Lavender Diamond
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008) |
| Lavender Diamond | |
|---|---|
 Becky Stark in Brussels (2006) |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres | Folk Country Pop |
| Years active | 2003-present |
| Labels | Matador Records |
| Members | |
| Becky Stark Steve Gregoropoulos Ron Regé Jr. Jeffrey Rosenberg |
|
| Past members | |
| Devon Williams | |
Lavender Diamond is a Los Angeles-based Folk/country-pop quartet known for its light-hearted, often winsome sound; its simple, romantic lyrics; and the charismatic, whimsical stage presence and ethereal vocals of frontwoman Becky Stark.
Contents |
[edit] History
While living in Providence, Rhode Island, Stark began performing as Lavender Diamond in a play that she and puppeteer Xander Marro wrote, created and toured with called Birdsongs of the Bauharoque inspired by the work of artist Paul Laffoley.[1] A self-produced CD of Stark's songs accompanied the tour in a hand-sewn, silkscreened sleeve. Lavender Diamond grew into a four-piece band after Stark relocated to Los Angeles. With the help of local patrons Brian Kaneda and Josh Scuteri, Lavender Diamond self-released a four-song EP and performed at L.A.'s ArthurFest, at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and at the CMJ New Music Seminar in New York City. In 2006 Lavender Diamond signed to Rough Trade Records in Europe, and Matador Records in the U.S., and toured and performed with The Decemberists for three weeks.
Becky Stark performs solo and has a band called The Mystical Unionists with drummer/cartoonist Ron Regé Jr. Regé draws and Stark writes a Lavender Diamond comic strip entitled Peace Comics. Rege furnishes the band with all of its artwork.
In November 2007, they released a cover of Madonna's song "Like A Prayer" on a charity/tribute record, Through the Wilderness
In March 2009, Becky Stark was featured on The Hazards of Love, a rock opera album by The Decemberists.
In July 2009, SPIN magazine released "Purplish Rain", a 25th Anniversary Tribute to Prince's "Purple Rain", with Lavender Diamond covering "Purple Rain".
In 2011, the original Lavender Diamond lineup reunited for a few concerts in the Los Angeles area. They are currently recording the band's second full length with Damian Kulash of OK Go for release in early 2012.
[edit] Members
- Becky Stark — vocals
- Steve Gregoropoulos — piano, vocals
- Ron Regé Jr. — drums
- Jeffrey Rosenberg — guitar, vocals
[edit] Former members
- Devon Williams — guitar, vocals
- Jeff Kwong — guitar
Elvis Perkins also played guitar on the band's first single.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
- Artifacts Of The Winged 12-song solo CD (2003, self-released)
- When Are You Coming Home? b/w "Wild" (2003, self-released)
- Cavalry of Light EP (2005, self-released)
- Split 7" with Queens of Sheeba, Devendra Banhart (2005, Cold Sweat records)
- Imagine Our Love full-length album (2007)
- Through the Wilderness a tribute to Madonna on Manimal Vinyl Records performing Like A Prayer (2007)
