Diemond edges cut up The Hideout for Canadian Music Week
Written by Jason Daniel Baker
Sunday, 17 May 2015 04:00
I couldn’t pass up the chance to see Uber Rock-approved glam metal sensations Diemonds (now featuring Adam Zlotnik, formerly of the Toronto outfit, Fatality) again click with the awesome groove that remains their trademark. They turned it upside down at the Hideout on Queen Street West in Toronto on May 8th for Canadian Music Week and certainly brought their A-game. But if you’ve followed them as long as I have you expect, and get, nothing less each time out.
As usual the undulating and gyrating of sensual frontwoman/lead vocalist Priya Panda (so reminiscent of Jessica Alba in Sin City) had guys in the crowd coming and going at the same time in reaction to each pelvic thrust and waggle of backside in awkward proximity to the women accompanying them. The gals (an impressive turnout of ink, piercings and delectable cleavage) in the crowd were, of course, ogling lion-maned guitarist CC Diemond – a modern-day metal god in the truest sense.
The hip and trendy crowd included local celebrities like burlesque vixen Lux Aeterna, indispensable rock ‘n’ roll soldier Vanessa Vai, the delectable Risha Denner and the reticent/enigmatic local beauty queen/wine expert Rylee Pallister. It added a kind of molten glamor to the sardine-like assemblage.
To call the show a ‘hot ticket’ would be an understatement. The venue was jam-packed with sweaty, head-banging humanity. Diemonds gigs are like that but this one was extra special. They debuted tunes from their upcoming album, ‘Never Wanna Die’ which is set to be released in mid-August. The live show indicated that their new material stands alongside their very best and perhaps even exceeds it.
For a fan who knows what this band has deservedly gained and tragically lost over the years it is more than a relief that they haven’t completely ‘lost their shit’. Without going in to any specifics, lesser bands would have crumbled. Diemonds has instead emerged stronger than ever reinterpreting their sound and kick-ass live show as if emboldened by all of their experiences, good and bad.
[Live photo by Nic Pouliot – https://www.facebook.com/rockphotodotca]
http://www.diemonds.net/
https://www.facebook.com/Diemonds
