Zac Coombs truly shone like a diamond from the moment he stepped on the TSB Showplace stage last night, as the star of Showtime Australia's The Sweet Caroline Tour - A Tribute to Neil Diamond.
While Diamond himself has announced his touring days are over, the chance to enjoy his music through a tribute show such as this one was clearly a draw and the theatre was packed with Neil Diamond fans hoping for a chance to step back in time and enjoy some of the consummate American singer-songwriter's music.
With Australian performer Zac Coombs centre stage, the audience got exactly what they came for, as Zac belted out one classic song after another, changing shirts and guitars with barely a pause in the musical lineup.
Zac's voice was well matched to the musical challenges some of Diamond's songs come with and he didn't falter once. Matching Diamond musically is one thing, but Zac took this tribute show to the next level with his easy way of engaging with the audience in a way reminiscent of Neil Diamond himself.
Zac didn't just sing the songs on stage, he lived them. He told the stories behind them and shared his love of Diamond's music with the audience in an easy relaxed manner that made a nice contrast with the high energy of the performances themselves.