It starts the day you came It ends the day you leave
Linda Schildgen took this week off from her job as a senior assistant to a 3M executive so she could attend three Neil Diamond concerts. She has no guilt.
"Everyone at 3M knows I'm a fan," Schildgen said before the 64-year-old superstar's concert Wednesday at Target Center in Minneapolis, the first of two nights unofficially dubbed "Hot August Night and September Morn."
During the concert, Schildgen was bouncing like a teeny-bopper to "I'm a Believer," aerobicizing to "Soolaiman," holding up her "So Good" sign during "Sweet Caroline," sitting on the edge of her chair for "Glory Road" and beaming and singing along to "Cracklin' Rosie."
You don't have to bother to ask if she loved the concert. It's enough to know that she'll be back at Target Center tonight for her ninth and final Diamond show of the year -- and 56th overall.
Really, she has no guilt. Visiting with her before the concert was a fellow Minnesota fan who went on to become a priest. "He ended up at my parish," said Schildgen, 48, of Dellwood. "I'm not going to confession anymore."
Yes, she got a kiss and a hug from Diamond in December 1999 when she was wearing some sort of reindeer getup after a concert in Omaha.
Seeing him in Milwaukee on Monday gave Schildgen nine states and one province in which she has seen her hero in concert. Her husband of four years, who prefers Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones, has never gone with her to a Diamond show. She goes with her gal pals (one from Bloomington, one from Des Moines and one from Lincoln, Neb.), all of whom she met -- surprise -- while camping out to buy Neil tickets in 1991.
"Part of the fun is cramming four or five people in a hotel room and having a slumber party," said Schildgen. "It's not different from a golfing trip or a family vacation. It's my thing with my girlfriends."
Schildgen's daughters, now 14 and 18, have been dragged to Diamond shows and subjected to his music since they were in car seats. "My 18-year-old is a closet fan," Schildgen insisted, "but she's into Weezer at the moment."
Schildgen, who first saw Diamond onstage in '82, said his music "always had great meaning to me. It touches your soul."
The music has touched the Rev. Jon Shelley, 44, of St. John the Baptist Church in Jordan. He sometimes finds himself slipping imagery from Diamond lyrics into his sermons. That will happen when you've seen about 80 shows (including 12 this year, half of them in New Zealand and Australia) since 1982.
Wearing a Neil Diamond polo shirt not his priest's collar, Shelley vividly recalled his first Diamond show 23 years ago at the Met Center in Bloomington: "I had front-row seats, and I made such a fool of myself that [Diamond] threatened to give my seat to someone in the back row if I didn't sit down and shut up."
Other fans Wednesday among the 16,000 at Target Center shared their Diamond experiences.
Marlee Ruane, 74, Bloomington, who has seen every Diamond show in the Twin Cities since 1972 but one: "My first show was at the St. Paul Civic Center. The only one my husband went to. Neil came running onstage in a Viking jersey. He was drinking out of a pewter mug. Somebody handed him flowers and he stuck them in the mug. Somebody yelled, "Is this wine?" So Neil sang, 'Put the flowers in the martini/Put the roses in the wine/You've heard this song in Minneapolis and St. Paul/for the very last time.' "
Samantha Demoss, 20, St. Paul, a first-timer: "My parents love him. They got the tickets. I'm not that familiar with what he does but I'm sure I'll recognize songs when I hear them."
Brian Jones, 25, Mankato, a first-timer, attending with his wife, mother-in-law and six other 20-something first-timers: "I've been singing Neil at karaoke for five or six years so I decided I needed to see him. I'm a big Springsteen fan and Neil Diamond is the same type of performer: raspy voice, great songwriter, guitar player. It makes me happy when I hear his music."
Paula Oven, 52, of Browerville, Minn., and Jones' mother-in-law and a kindergarten teacher: "It's going to be a tough first day of school tomorrow. Maybe during rest, I'll take a little nap. I won't play Neil Diamond music for the kids; it'll get them too riled up."
