Stars
Date: November 26, 2008 Making Patterns on the Wall When Stars' singer Torquil Campbell mentioned how well Ottawa always treats the band, there was little cause to doubt his sincerity. Following a sold-out April visit to the Bronson Centre, a prime slot at Bluesfest in July, and an October arena appearance opening for Coldplay, Stars returned to the Bronson Centre in November, which they quickly sold out again, with enough interest for the addition of a second show. I caught them on the first night of that stand, where they treated the packed house to a performance that justified the city's continued love for the band. Jenny Whiteley got the night started with a family affair, as she was assisted by her husband on guitar, her sister on drums, and most prominently, her brother on electric mandolin. The fast-picking mandolin work supplied the kick in a set that was anchored in laid-back country. Jenny displayed a fine voice; and she also benefited from the contribution of Stars' Amy Millan, who joined in on "Baby I," a Whiteley-penned song found on Millan's solo album. Whiteley certainly did not overstay her welcome, leaving the crowd warmed up after a brief but effective set. Stars came out shortly, taking to a stage that was dressed the same as in other recent shows, adorned with white and red flowers and backed by an impressive lighting rig. Indeed, the set as a whole was reminiscent of the Bluesfest concert, with one notable exception. In the time since that sprawling summer set, Stars released the Sad Robots EP; and the injection of several now-recognizable songs from that recording put enough of a twist on the setlist to keep things fresh. Otherwise, Stars hit all the same highs as before, starting with audience engagement. A gesture from Torquil was enough to draw fans out of their seats to fill the small space in front of the stage, at least as much as security would allow; and even those who didn't find their way to the open floor remained standing for the night. All of the players sounded great; and even touring guitarist Alan Snoddy, who I was used to seeing planted in the background, came to the forefront at times, taking deserved attention for his efforts. Another bonus was that Evan Cranley's bass seemed to find the sweet spot of being notable in the mix but not as overpowering as it had seemed in some past shows. Overall, though, the band thrives on its singers, each of whom excelled on this evening. Where Amy Millan exudes sweetness, both in her tender voice and disarming stage presence, Torquil Campbell personifies intensity, from his passionately soaring vocals to his fiery persona. Pumping his fist to his heart in tune to the bass drum and staring at the audience, Campbell delivers the unspoken message that this night is something special. And I have to say that it's a message that worked fully on me. For the first half of the show, I was content simply to be watching another good concert; but somewhere around the rousing "Ageless Beauty," the band drew me in and made me feel privileged to be a part of the experience, that there was nowhere else I would rather be. "The Night Starts Here," "Take Me To the Riot," "Window Bird," "What I'm Trying To Say," and "Set Yourself On Fire" were among the set highlights, although an encore that covered "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead," "Calendar Girl," and "One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)" marked the night's apex. Fittingly, it was the two singers who propelled the encore to such heights, magnifying their efforts for a final rush. Stars have made themselves a familiar sight with their commitment to frequent touring. Their dedication to performance has ensured that they are not merely putting in the miles, though, but are still kicking out killer sets, which has ensured that their impact remains sharp. <--Prev (The Sadies) | Next (Amos the Transparent/Black Diamond Bay)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |