www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 23-29, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 33 MUSIC Analog is having a moment in the 2020s. And the after-dark ballad of this nostalgia is Sade, singer of the hit “Smooth Operator.” “The music just kind of oozes with that classic late- ’80s vibe,” says Zach Westfall. “It kind of has that lofi vibe too, that a lot of people are into.” Westfall is a member of Diamond Life, a cover band dedicated to Sade’s music. The project came about in 2023 when Pearl Hour owner Katie Blandin was talking about her favorite musician with Westfall and another local musician, Ben Herod. Westfall then formed a group to play instrumental Sade covers arranged by Herod. It wasn’t long before everyone realized this was a draw. Herod and Westfall are joined by Aaron Hipschman, Justin Horrell, Sam Neilson and Bill Spencer, as well as a newcomer, Malinda DeRouen, to capture Sade’s vocals. The band originally started without a name or a vocalist. After the first show marqueed as “the Pearl Hour house band plays Sade,” Herod asked DeRouen if she would lend her vocal talents to the idea. Velvety smooth jazz only goes so far without the iconic singer’s voice and lyrics. Ever since, Diamond Life has become an occasional late-night event at the Monterey bar that packs the house. DeRouen remembers listening to Sade early in life, but quickly realized that she represents more than just her music. “She is the epitome of soulful elegance,” she says. DeRouen admits that Sade’s is a tough voice to capture, noting that Sade herself is likely an alto, while hers is a soprano. Where DeRouen shines is capturing the singer’s vibe during performances—a challenge more crucial than simply replicating her voice. “She’s a great performer,” Herod says of DeRouen. “The first show we had her, we didn’t even rehearse. She just knew the music.” DeRouen says visitors from the Bay Area are coming into Pearl Hour to hear Diamond Life perform. There is an energy to the performances that comes from the experienced musicians. Each instrumentalist has their own band, as well. But there is another draw—an eagerness to perform deep cuts. “People forget how many Sade songs we know every word to,” DeRouen says. Diamond Life performs at 8pm Saturday, Oct. 25. Pearl Hour, 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. $10 (ages 21 and up). pearlhour.com. JEM SAN PEDRO A Cut Above The local Sade cover band Diamond Life takes on a life of its own after packed performances. By Sloan Campi What started as a band with no name playing instrumentals has become one of the more popular local cover bands after singer Malinda DeRouen joined. www.folktalewinery.com Candlelit Concert TIMELESS TUNES THROUGH THE DECADES SCAN FOR TICKETS Enjoy a night of musical memories as the Monterey String Quartet brings together favorites, celebrating decades of unforgettable music.
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