Brian Tuma, 29, Baxter, Minn.: "I took my parents to see him last time. It was beautiful. We're back for more but my parents didn't come. I like Metallica and Pantera. But I have a soft spot in my heart for Neil."
First-timer Kelli Knudsen, 21, Bemidji, with her parents and 19-year-old sister: "People think we're crazy because we're into oldies. We've also seen 3 Doors Down, Dashboard Confessional and the Warped Tour. Neil's awesome! He's the ring tone on my cell phone
Working with the hippest rock producer in the world hasn't exactly altered Neil Diamond's forever-in-sequins kitsch value. But the veteran singer-songwriter did unbutton his starchy top just enough to let in some fresh air to Target Center on Wednesday.
Diamond, 64, kicked off his two-night stand in Minneapolis with all the usual pomp, pageantry and posturing. He took the stage to the sounds of "Crunchy Granola Suite" making kiss-blowing gestures. By show's end two hours later, he had dramatically outstretched his arms toward the crowd enough times to have flapped his way back to Brooklyn.
But a few modest flourishes to the sold-out concert made it a fresher (and better) outing than other recent tours. The most original part was a three-song acoustic set near the end, which included the lesser-known gems "Glory Road" and "The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" and featured Diamond's best singing of the night.
Diamond at the Target CenterBruce BispingStar TribuneThis unconventional acoustic medley might have been a result of Diamond's pairing with producer Rick Rubin for an upcoming album. Rubin -- who helmed Johnny Cash's 1990s revival and coached recent stars such as Jay-Z and Audioslave -- reportedly persuaded Neil to stop the hand gestures and start playing guitar again in the studio. It was a smart move on stage, too.
Diamond even turned personal during the acoustic segment, reminiscing about the "far from innocent" times of the 1960s and his early years as a songwriter. He went on to show a rare bout of humility in a made-up introduction to "Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow," with self-deprecating lyrics such as, "I hope you don't think my work is overrated, tawdry and cheap."
Tawdry, at least, was a good way to describe the melodramatic performance of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" earlier in the set. He and longtime backup singer Linda Press acted out the lyrics like overwrought soap opera stars. His fist-clenched performance of "Love on the Rocks" also featured more ham than a Subway sandwich shop.
Equally hokey but far more pleasing was a rare medley of three songs from the cult-loved 1973 New Age soundtrack "Jonathan Livingston Seagull." This, too, was a relative change-up for Neil's die-hard fans, who apparently enjoy seeing seagulls on the Jumbotron screens the way Yanni fans like views of the Acropolis.
whoa cool- that article has mention of my whole group of friends- we all got together before and after the concert (we usually do) hang out at the hotel bar and talk with band memebers ----
Rev. Jon Shelley, 44, of St. John the Baptist Church in Jordan. ---a friend of mine for 19 years ---hahaha he came into my work 17 years ago with guys from his parish and I didn't know who the guys were but I started saying how he and I slept together one night.... I meant in line waiting for the tickets to go on sale :wink:
last night sarah and I cruised out of the show at the tail end of the last song as he went off stage-he has always done encores so I was caught off guard by no encore... we b-lined it with 4 other friends (all mentioned in the article) ... out the door and directly across the street to this cosmopolitan style hotel. 4 of us had just gotten to the entrance when the car pulled up and out he came! wow that was fast! he was literally just onstage 4 minutes ago! my other 2 friends were stopped for the car to enter the driveway to the hotel so they were within 10 feet from Neil. He got out and pet some police horses and talked to the policemen for a minute before entering the hotel - waving to us 4 gals :smile: I coulda just fainted :wink: -some of you know that feeling
we then went upstairs to the 4th floor extremely dim cosmopolitan lounge/bar and hung out on sofas while drinking a $16 1/2 glass of wine!!!! talked with a bandmember and his wife and watched Neils son and other bandmembers come in. (I have met a couple others but one died and the other was too caught up in a 22 yr old hottie)
While Neil Diamond has fallen in and out of favor with the mainstream during his decades-long career, he's always claimed one of the most fevered and loyal followings in the business.
