Diane Coffee | Photo by Noah Silvestry | silvestography.com

XPN Fest Recap: Diane Coffee dazzles with gripping theatrics

July 24, 2016

04:07 PM

Diane Coffee | Photo by Noah Silvestry | silvestography.com

Diane Coffee is from another era. The intoxicatingly theatrical performance was filled with the essence of the greats that came before them, who would parade around the stage and truly give the audience a show. Getting fully into each song with a wide range of exaggerated facial expressions and mannerisms of the great frontmen and women of the ’60s and ’70s was a modern blast from the past to when rockstar sets would dazzle with a life and energy that couldn’t be contained. With the full band dressed as sailors, Diane (also known as Shaun Fleming, the drummer of Foxygen) entered the Jerseyarts.com Marina Stage in metallic eye makeup.

A ship’s wheel hung on the main microphone and set the dialogue for the afternoon’s performance — there was a story to be told and Diane was ready to play his role. With overflowing stage charisma, he would embody each song with his highly expressive nature. When the song was dreary, he’d sit on the speakers and screech and pout; when a song was about love he’d jump around smiling from ear to ear. Stomping, screaming and hip thrusting along to each track, one concertgoer remarked, “looks like someone stole their parent’s T-Rex albums.”

Diane Coffee is the kind of out of this world performer that concert photographers live for — each instant a new, photo-worthy moment was born. Towards the end of the band’s set, Diane exclaimed “Land Ho!” and ran back stage while the band had a jam session. Upon his return he had traded in his sailor gear for a long, flowing turquoise romper and had musician Oliver-John Rodgers accompany him on stage to fan him with giant blue and white feathered paddle. The costumes, storyline and bursting life made for an experimental performance that gripped its attendees.

Diane Coffee – XPoNential Fest 2016