With the recent gluttony of indie-rock “super groups” in the last few years, we wouldn’t blame you if you’ve been having a hard time keeping track of just who’s in what band, so here’s a quick refresher course on the Diamond Rugs who features members of Deer Tick, Los Lobos, The Black Lips, Dead Confederate and Six Finger Satellite.
The self-dubbed “stupor group” released a highly recommended rowdy, booze-fueled self-titled debut
Comprised of members of Deer Tick, Los Lobos, The Black Lips, Dead Confederate and Six Finger Satellite, the Diamond Rugs have released one of the stronger albums on the 2012, so far with their raw, booze-fueled self-titled debut
Alabama Shakes / Diamond Rugs @ Central Park SummerStage, June 24
Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon
On a New York Sunday filled with music, Central Park’s SummerStage went quite a different direction than that of nearby Governor’s Ball and instead of going with DJs and electronic music focused their “Sold Out” free event on two young rock bands.
[All Photos by Jeremy Gordon]
The opening act – Diamond Rugs – are a true supergroup of well-known indie/rock musicians drawn from bands that on the surface are very different (but love to drink beer). Unlike so many other side projects, this band was an impressive force much greater than the sum of its parts. While each band member brings his own sound, the mix is pleasing and familiar, in a good way. This band is definitely a bit quirky with their own style and irreverence for the calendar as they closed the set with a tune about Christmas that left a few eyebrows raised.
It might seem like yesterday that the Alabama Shakes burst onto the scene as the most talked about band at CMJ. In less than a year, the band has quickly moved up to headlining Central Park’s SummerStage. To those unfamiliar with the band, it quickly becomes apparent why Jack White has taken this band under his wing by touring with the quartet and producing their material. As someone who is no stranger to reviving a retro sound, the Alabama Shakes are the perfect accompaniment to his baby blue and nostalgia-tinged prom band. The Shakes quick growth reminds us that good old fashioned rock and roll will never die. As a powerful band that punctuates the oft-sung-about troubles of love, you can see how they started out covering the classics of rock. All the while, front woman Brittany Howard gives off the air of someone with many more years of heartbreak and hurt under her belt.
John McCauley has already had quite the busy 2011, having toured and released albums with both the indie-roots super-group Middle Brother and with his longtime band Deer Tick. The singer-songwriter’s latest project sees him teaming up for with Robbie Crowell (Deer Tick), Ian Saint Pé (The Black Lips), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate) and Bryan Dufresne (Six Finger Satellite) for another unique “super group” they’ve dubbed Diamond Rugs. The band will release their debut album next Spring via Partisan Records, and this past week gave a sneak preview of what’s to come by releasing this music video for the date-appropriate tune Christmas In A Chinese Restaurant, something a good portion of the HT Staff is familiar with. After giving a listen to the song, what we experience is not the way that McCauley is describing it. Let’s check it out…
Diamond Rugs – Christmas In A Chinese Restaurant
Diamond Rugs will make their live debut on December 29th at The Earl in Atlanta, Georgia, with psychedelic-sludge-rockers Dead Confederate opening the night.
