Images: Super​heaven​, Diamond Youth, Rozwell Kid June 2, 2015 at The Voodoo Room (San Diego)

When Superheaven and Diamond Youth announced a tour that wasn’t coming through Vegas, I knew I had to travel to the nearest city to see them. With both bands being from the Northeast, they don’t make it out to the west often and since Superheaven’s Ours Is Chrome and Diamond Youth’s Nothing Matters are among my favorite albums of 2015, I had to do what it takes to see songs from those albums live.

I thought the show was going to be at the House of Blues San Diego, so I was surprised to get there and realize it was in the smaller Voodoo Room. I guess I never know what bands’ draws really are.

We missed local openers Outlook due to the long drive, so the first band for me was indie/power-pop band Rozwell Kid, from West Virginia. I had never had heard them, but they put on a really good, energetic live show. They seemed to be very Weezer Blue Album influenced, complete with twin guitar harmonies.

Baltimore’s Diamond Youth were up next. I started listening to these guys after they opened up for Polar Bear Club at the Eagle Hall in Henderson in 2013. They just released their newest record Nothing Matters a few weeks ago and I highly recommend it. They have a very 90s alt rock sound, and having grown up in that era I love the nostalgia. I was stoked to hear some of my favorites such as “Shake,” “Cannonball” and “Red Water” and vocalist Justin Gilman sings the song with so much passion live. It was a great set, and their stage tone completely matches their records. Would love to see them come back through Vegas for a Stripped Down Session!

Now it was time for Superheaven, who PIV readers will remember from their Stripped Down Session under their former name Daylight. They are a great heavy band, also infused with a lot of 90s – just more on the grunge side of things.

They played for a little over an hour, aggressively wailing away on their instruments and head banging almost the whole time, long hair flying everywhere! Set highlights were “Gushin’ Blood,” “Life in a Jar” and “In on it.” But to be honest, the whole setlist was awesome, no complaints!

Taylor Madison, one of the co-singers of the band, talked a lot between songs, mainly about his views on cops, guitars and what the songs were about. Much different from the stoic performances I’ve seen from these guys in the past.

From a guitar player’s perspective, I’m always curious about what pedals bands are using for their tone. But Superheaven has a lot of pedals with no names on them – most likely those that have broke, and have been put into new cases, or DIY pedals. The pedals that do have names are covered in red gaff tape with sharpie art all over them. Super secretive.

Hey guys, come back out to Vegas for a show and nerd out about pedals with me!

-Tyler Newton | http://500px.com/spottedlens