The Daily Swarm

(photo credit)

One little noted fact from last night’s Neil Diamond mini-set at New York’s Bitter End nightclub: that mustachioed man with glasses on the guitar to the right is none other than Matt Sweeney, he of Chavez and Zwan fame. He’s all over the new Rick Rubin-produced CD too.

UPDATE: Billboard: Matt Sweeney Makes Unlikely Neil Diamond Sideman:

I played guitar on all the songs, I think. We did them live in the studio, with no drums. Neil played a Martin guitar from the 1800’s, Smokey Hormel played guitar and/or bass, Mike Campbell played guitar and Benmont Tench [was] on piano and organ. Mike, Benmont and Smokey are so great to play with—such cool people. And Rick Rubin is an incredibly sensitive and attentive listener who makes great suggestions for musical moves. I then threw on some electric and acoustic overdubs by myself, but I’m not sure if they made it on the final mixes.

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Here’s the mindblower: Neil Diamond is so funny, low key and open. He sees every song as a chance to, in his words, “make a great record.” He’d encourage all of us to come up with cool parts and feed us delicious food. He was so encouraging and excited about making music. Every day was awesome.

He simultaneously maintains a mystique and gives himself completely over to the song. He totally exposes himself to such a degree that he becomes almost invisible. His words and music come from such a private place, and still become songs that so many people can relate to.

via Columbia Records:

Neil Diamond greeted the long line of fans stationed outside The Bitter End on Bleeker Street, saying hello and posing for pictures. Once inside the club, Diamond, backed by a small band consisting of members from both his studio and touring musicians, gave an energized acoustic performance of “Solitary Man”, “Don’t Go There”, “Home Before Dark”, “Pretty Amazing Grace”, “Kentucky Woman”, “Cherry, Cherry” and “Sweet Caroline”.