Diamond Lane's sound full of energy, originality
By Kristina Chiapella
Dynamic guitar solos, amazing vocals and a passion for rock and roll -- these are the traits that have let three members of the San Jose community make their mark on the music scene over the past few years.
The band is Diamond Lane, and their unique rock and roll sound is a product of the combined talents of Brandon Baumann, Jarret Reis and Jeff Steel.
"Jarret and myself started playing music together back in 2000, and we brought in our drummer Jeff a couple of months ago," said lead singer Baumann. "It's been wonderful chemistry and magic, and we're doing really great things."
Influenced by rock and roll legends such as Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses and Led Zeppelin, Diamond Lane is all about originality.
While they have been compared to a combination of sounds along the lines of Metallica and Mötley Crüe, they flaunt a sound that is all their own.
"I would say that we're staying true to our roots and the things that inspire us, while making it our own brand of rock and roll," said Baumann.
Unlike many rock bands these days that scream until the audience goes deaf, Diamond Lane's forceful vocals are clear and not overpowered by instruments.
The group boasts powerful guitar sounds and quality numbers that make it clear they have the drive and ability to make themselves known in a competitive music world.
On their 2005 debut album "Cut to the Chase," heavy guitar tracks such as "Empty Eyes" are side by side with engaging vocal tracks like "Gimme That Girl" and the catchy "Hollywood Hero."
For a taste of their music, check out the band's page at www.myspace.com/diamondlane, which has already had over 20,000 profile views.
The band was supposed to play a show at Cal Phi last Saturday, but, unfortunately, was unable to perform when police got word of the party, instructing them not to play amplified music.
"We were geared up and ready to rock," says Baumann. "It was a disappointment."
Diamond Lane gets played regularly on "The Mikey Show" on Rock 105.3 in San Diego and 103.3 KSCU in Santa Clara.
They can also be heard on 107.7 The Bone's "Local Licks" and are currently in the final rounds of a contest that may see them opening a show at Shoreline Amphitheatre.
Out of 32 initial bands, Diamond Lane competed in Division I, and obviously had that special something that kept them in the running.
The band advanced through a process of weekly voting up until the final stages of the competition.
Tonight four finalists will have a playoff at The Avalon nightclub in Santa Clara.
Two of the bands will sing, strum and drum their way into playing at Shoreline with Tesla and Lynyrd Skynyrd (think the famous single "Sweet Home Alabama").
Although San Jose's Diamond Lane will not be there, the contest was "an extraordinary opportunity, and we are really stoked to have made it this far," says Baumann. "Our goals are to continue to grow as a band and as musicians, reach more and more people every time we play, and just do our thing."
Contact Kristina Chiapella at (408) 551-1918 or kchiapella@scu.edu.