All this month, I’m excited to point our October Spotlight on local rock band, Diddley!
Bringing their heartfelt groove to area stages for more than a decade, Diddley’s “music from soul to soul” is all about making personal connections with those around you, and when you groove with these classic/southern rock tunes, you’re gonna have a good time!
Having started Diddley as an acoustic duet back in 99’, at the band’s core, Jeff Powell (guitar, vocals) and Kim Jones (vocals) are the driving force of the band. They’re normal people like you and me, and they’ve dealt with life’s ups and downs the best way they know how – by expressing their feelings and sharing their loves, their heartbreaks, their sense of fun, and so much more, through their music. The rest of the band is just as essential! Jesse Ratcliff (bass, vocals, songwriting), Mark Sowers (guitar), and Jorge Nunez (drums) add all the right layers of musical support, whether it’s a rippin bluesy guitar lead, that extra bump in the bass line, some hard hittin tom work, or the perfect change up in vocal style.
This crew has gelled into exactly what I love, and that’s a talented band with a style that’s cohesive but that still knows how to plumb the depths of emotion and put it all out on the table musically. There’s a certain rawness, or vulnerability, that can be heard in Diddley songs, and different aspects pull you in to each piece. Every song in the Diddley playlist is crafted with soul, passion, caring, and a certain vulnerability of emotion and self that ensures you can connect with them on a personal level. This desire to reach out to people means that, like quite a few bands in and around Dayton, Diddley members have donated and continue to donate a significant portion of their time and energy to support local causes, raise money to fight a number of different diseases, and host an annual Christmas food and toy drive each December.
You can catch Diddley at a couple of great shows this month, including Diddley (acoustic) Rockin’ the 3rd Annual Hunt for the Cure’s: Ta-Ta Palooza AND Diddley’s Early Halloween Costume Party .
If you miss them this month, they have a few more shows still this year, including a great show at the Union VFW on November 18th that will be the kickoff to the 6th Annual Diddley Christmas. Every year, Diddley gives a special needs family a very special Christmas starting at Thanksgiving with a full Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins! Then they stock their pantry with nonperishable food items and household items along with gifts off their individual Christmas Wish Lists.
It’s also never to early to mention Diddley’s biggest annual charity event, GUNS & RIBBONS, that is held each June. This show will benefit breast cancer care, research and treatment all in memory and honor of their dear friend, Belinda Prewitt.
Follow Diddley on Facebook and Reverbnation for all the intel on upcoming events. Also listen for them all this month on W937 Dayton Radio on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays!
Music Connection Dayton 