Katie Stelmanis, Diamond Rings and P.S. I Love You is quite possibly one of the most compatible line-ups I saw this week. Unfortunately, I arrived late so I missed out on P.S. I Love You’s set but if I had to take a guess based on how the rest of the night went, it must’ve been nothing short of amazing.

I’ve seen both versions of Diamond Rings countless times by now – both acoustic and full-on makeup-clad, beat-busting mode, but I’ve got to say, this was one of his best sets to date. Energetic, playful and ridiculously catchy, Diamond Rings’ songs are made to dance and sing along to. Underneath the outrageous(ly amazing) clothes and makeup, John O’Regan is a master at crafting the perfect pop song. Joined by guests Gentleman Reg and headliner herself Katie Stelmanis, O’Regan’s set had more dimension and life than past performances and closing number “All Yr Songs” (with a full band of added drums, vocals and guitar) brought down the house, with everyone dancing enthusiastically along to the beat. Diamond Rings, The Singing Lamb is obsessed.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/diamondringsmusic

Having limited knowledge of Katie Stelmanis’ music prior to this show, I didn’t know what to expect. In fact, I had not originally planned on staying for her whole set but the minute Stelmanis stepped onstage and began playing, I was entranced. I stayed for the whole set and couldn’t be more glad as her dark, thumping rock is truly an experience worth seeing live. The addition of Halloween pumpkins and a fog machine, combined with the terrible lighting the venue had to begin with, this was the perfect setting for Stelmanis’ music; that stage was made for her that night. Stelmanis previewed a couple of new songs in the middle of her set and even though you can clearly see the discomfort and unfamiliarity in her face, the songs sounded great and have a very promising future. Sari and Romy Lightman of Ghost Bees also jumped onstage for the Friends in Bellwoods compilation track, “Believe Me,” a definite highlight of the set.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/katiestelmanis

One of the main reasons this night was such a success in my eyes has to be the sense of community that I saw in that room. Having friends jump onstage for impromptu collaborations felt like watching buddies play music in a living room, creating a very intimate atmosphere in a large, dark room. Also, just seeing the admiration these people have for one another is heart warming. This show was probably the epitome of a Toronto musical community and how we are lucky to be in city of supportive artists that love each other.