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Vail Valley Music: Super Diamond soups up icon’s classics

Special to the Vail DailyVail Valley Music: San Francisco-based Super Diamond is know for delivering a high-octane show of classics such as "Cracklin' Rosie," "Sweet Caroline," "Forever in Blue Jeans" and many others
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VAIL VALLEY, Colorado – If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, then Neil Diamond must be feeling pretty good about himself this holiday season as Super Diamond has the crooner covered at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek in Colorado’s Vail Valley.

The San Francisco-based Super Diamond is know for delivering a high-octane show of classics such as “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Forever in Blue Jeans” and many others.

The master of ceremonies is Super Diamond’s lead singer, Randy Cordero, a.k.a. “Surreal Neil.” Cordero outfits himself and the band in vintage Diamond-style sequins, bell bottoms and platform shoes. He has described the band’s concerts as “Neil Diamond on steroids,” and the group sticks to the pre-’82 Diamond tunes that lend themselves to dancing and singing along.



The band interprets Diamond’s pop tunes with heavier guitars, mixing in riffs by Guns ‘N Roses, Kiss and AC/DC along with an alternative rock tone.

“We’ve taken the rock aspect of Neil Diamond and pushed that to the extreme,” says keyboardist Rama Kolesnikow. “I think we’re more original than some original bands.”

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Diamond himself has appeared on stage with the band twice, including a surprise visit at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.

“It was amazing,” Cordero says. “I remember he said to us, ‘Thank you for doing what you’re doing,’ and I said, ‘Thank you for not suing us.’ Then he came on stage and we played ‘I Am, I Said’.”

Cordero says Super Diamond is not a strict tribute band nor is the band meant to be taken as kitsch or a latter-day lounge version of the real deal.

True Diamond fans don’t seem to mind Super Diamond’s take on their icon, he said.

“They seem to be really appreciative to us for turning younger people on to his music,” Cordero says. “We probably play to 2,000 people a week and they’re mostly in their 20’s and 30’s.”

Tickets for Super Diamond are $55 and are available online at vilarpac.org, by phone at 888.920.ARTS(2787) or in person at the Vilar Center box office in Beaver Creek.. Tickets are available online 24 hours a day; the box office is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with additional hours on performance days.


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