Watching the 64-year-old work a sold-out crowd of more than 15,000 Wednesday night at the Target Center, it's easy to see why. This guy's an old-fashioned entertainer and a master of his craft. Seeing him live is sort of like watching "The Wizard of Oz." You know exactly what you're going to get, and he delivers every time.
Which is one way to say there's not much spontaneity to a Neil Diamond show. And one gets the feeling Diamond's every last blown kiss and warmly nostalgic anecdote is choreographed and scripted with robot-like precision.
Yet Diamond's a great salesman. And he's lethal when he couples his undeniable charisma with his truckload of pop-music standards. For more than two hours, Diamond strolled through his catalog, firing off hits like "Cherry Cherry," "Cracklin' Rosie," "Play Me" and "I Am I Said" without breaking a sweat.
Clad in a bedazzling shirt straight from Siegfried and Roy's yard sale, Diamond took it relatively easy up on stage. He spent most of the evening slowly stalking each side of the massive stage, pointing to fans and making corny gags. The energetic but extremely attentive audience absorbed every moment, politely cheering and clapping when appropriate. But mostly, they just listened, and basked in Diamond's glow.
Beyond the aforementioned shirt, Diamond didn't resort to flashy distractions. His voice has naturally deepened over the years, but it's still an amazingly versatile instrument. He's held up pretty well physically, too, even if he's kind of starting to look like a handsome version of Dan Hedaya.
Not every moment worked. His vocals were noticeably strained during "Forever in Blue Jeans" — although, to be fair, that song seemed to be the exception to the rule. And he could drop the awkward rapping during "Red Red Wine."
Regardless, Diamond looks set to re-enter the mainstream's favor once again. He's got a stripped-down, bare-bones solo album due in November produced by Rick Rubin, the man behind Johnny Cash's late-in-life career revival. But even if it doesn't work out, he'll always be the master of the road.
Diamond performs a second show tonight at the Target Center and seats are still available through Ticketmaster.
I am truly sorry you didn't get the enjoyment from last nights concert as I saw most everyone did.
I am a fan of the Pioneer Press over the Star Tribune. Unfortunately in this case the Star Trib wrote more acurately about last nights Neil Diamond concert.
Wow, I am floored by your article. Was this your first concert of Neil Diamonds or maybe only one other to compare it to? wow!
"You know exactly what you're going to get" -
so not true- I have been to 30+ Neil Diamond concerts in Mpls/St Paul and this concert took me by suprise and offguard. He took a couple of songs out, like Song Sung Blue and Hello Again and replaced them with a couple of emotional songs of Glory Road and The Grass Won't Pay No Mind. He didn't perform encores that he has always done in the past and he didn't repeat singing Forever in Blue Jeans over and over like he used to.
As for the shirt...wow what a horrible thing to say...he has always had flashy dangly shirts but over the years he has tamed down to a shirt with a touch of class to it with some shine or bead work.
If you have been to previous concerts you would know the difference in "Red Red Wine". It was wonderful and fresh because he sang it slow his way, blending into the UB40s rendition style REGGAE (NOT RAP- if you heard the UB40 remake you would know it wasn't rap) also since you are a 'music critic' one would think you would know the difference!
Neil introduced his band, "The Band", in a new, unique way by singing their names in a song. That was very different than previous concerts.
If anything the ONLY thing that was a bummer about this concert would go for any concert...the Target Centers sound system is horrible. It wasn't loud enough. He should have sang at the Excel.
I never write to critics or newspaper writers but felt in this case you really nailed this concert wrong. I attended Judas Priest & Queensryche in June and Motley Crue at the fair as well as Winona Judd at the Hinckley Casino last week, Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, and concerts (Rick Springfield, Lynard Skynard, Jodie Macina) at Riverfest this summer. I have a wide variety of love of music so my oppinion isn't based on just my love for Neil Diamond.
