Diet Sweets kept the energy at an all-time high during their first headliner gig at Full Moon Records Sat. 25, alongside two other local bands. 

Diet Sweets members describe their band as a “snazzy indie simp rock band,” according to their Instagram bio, @dietsweetsmusic. 

Diet Sweets, a four-member band that started creating music together in April 2022, is run by lead vocalist Chase, 24, bassist Austin, 23, guitarist Jon, 29, and drummer Deegan, 21. 

Vocalist Chase likes to ask his audience questions or occasionally scream at them until they scream back, which he did numerous times Saturday night. 

Chase started off the set by asking the crowd if they had drunk any water that day, which was promptly followed by the entire audience yelling “NO!” in unison. 

Diet Sweets’ unapologetically authentic message for the desire for love and acceptance showered over the crowd with new song “Stray Dog,” depicting the longingness to be wanted by someone, anyone. 

“It’s my favorite song of ours,” Chase said. “It’s a song about just wanting to belong somewhere, even where you’re not wanted. Hence the name, ‘Stray Dog.’” 

Diet Sweets has a way of keeping the audience entertained, whether it’s them dancing with their instruments, jumping off stage or randomly saying “Knock-Knock” jokes in the middle of the set. 

At one point during the set, Chase pointed the tip of his guitar at Deegan and yelled, “DRUM SOLO! GO!” Deegan’s face changed from confused to gleeful just as quickly as he started to drum his heart out for a good 15-second beat. 

Chase gave special thanks to audience members who drove in from out-of-state to see the band. Among the travelers is his big sister Andi, who drove from her home in Missouri to see the gig. 

“With his music, you feel his love, and you feel his pain,” Andi said.

She details how “complex and passionate” of a person and an artist he is. 

“I’ve been watching him since he was just a kid. I’ve been following him since he was performing in the parking lot of a hardware store,” Andi said, reminiscing on watching him evolve as an artist over the years. 

Chase’s passion is evident when he jumps from the stage into the crowd to swing around a cement pole and dance with his friends, all the while hitting multiple high notes, Mariah Carey-style. 

The group ended their set by thanking the crowd for coming out and supporting them, and thanking Full Moon Records for hosting them. 

Using music as a form of therapy, the band aims to simply share their craft with others who resonate with their context. 

While the group currently doesn’t have music on any platforms, they are working on their first album, “Sweet Talk.” Diet Sweets posts music updates and upcoming events on their Instagram. 

Idle Valley, the first to take the stage, had an energetic stage presence that made it almost impossible not to tap your foot while he sang. He started out with some originals, one titled “I Love My Girlfriend,” which was just about how the entire song went. Cute and sappy with a rocker twist, he tells us one important piece of information: “I Love My Girlfriend.”

He also played a song called “She Bites,” which was released Saturday evening prior to the show. 

Diet Sweets can be found on Instagram @dietsweetsmusic.