Black Diamond Heavies is a United States

blues rock Blues rock is a fusion music genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes w ...

band originating from

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. The band is composed of

John Wesley Myers John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

aka

Reverend James Leg The Reverend is an style (manner of address), honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and Minister of religion, ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and c ...

, formerly of

The Immortal Lee County Killers The Immortal Lee County Killers (ILCK) were an American rock band from Auburn, Lee County, Alabama. Playing in the punk blues style, as well as garage punk, the band consisted of Chetley "Cheetah" Weise on vocals/guitar, plus assorted musician ...

, on bass keys, Fender Rhodes, organ, and vocals with

Van Campbell A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across ...

on drums.

Style

After the departure of Mark "Porkchop" Holder, the guitarist, ''Black Diamond Heavies'' set out on a venture to take on the blues from a new perspective, with the only instruments being a keyboard and drums. The self-proclaimed "vagrants/citizens of the world" created a raw, stripped down punk/blues sound, which could be described as dirty or "whiskey-stained". Myers' soulful, "raspy growl" is reminiscent of and has been compared to singer

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

History

You Damn Right EP

Black Diamond Heavies formed in 2004 as a three piece band:

on the keyboard and vocals, Mark "Porkchop" Holder on guitar, harmonica and lead vocals, and

on the drums. They soon after started performing and in 2005 the Black Diamond Heavies self-released their first EP, You Damn Right. In 2006 Holder left the band after becoming discouraged with the hardships of life on the road. Myers and Campbell decided to continue the band as a two-man act. Soon after, in the summer of 2006, the band was given a record deal with

Alive Records Alive Naturalsound Records (also known as Alive Records) is an independent record label formed in 1993 in Los Angeles, California by Patrick Boissel, specializing in garage rock, punk, psychedelic, and blues rock. It grew out of Boissel's associ ...

Every Damn Time

In 2007, with the band now signed to

, Black Diamond Heavies released their first studio album,

Every Damn Time ''Every Damn Time'' is the first studio album by the Nashville, TN rock band, Black Diamond Heavies. It was released in 2007 under the Alive Records Alive Naturalsound Records (also known as Alive Records) is an independent record label formed ...

A Touch of Someone Else's Class

In 2008, Black Diamond Heavies released their second studio album under

A Touch Of Someone Else's Class ''A Touch Of Someone Else's Class'' is the second studio album, under the Alive Records label, by the Nashville, TN rock band, Black Diamond Heavies. Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys produced this album while it was recorded at his Akron Analog Stud ...

. For their second studio album Black Diamond Heavies turned to

Dan Auerbach Daniel Quine Auerbach (; born May 14, 1979) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as the guitarist and vocalist of The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. As a member of the group, Auerbach has ...

The Black Keys The Black Keys are an American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums). The duo began as an independent act, recording music in basements and self-producing their ...

who produced the album while it was recorded at his Akron Analog Studio.

Alive As Fuck

Since their inception, Black Diamond Heavies have been hyped as great live performers, with their live performances being termed as "both 'Pentecostal' and 'Demon-Possessed'." In 2009 they were able to show the world what the hype was all about, with their first live album,

Alive As Fuck ''Alive As Fuck'' was released in 2009. It is the first live album by the Nashville, TN rock band, Black Diamond Heavies. This album was recorded during their show at the Masonic Lodge, in Covington, KY and was released under the Alive Records ...

, recorded during a gig at the Masonic Lodge, in Covington, KY,. This album was released under the

label.

Solitary Pleasure

In December 2010 Myers recorded a solo album, Solitary Pleasure, under his pseudonym, James Leg. The album is set to be released on April 5, 2011 under the

label.

Jim Diamond (music producer) Jim Diamond is an American music producer, studio engineer, and bass guitar player based in Detroit, Michigan. He worked on the first two White Stripes albums and played bass with The Dirtbombs. Background Jim Diamond started playing saxophon ...

of Ghetto Recorders mixed Solitary Pleasure.

Discography

;Studio albums ;EPs ;Live albums

References

{{Authority control Punk blues musical groups American blues musical groups Alive Naturalsound Records artists