Try taking some tip styles from these other writers at the Star Trib. Notice how they got audience oppinions as well as mentioning:
"Diamond's decision to donate all proceeds from the sale of tour programs to Hurricane Katrina victims"
"But a few modest flourishes to the sold-out concert made it a fresher (and better) outing than other recent tours. The most original part was a three-song acoustic set near the end, which included the lesser-known gems "Glory Road" and "The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" and featured Diamond's best singing of the night."
because the writers KNEW the difference in his past performances to compare and critique how truly great a show last night was.
for your future 'music writing' notes: here are the links to their articles:
like watching "The Wizard of Oz." You know exactly what you're going to get, and he delivers every time.
That's not a bad thing at all. I know they say that every time AC/DC tours and I take it as a compliment that they don't need to change anything to keep the crowd satisfied.
no I havn't, I just thought it very different and plain from the other writers who actually gave you details as if they have known the differences in past concerts. OR at least asked others for their oppinnions for the article.
For most people over 30 this wasn't their first Neil Diamond concert and there is no way they didn't see the difference in this performance compared to previous. It was definately better and refined.
weird caps. is there a clue in there?
going up?
Even just thisafternoon I got to the elevator and the right one opened on its own...before I pressed the 'up' button. It happens to me quite often.
Jack was kept in the detention room that I work in as well as the courtroom 317 down the hall.
http://www.professoryeti.com/20040211/features-ghost.php
yeah- its a new hunt-Â -not-
Â
All Rights Reserved
Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)
May 16, 1998 Saturday
SECTION: METRO; Pg. 1C
LENGTH: 809 words
HEADLINE: SCOUT CHRONICLING STORY OF ST. PAUL TREES
BYLINE: Don Boxmeyer, Staff Columnist
BODY:
A young East Side Eagle Scout candidate has this preposterous notion that St. Paul harbors majestic trees just as historically significant as some of its most treasured buildings.
Joe Quick's "heritage tree" proposal is so off the wall that people from the mayor's office to state legislators are praising it and wondering why no one had ever thought of it before.
"When I was young," says Joe, who is 13, "I saw an old, old tree in Minneapolis that I'd heard was around when Columbus came to America. I wanted to learn more about that tree, but I couldn't find any history on it anywhere."
Joe, now a seventh-grader at Battle Creek Junior High School, wants to produce a guidebook to heritage trees of St. Paul by encouraging the city's residents to share their memories of earlier eras through the nomination of those special trees for heritage designation.
A pair of peach leaf willows at the south end of Lake Phalen are good examples of the kinds of trees that deserve heritage designation. Both trees are believed to have been planted in 1894 at the time Phalen Park was established, and together they form a natural gateway to the lake from Johnson Parkway.
"This program will provide an opportunity to individuals and families to share with each other the history of St. Paul trees and the neighborhoods in which they grow," says Chuck Armstrong, assistant chief of staff to Mayor Norm Coleman.
"This sounds like a great project," says Rep. Steve Trimble, DFL-St. Paul, who also teaches history at Metropolitan State University. "It'll have great value to the city, the schools and, in a sense, to tourism. It'll be almost like one of the blue highway books."
The National Register of Historic Places, for instance, includes almost 100 notable structures in Ramsey County ranging from its Carnegie libraries, the Robert Street Bridge and the Church of the Assumption to Mickey's Diner.
Each of those places is listed for some significant quality that makes it worthy of preservation. Why not single out special trees, some of which may be a century or more older than some of the buildings?
St. Paul still has some trees that may be as old as 250 years, city arborist Dave Sundmark says. Years ago, he began a listing of significant trees on a city "tree trek," a project that was never completed.
"This is something I've always wanted to do," says Sundmark, "but somehow never found the time."
He knows of many special trees, including a ceremonial grouping of trees in Mounds Park known as Eastern Star Grove, and a cluster of horse chestnut trees by the Cathedral.
There is, somewhere in St. Paul, a Kentucky coffee tree and, somewhere in Como Park, a cucumber magnolia tree.
"I stumbled on a huge Norway maple in someone's back yard in Highland Park," Sundmark recalls. "Eighty inches in diameter when I first saw it. It's storm-damaged now and doesn't have its original full canopy, but it is still there."
