Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session: Nick Diamonds

Nick Diamonds | Photo by John Vettese

Our latest Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session is with a very prolific artist who’s one of our favorites. These days, Nick Diamonds (or Nick Thorburn, whichever) keeps busy as the lead singer and songwriter of Islands, though his work in The Unicorns, Mister Heavenly as well as a side hustle soundtracking films and podcasts has garnered similar acclaim. On his latest outing, Diamonds is joined by Islands keyboardist Evan Gordon for a duo arrangement that’s anything but sparse. While live performances on the tour behind Diamonds’ new solo album, City Of Quartz, flirt with a near industrial vibe, our session is effervescent and charming.

The set begins with “Love Is Stranger,” a classic Diamonds track that glimpses at love as part of a larger set piece flanking an actor who just can’t get his lines right. Following that is “Hit The Skids,” whose menacing sections are balanced with sweeping synthesizers. Wrapping up the session is the bubbly “Bohemian Groove,” with its hooky guitar sample and ping-ponging vocal tics.

Download and stream the complete Nick Diamonds Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session below (and check out John Vettese’s photos from the studio):