America’s troubadour comes home to Brooklyn

“Nothing has changed here,” said Neil Diamond when he came on stage at Erasmus Hall High School to perform in Brooklyn for the very first time to kick off his new album and world tour.

Returning to the castle-like structure at the junction of Church and Flatbush Avenues, Diamond performed a short-notice surprise concert on Monday evening, September 29 after attending the school over 50 years ago.

Reminiscing that he learned to play the piano and sing in the chorus in Erasmus’ venerable auditorium, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Kennedy Center honoree entertained the crowd with two of his new songs and a host of his famous hits.

Introducing two songs from his new “Melody Road” album, “Nothing but a Heartache” and “Something Blue,” Diamond also performed some familiar standards that included “I’m a Believer,” “Cracklin’ Rose” and of course “Sweet Caroline.”