What if, someplace in St. Paul, there is still a spreading chestnut tree under which the village smithy used to toil? Are there trees with commemorative plaques still attached? What about the plantings of the Depression-era WPA? The work of the boys and girls of Tree Trust?
"There's a honey locust on the West Side worthy of note," says Sundmark, "and there used to be a tree growing right in the middle of a street in Highwood. That's unusual."
Dutch elm disease took 80 percent of St. Paul's boulevard elms in the 1970s and denuded hundreds of miles of streets that had been majestically canopied. A few of those mature elms still stand and might be candidates for heritage designation.
Joe Quick's project includes the development of a nomination form on which St. Paul residents will identify and locate trees they feel should be designated. They'll also be encouraged to share photos and remembrances of tree-related events.
The nomination form will attempt to pinpoint the species and age of the tree, and its development through family photos taken around the tree at baptisms, graduations and other celebrations through the years.
If you have a tree to nominate, you can get a nomination form from any branch library. You can also phone me at 228-5568 for a form.
I'll be involved in the project as a member of Joe's committee, and I'll print some of the stories about significant trees as you send them in and after they've been evaluated.
Joe hopes to have all nominations in by the end of July. Eventually, a guidebook to St. Paul's heritage trees will be published, hopefully with the help of the Ramsey County Extension Service and the Ramsey County Historical Society.
"Through this project, we'll be able to locate some of those remnant trees that reflect St. Paul's older landscape," Rep. Trimble says.
Don Boxmeyer's column runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
GRAPHIC: Photo: Scott Takushi, Pioneer Press
Joe Quick, a 13-year-old Eagle Scout candidate, is working to compile
a "heritage tree" registry for St. Paul. Included on the list would
be such trees as this peach leaf willow at the south end of Lake
Phalen. It and its mate are believed to have been planted in 1894 at
the time Phalen Park was established.
me2...you talked about this to me in Como...where can I get my hands on this???
July 9th....
how about a christmas deal....
or valentines... :wink:
I think I have/had this poster from redbear's hunt....
Me2?
she went to the fair with her family....
...something about Mark and plants and being on TV....but i'm a guy ...what do I know what she said....in one ear and out the other...
:ducking for cover:
Thanks for the update Kitch
Â
Neil Diamond - I've Been This Way Before
Â
The story of my life
Is very plain to read
It starts the day you came
And ends the day you leave
The story of my life
Begins and ends with you
The names are still the same
And the story's still the truth
I was alone
You found me waiting
And made me your own
I was afraid
That somehow I never could be
The woman that you wanted of me
You're the story of my life,
And every word is true
Each chapter sings your name
Each page begins with you
It's the story of our times
And never letting go
And if I die today,
I wanted you to know
Stay with me here
Share with me, care with me
Stay and be near
And when it began
I'd lie awake every night
Just knowing somewhere deep inside
That our affair just might write
The story of my life
Is very plain to read
It starts the day you came
It ends the day you leave
Same here. Was worried for a bit there.
Have a great time at the show tonight me2!!
doing my 'Diamond' thing - a warm fuzzy I get to do every 4 yrs or so. never know when it will be your last so enjoy every minute of it if we can.
Linda is a friend of mine :smile:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/611/5590193.html
Linda Schildgen took this week off from her job as a senior assistant to a 3M executive so she could attend three Neil Diamond concerts. She has no guilt.
"Everyone at 3M knows I'm a fan," Schildgen said before the 64-year-old superstar's concert Wednesday at Target Center in Minneapolis, the first of two nights unofficially dubbed "Hot August Night and September Morn."
During the concert, Schildgen was bouncing like a teeny-bopper to "I'm a Believer," aerobicizing to "Soolaiman," holding up her "So Good" sign during "Sweet Caroline," sitting on the edge of her chair for "Glory Road" and beaming and singing along to "Cracklin' Rosie."
You don't have to bother to ask if she loved the concert. It's enough to know that she'll be back at Target Center tonight for her ninth and final Diamond show of the year -- and 56th overall.
