THE BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS
“Like the fastest train of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, The Black Diamond Express is, at full compliment, a nine-piece soaked in poetry, myth and bourbon. Led by the enigmatic Jack of Diamonds its combination of slide, acoustic and electric guitars over string bass, cello and fiddle, blues harp, drums and percussion beguiles with the look, the sound and (what really sets them apart) the energy of railroad blues bona fides. Nevertheless, a contemporary alternative band that combines original material with traditional standards and a fully realised pre-war blues fixation (the name tipping a wink to the Black Diamond Express Train To Hell of roots blues mythology) with an acceptance of the new. The BDE somehow stay true to both Robert Johnson and The Sex Pistols.
The local, unsigned outfit then take this character to its natural conclusion with Jack meeting us at the station armed with bellowing sermons and a swaggering, suited performance that’s equally worthy of The Spiegel Tent or Glastonbury.”
Mark Edmunson, The List
“The band for the evening was the stunning Black Diamond Express: with their gypsy aesthetic and hooks that could get the grinch to dance, this is primal roots rock ’n’ roll. It’s not often you see so many strings on stage – violin, blues harp and banjo, among others – and the songs are so ahead-of-the-pack, good lyrically, sonically and in terms of the amazing charisma these guys have, they are kept onstage as long as legally possible. Despite their traditional influences and innocent grins, The Express are clearly familiar with the dark side of life and art – making them the perfect partner for the other rock ’n’ roll moment of the evening...”
Review by Irregular
The first time I met Jack of Diamonds was several years ago, outside a bar in Edinburgh's New Town. It was a dark night and I had nipped out of the tiny sweat-filled venue for cold air and a cigarette, whereupon I came across a slightly shady, certainly mysterious yet undoubtedly intriguing character. Dapper in a three-piece and fedora, he looked as if from another era. Later I found out Jack fronted a band called the Black Diamond Express. I made a point of going to see them soon after...
I must've seen them over 100 times since and I still dance and move with the same crazed abandon as the first time. The intrigue and mystery of that first meeting with Jack has grown into respect, yet the same awe still fills me every time I see the Diamonds together. They are, each and everyone of them, fascinating, unique, intelligent and passionate souls in their own right. Next time I'll tell you a little about Tommy Harp or maybe The 'Duke' or any of the other six characters. It just so happened that I got on this train at Jack's station.
I've seen them buy entire audiences tequila, watched them smash instruments, regarded stage dives and many other things too fabulously ridiculous to go into here but it always comes back to one thing. Of the many bands I have seen in my time I have never known one to so capture people's attention. And once captured, able to whip them individually and collectively into a manic frenzied dervish. Whilst watching them at a festival recently (Kelburn Garden Party), clarity descended on me. I realised what it is that truly marks them apart. More than the 'look', more than songs that you find yourself unable to stop humming weeks later, more even than the energy of unrelenting railroad blues. It is their unique combination of instruments; slide guitar, blues harp, and Cammy's fiddle, over the traditional blues line-up, and the way these instruments are able to glide and intertwine, soar and fall, and take you higher and higher till you're dizzy with adrenaline and joy.
On their own these are brilliant, effortless musicians.
Together, they are....
...The Black Diamond Express.
Climb aboard.
King Louie - LGMT
It was Tuesday, 22nd of January and we were going to see the Mavericks live at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and of course we were so excited… nine years since we had last seen them! Hannah had got us some brilliant seats very near the front and we sat, fizzing with expectation. Of course there was a support act, but none of us had ever heard of them… well, all I can say is, silly us!
Onto the stage came a couple of very smart and handsome chaps, then some more, and some more, and a few more until the stage was full of dapper young men, maybe about nine of them, I sort of lost count! They all wore shirts and ties, some wore waistcoats, some wore jackets, some were in complete three-piece sharp suits and had a variety of instruments, guitars, drums, fiddles,keyboard… and more. I don’t know how to describe their music except to say
it was brilliant, they were so loud and so good. The lead singer who looked a little like Mark Rylance the actor and director, had a tremendous voice as he sang what sounded like a fusion of folk and rock; he sang, he shouted, he screeched, he stamped, he yelped – fantastic! The songs had narrative, and told of hard and desperate times with passion and compassion.
They only played a short set because of course they were the support act, but I would really love to catchup with them and hear them again. Them… They are The Black Diamond Express, and they come from Edinburgh and you can find out more about them and listen to some of their songs here.
By Lois Elsden - Writer
