Diamond Plate – Live at the Grand Stafford

Live at the Grand Stafford documents a pivotal night in the history of Diamond Plate, capturing the first live performance of a song list that would later become the Redneck Jedi album Freedom. Recorded at the historic Grand Stafford Theater in downtown Bryan, Texas, the album preserves the raw, unfiltered energy of the band as the material was introduced to a live audience for the first time.

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The performance features original songs written during the band’s early years, including “Bummed Out on the Bayou,” “Take Me Home” and “Cajon Purgatory,” all written by Jim Ragsdale. The set also includes the Jim Croce classic “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” adding a familiar Southern storytelling element to the show. All remaining tracks performed during the night were written by Dennis Phillips, reflecting the core songwriting that would later shape the Freedom recordings.

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All lead vocals on the album are performed by Dennis Phillips, with backing vocals provided by Jim Ragsdale. David Bienke anchors the performance on drums, driving the live sound throughout the set.

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Live at the Grand Stafford stands as both a live snapshot and a historical marker—preserving the moment when these songs first came together on stage before evolving into a defining chapter of the band’s catalog.