Really, she has no guilt. Visiting with her before the concert was a fellow Minnesota fan who went on to become a priest. "He ended up at my parish," said Schildgen, 48, of Dellwood. "I'm not going to confession anymore."
Yes, she got a kiss and a hug from Diamond in December 1999 when she was wearing some sort of reindeer getup after a concert in Omaha.
Seeing him in Milwaukee on Monday gave Schildgen nine states and one province in which she has seen her hero in concert. Her husband of four years, who prefers Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones, has never gone with her to a Diamond show. She goes with her gal pals (one from Bloomington, one from Des Moines and one from Lincoln, Neb.), all of whom she met -- surprise -- while camping out to buy Neil tickets in 1991.
"Part of the fun is cramming four or five people in a hotel room and having a slumber party," said Schildgen. "It's not different from a golfing trip or a family vacation. It's my thing with my girlfriends."
Schildgen's daughters, now 14 and 18, have been dragged to Diamond shows and subjected to his music since they were in car seats. "My 18-year-old is a closet fan," Schildgen insisted, "but she's into Weezer at the moment."
Schildgen, who first saw Diamond onstage in '82, said his music "always had great meaning to me. It touches your soul."
The music has touched the Rev. Jon Shelley, 44, of St. John the Baptist Church in Jordan. He sometimes finds himself slipping imagery from Diamond lyrics into his sermons. That will happen when you've seen about 80 shows (including 12 this year, half of them in New Zealand and Australia) since 1982.
Wearing a Neil Diamond polo shirt not his priest's collar, Shelley vividly recalled his first Diamond show 23 years ago at the Met Center in Bloomington: "I had front-row seats, and I made such a fool of myself that [Diamond] threatened to give my seat to someone in the back row if I didn't sit down and shut up."
Other fans Wednesday among the 16,000 at Target Center shared their Diamond experiences.
Marlee Ruane, 74, Bloomington, who has seen every Diamond show in the Twin Cities since 1972 but one: "My first show was at the St. Paul Civic Center. The only one my husband went to. Neil came running onstage in a Viking jersey. He was drinking out of a pewter mug. Somebody handed him flowers and he stuck them in the mug. Somebody yelled, "Is this wine?" So Neil sang, 'Put the flowers in the martini/Put the roses in the wine/You've heard this song in Minneapolis and St. Paul/for the very last time.' "
Samantha Demoss, 20, St. Paul, a first-timer: "My parents love him. They got the tickets. I'm not that familiar with what he does but I'm sure I'll recognize songs when I hear them."
Brian Jones, 25, Mankato, a first-timer, attending with his wife, mother-in-law and six other 20-something first-timers: "I've been singing Neil at karaoke for five or six years so I decided I needed to see him. I'm a big Springsteen fan and Neil Diamond is the same type of performer: raspy voice, great songwriter, guitar player. It makes me happy when I hear his music."
Paula Oven, 52, of Browerville, Minn., and Jones' mother-in-law and a kindergarten teacher: "It's going to be a tough first day of school tomorrow. Maybe during rest, I'll take a little nap. I won't play Neil Diamond music for the kids; it'll get them too riled up."
Brian Tuma, 29, Baxter, Minn.: "I took my parents to see him last time. It was beautiful. We're back for more but my parents didn't come. I like Metallica and Pantera. But I have a soft spot in my heart for Neil."
First-timer Kelli Knudsen, 21, Bemidji, with her parents and 19-year-old sister: "People think we're crazy because we're into oldies. We've also seen 3 Doors Down, Dashboard Confessional and the Warped Tour. Neil's awesome! He's the ring tone on my cell phone
Maybe he thinks he's going to a Vince Neil concert instead. :smile:
Have a great time again tonight me2. Don't forget to wear a clean pair of panties. :pbpt:
"kitsch value" :wink: :cool:
Working with the hippest rock producer in the world hasn't exactly altered Neil Diamond's forever-in-sequins kitsch value. But the veteran singer-songwriter did unbutton his starchy top just enough to let in some fresh air to Target Center on Wednesday.
