Live Review - Stars @ Sonar 3/19/08 (plus some Pash)

If you really want to show your significant other that you love them, what do you do? Of course, buy them flowers. Lots of flowers. Maybe shower them in flowers. And when that's over.......MORE FLOWERS. So that means that if you've been to see Stars on their current US tour, like I did last night at Sonar, you might just be in a relationship with the quirky band from Montreal, because they loveeeeee some flowers. The stage was covered in flowers.

Opening up for Stars was Martin Royle. I had no idea who Martin Royle was, but I found out once arriving that he would be backed by DC's own Pash. Bonus! I guess I missed the update on the Pash website that they were added to the tour at the beginning of March (way to go guys and gal!). Royle played a handful of his own tunes, which he and Pash had apparently had worked on for about a week. Mid-set, Royle left the stage and Pash got to play three of their own songs. Despite a badly crackling bass amp, Pash easily stole the opening show, and certainly earned some new fans. They are enthusiastic (especially Erik Bruner-Yang on lead guitar), polished, and have a talented (and adorable) lead singer in Merideth Munoz. Maybe someday soon I'll be able to see more than a few songs.

Stars took the stage to a thunderous ovation, but clearly they had a lightning fast sound check (see what I did there). The sound for the first 5 songs or so was atrocious, and in my opinion barely reached the level of acceptable by the end of the set. The set spanned the Stars library and included many of my fave's, but it was hard to get into the show. I am a self acknowledged audio snob, but anyone at that show had to be a little disappointed. Despite the poor sound, Stars are gripping live. Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan trade vocals beautifully and really suck you in with their passion for their songs. They really do seem to appreciate their fans (hence the flower shower), and will likely continue to endear themselves to a broader fan base. Go see them, and be enchanted. Maybe you'll even get a flower.

Setlist:

The Night Starts Here
Elevator Love Letter
Soft Revolution
indow Bird
One More Night
Ghost of Genova Heights
Bitches in Tokyo
Reunion
The Big Fight
Going Going Gone
Midnight Coward
Take Me to the Riot
Your Ex-Lover is dead
Ageless Beauty
In Our Bedroom After the War

Encore:

My Favourite Book
What I’m Trying to Say
Calendar Girl

Mp3: Stars - Calendar Girl --- Website --- Buy
Mp3: Stars - Reunion
Mp3: Pash - The Best Gun --- Website --- Buy
Mp3: Pash - Kill All the Rich Boys II

The Run Down - Tuesday March 18, 2008

There's a solid show in DC and a solid show in Philly tonight. In DC the Rock and Roll Hotel has Pash, Tilly and the Wall, and Capgun Coup. storming the stage. In Philadelphia, The Fire has a mellow folk night with Sarsaparilla, Nick Jaina, and Ice Nine Kills. Enjoy.

mp3: Pash - Palindrome --> website --> buy
mp3: Tilly and the Wall - Bad Education --> website --> buy
mp3: Sarsaparilla - Sad Stars --> website --> buy
mp3: Nick Jaina - Apple Seed --> website --> buy

If You're Going To SXSW....

There's a couple of SXSW shows that feature bands that we enjoy greatly at Pasta Primavera. If you're heading out that way in March, be sure to check out Georgie James, Le Loup, Pash, Middle Distance Runner, These United States, Carol Bui, Jukebox The Ghost, and Exit Clov at the Cream Vintage Store on the 13th. The address is 2532 Guadalupe Street. Another band that we adore playing SXSW is Ravens & Chimes. They hit the SXSW day stage on the 13th and a showcase at Club Deville on the 14th. If you catch either of these shows, please feel free to let us know how it went.

mp3: Georgie James - You Can Have It --> website --> buy
mp3: Le Loup - Planes Like Vultures --> website --> buy
mp3: Pash - 1000 Cranes --> website --> buy
mp3: Middle Distance Runner - Monochrome Boys --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Diving Boards Pointed At The Sky --> website --> buy
mp3: Jukebox The Ghost - Victoria --> website --> buy
mp3: Exit Clov - Working Class Hero --> website --> buy
mp3: Ravens & Chimes - General Lafayette! You Are Not Alone! --> website --> buy