The first time I ever saw these guys play, I had come to the show expecting to see something completely different. It was getting late, it was a Thursday night, and I was hanging around Deep Ellum wishing I was having a good time. The show I had come to see featured four different groups on the bill, none of which I had ever heard of, and none of which was playing original material.

When I first learned the night was going to consist of cover bands, I admit I wasn't too terribly excited. I went to the show, but spent most of my time standing around outside the club trying to carry on conversations with other people I knew who were there to support D.E.E.P. Although I do appreciate cover bands, I didn't much care for the bands that were being covered that night. And in the case of Ronnie James Dio, the only songs of his I even knew were "Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark." Still, it was something, so when Holy Diver was about to go on, I went on inside the club, figuring I'd probably stick around for one or two songs at the most, and then take off.

Suddenly these guys walked onto the stage and started setting up this tiny little drum kit and stool. That's interesting, I thought to myself. This guy is really going to play a kit that small? Then they started to stack these equally tiny Marshall amps on the stage, and the sound guys started hovering around setting up the microphones and doing the sound check. Holy Diver began to play, and this huge sound burst forth out of nowhere. They started rocking the house with smoking covers of Cream, Hendrix, Steppenwolf, and everything in between, without a single Dio song anywhere in sight, tearing it up on that tiny equipment. It wasn't long at all before I was hooked, and I've been a fan ever since.

Holy Diver is your quintessential party band, and proud of it. The archetypal power trio, they exemplify everything that a great band and good times are all about. Their shows are always infused with mirth and a silliness that brings laughter, good times, and a lightheartedness that is both infectious and irresistible. These guys know enough not to take themselves or the show too seriously, and the good times flow just as freely as the drinks and the shots. Honestly, I don't think these guys even know how to be serious when they're onstage. The great times and playful banter often obscure the fact that the three of them are really very accomplished musicians, ready to get up and go at almost a moment's notice to rock out your birthday party, wedding, frat party, or to fill a last-minute empty spot on your bill. They have played everything from intimate get-togethers to shows at large local venues. And even though you know almost all the material by heart already, it never ceases to be fresh every time you hear it given the Holy Diver treatment. At the end of every Holy Diver show, everyone always leaves with a smile on his face.

And yes, they do play the song "Holy Diver."