It’s been a day of discovery as not only did Canadian alt-poppers Stars have a new album out in May, they are touring these fair isles next Feb. I must admit I had them on a list of ‘they’ll never tour over here ever’ – but no they are in Cork, Glasgow Leeds, Manchester and London but sadly not Birmingham. Never mind, one ticket to the Deaf Institute purchased for Fri Feb 10. Can’t tell you how genuinely exciting this is. New album, From Capelton Hill, on first listen is a return to core values and will be floating around the top of my top 20 of the year. Ms Moles listened to two tracks ‘Sounds a bit Arcade Firey’. No i think you’ll find Arcade Fire sound a bit Starsy…so solo mission. Never mind.
Stars Klaxon!
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Another example, with leftfield of my ‘how does anyone know if there’s a new album out anymore’ …..
I’d lost track of them in recent years but this is one of my albums of the year, too. I’ll be seeing them in Glasgow.
They do indeed sound excellent. Will keep my eyes peeled for some Swedish dates.
A band like Doves, the Fannies or 10000 Maniacs which I love inordinately, possibly out of proportion to their true musical worth.
Honestly, in a quiet way, they may crack my 10 favourite bands of all. Set yourself on Fire is glorious. The one before their most recent “Flourescent Light”, I thought was gorgeous when I first heard it and I still spin it very often.
“Personal” is a rare jewel, “Look Up” is magnificent, ‘Hold On When You Get Love’.. the catalogue has so much to recommend, quality pop music.
Anyone who doesn’t know them, I’d urge them to remedy that, it’s your life that will benefit by it.
I don’t know the specifics of this clip, it came up by accident but Stars create something like Beatlemania in Manila (?)
The only Stars I have is Ageless Beauty, which my tall chum heard when touring Canada with Eddi Reader and brought back for me, knowing how much I enjoy shoegazey things. I love it, but I’ve never bought anything else. Where should I start?
Both Ageless Beauty and Your Ex-Lover is Dead in Matt’s clip above are from the album Set Yourself on Fire, which is brilliant. (The shoegazey-ness of Ageless Beauty is necessarily representative though.)
@fentonsteve ‘Classic’ Stars would be Set Yourself On Fire and In Our Bedroom After The War; more 80s sounds would be No-One Is Lost and ….Under Fluorescent Lights. But their whole catalogue is pretty good, with the possible exception of ‘Five Ghosts’ one of their biggest sellers which I have never quite got on with.
That clip is remarkable. The whole audience is singing along and knows every word.
How did a Canadian band build up that kind of fan-base in the Philippines?
They also have a Christmas Single out this year. On first listen I thought ‘meh…’ but after three or four listens I quite like it now…
https://starsband.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-anyway
Your OP had me worried, Moseley, so I had to check – yes, they are still playing Galway. It will be interesting to see how they will cope with the relatively tiny stage in the Roisín Dubh. From Capleton Hill will make my EOY list as well, not the upper reaches but somewhere in the middle.
Sorry @max-the-dog ! I didn’t pay enough attention to the full schedule, just working out whether Manchester or Leeds. Never been to the Brundell, but it is further and on a weekday. So the Deaf Institute. Galway a bit further still.
Thanks M Galway is the first date on the tour – about an hour’s drive for me so I should be home not long after the gig finishes. Hopefully I will be able to report that you all have something to look forward to ! If I have a few bob to spare after Christmas I might pick up a ticket for Dublin or Cork if they’re still available. I imagine they will be.
Brudenell is a great venue.
As promised, I’m back to report on the opening night of the European tour.
Two gigs in 48 hours! After the sublime Sarah McQuaid on Wednesday I went to the Roisín Dubh last night not knowing what to expect from Stars. They were fantastic. From the off, they were full of energy and fun. By song two this old canine was tapping a toe and nodding appreciatively. By song three (a popular one mentioned above) I was dancing like a fool, which was easy to do as everybody else there was doing the same. Audience were great, a surprising number of them singing along to every song. The band are fab, Torquil Campbell is a Tigger-like dynamo, bouncing around the stage and extorting everybody to get into it. Amy Mullan is sassy and funny and if she could dance with a broken foot and playing guitar, then the rest of us had no excuse. Those of you who have tickets for UK and other dates – worry not, you will have a time. Those of you who are procrastinating, take the plunge – I don’t think you will regret it. I can only draw your attention to the two-word synopsis of their bio on their Bandcamp page – Fucking Legends.
Support was Murray Lightburn of other Canadian band The Dears. Playing solo, a little nervous but came accross well. Seems to be a thorough gent. Be kind to him if you are there for his set.