Diamond, 64, kicked off his two-night stand in Minneapolis with all the usual pomp, pageantry and posturing. He took the stage to the sounds of "Crunchy Granola Suite" making kiss-blowing gestures. By show's end two hours later, he had dramatically outstretched his arms toward the crowd enough times to have flapped his way back to Brooklyn.
But a few modest flourishes to the sold-out concert made it a fresher (and better) outing than other recent tours. The most original part was a three-song acoustic set near the end, which included the lesser-known gems "Glory Road" and "The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" and featured Diamond's best singing of the night.
Diamond at the Target CenterBruce BispingStar TribuneThis unconventional acoustic medley might have been a result of Diamond's pairing with producer Rick Rubin for an upcoming album. Rubin -- who helmed Johnny Cash's 1990s revival and coached recent stars such as Jay-Z and Audioslave -- reportedly persuaded Neil to stop the hand gestures and start playing guitar again in the studio. It was a smart move on stage, too.
Diamond even turned personal during the acoustic segment, reminiscing about the "far from innocent" times of the 1960s and his early years as a songwriter. He went on to show a rare bout of humility in a made-up introduction to "Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow," with self-deprecating lyrics such as, "I hope you don't think my work is overrated, tawdry and cheap."
Tawdry, at least, was a good way to describe the melodramatic performance of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" earlier in the set. He and longtime backup singer Linda Press acted out the lyrics like overwrought soap opera stars. His fist-clenched performance of "Love on the Rocks" also featured more ham than a Subway sandwich shop.
Equally hokey but far more pleasing was a rare medley of three songs from the cult-loved 1973 New Age soundtrack "Jonathan Livingston Seagull." This, too, was a relative change-up for Neil's die-hard fans, who apparently enjoy seeing seagulls on the Jumbotron screens the way Yanni fans like views of the Acropolis.
The most noticeable update to the show -- though hardly a surprise -- was Diamond's decision to donate all proceeds from the sale of tour programs to Hurricane Katrina victims. Never mind that most of today's rock acts consider tour programs passé, it was a cool gesture that underlined the concert's genuine and congenial (if not too cool) qualities.
Rev. Jon Shelley, 44, of St. John the Baptist Church in Jordan. ---a friend of mine for 19 years ---hahaha he came into my work 17 years ago with guys from his parish and I didn't know who the guys were but I started saying how he and I slept together one night.... I meant in line waiting for the tickets to go on sale :wink:
we then went upstairs to the 4th floor extremely dim cosmopolitan lounge/bar and hung out on sofas while drinking a $16 1/2 glass of wine!!!! talked with a bandmember and his wife and watched Neils son and other bandmembers come in. (I have met a couple others but one died and the other was too caught up in a 22 yr old hottie)
Sarah didn't even get asked her age!!!
ya...people say that when they meet me for the first time....its my charming carisma
oh baby, baby, baby :eyeroll: :eek:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/12529420.htm
Diamond delivers, predictably
BY ROSS RAIHALA
Pop Music Critic
While Neil Diamond has fallen in and out of favor with the mainstream during his decades-long career, he's always claimed one of the most fevered and loyal followings in the business.
Watching the 64-year-old work a sold-out crowd of more than 15,000 Wednesday night at the Target Center, it's easy to see why. This guy's an old-fashioned entertainer and a master of his craft. Seeing him live is sort of like watching "The Wizard of Oz." You know exactly what you're going to get, and he delivers every time.
Which is one way to say there's not much spontaneity to a Neil Diamond show. And one gets the feeling Diamond's every last blown kiss and warmly nostalgic anecdote is choreographed and scripted with robot-like precision.
Yet Diamond's a great salesman. And he's lethal when he couples his undeniable charisma with his truckload of pop-music standards. For more than two hours, Diamond strolled through his catalog, firing off hits like "Cherry Cherry," "Cracklin' Rosie," "Play Me" and "I Am I Said" without breaking a sweat.
Clad in a bedazzling shirt straight from Siegfried and Roy's yard sale, Diamond took it relatively easy up on stage. He spent most of the evening slowly stalking each side of the massive stage, pointing to fans and making corny gags. The energetic but extremely attentive audience absorbed every moment, politely cheering and clapping when appropriate. But mostly, they just listened, and basked in Diamond's glow.
Beyond the aforementioned shirt, Diamond didn't resort to flashy distractions. His voice has naturally deepened over the years, but it's still an amazingly versatile instrument. He's held up pretty well physically, too, even if he's kind of starting to look like a handsome version of Dan Hedaya.
Not every moment worked. His vocals were noticeably strained during "Forever in Blue Jeans" — although, to be fair, that song seemed to be the exception to the rule. And he could drop the awkward rapping during "Red Red Wine."
Regardless, Diamond looks set to re-enter the mainstream's favor once again. He's got a stripped-down, bare-bones solo album due in November produced by Rick Rubin, the man behind Johnny Cash's late-in-life career revival. But even if it doesn't work out, he'll always be the master of the road.
Diamond performs a second show tonight at the Target Center and seats are still available through Ticketmaster.
I am truly sorry you didn't get the enjoyment from last nights concert as I saw most everyone did.
I am a fan of the Pioneer Press over the Star Tribune. Unfortunately in this case the Star Trib wrote more acurately about last nights Neil Diamond concert.
Wow, I am floored by your article. Was this your first concert of Neil Diamonds or maybe only one other to compare it to? wow!
"You know exactly what you're going to get" -
so not true- I have been to 30+ Neil Diamond concerts in Mpls/St Paul and this concert took me by suprise and offguard. He took a couple of songs out, like Song Sung Blue and Hello Again and replaced them with a couple of emotional songs of Glory Road and The Grass Won't Pay No Mind. He didn't perform encores that he has always done in the past and he didn't repeat singing Forever in Blue Jeans over and over like he used to.
As for the shirt...wow what a horrible thing to say...he has always had flashy dangly shirts but over the years he has tamed down to a shirt with a touch of class to it with some shine or bead work.
If you have been to previous concerts you would know the difference in "Red Red Wine". It was wonderful and fresh because he sang it slow his way, blending into the UB40s rendition style REGGAE (NOT RAP- if you heard the UB40 remake you would know it wasn't rap) also since you are a 'music critic' one would think you would know the difference!
Neil introduced his band, "The Band", in a new, unique way by singing their names in a song. That was very different than previous concerts.
If anything the ONLY thing that was a bummer about this concert would go for any concert...the Target Centers sound system is horrible. It wasn't loud enough. He should have sang at the Excel.
I never write to critics or newspaper writers but felt in this case you really nailed this concert wrong. I attended Judas Priest & Queensryche in June and Motley Crue at the fair as well as Winona Judd at the Hinckley Casino last week, Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, and concerts (Rick Springfield, Lynard Skynard, Jodie Macina) at Riverfest this summer. I have a wide variety of love of music so my oppinion isn't based on just my love for Neil Diamond.
Try taking some tip styles from these other writers at the Star Trib. Notice how they got audience oppinions as well as mentioning:
"Diamond's decision to donate all proceeds from the sale of tour programs to Hurricane Katrina victims"
"But a few modest flourishes to the sold-out concert made it a fresher (and better) outing than other recent tours. The most original part was a three-song acoustic set near the end, which included the lesser-known gems "Glory Road" and "The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" and featured Diamond's best singing of the night."
because the writers KNEW the difference in his past performances to compare and critique how truly great a show last night was.
for your future 'music writing' notes: here are the links to their articles:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/389/5590358.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/611/5590193.html
me2 of St Paul
That's not a bad thing at all. I know they say that every time AC/DC tours and I take it as a compliment that they don't need to change anything to keep the crowd satisfied.
Yikes! :eek:
::reminds self to never get on me2's bad side::
again anyway
EVER TIME - thats the point- its cleche
the woman needs to be unique and fresh in her writing skills and compliments.
For most people over 30 this wasn't their first Neil Diamond concert and there is no way they didn't see the difference in this performance compared to previous. It was definately better and refined.