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Read More Stars has a new album, The North, coming out in North America on September 4th. You can get a sneak peek at their new song, "The Theory of Relativity" over at soundcloud.com. . .....
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Stars just announced their massive 2013 World Tour, but before we get to them, I thought it would be fun to re-visit the first time I saw the band - at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis on March 14, 2005.
I got into Stars fairly early on - with their brilliant Nightsongs, released in 2001 in the U.S. by Le Grand Magistery Records. I took a chance on their album, considering that I was already hooked by Momus and Baxendale (both on le Grand). Let me tell you: I loved the album. I think Nightsongs, in some ways, was very different than what Stars have become, but that's another story.
If you've never heard of Nightsongs, there is a wonderful cover of the Smiths' "This Charming Man" that must be heard.
I picked up The Comeback EP and eventually the Canadian cover of Heart, but it wasn't until Set Yourself on Fire in 2004 that I was absolutely floored by what the band could do. So many well-played songs from "Ageless Beauty" to "Reunion" to "The First Five Times" to "One More Night" to "Calendar Girl"… it was the soundtrack of my Summer.
When I heard that Stars were stopping in Minneapolis at the 400 Bar, I jumped at the chance to see them. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the band, I just thought their music was so emotional and introspective that I wasn't expecting singer Torquil Campbell was totally dancing throughout the show. The way Campbell sang and the way he moved, it was like he was giving everything he's got.
As you can see from their setlist from 2005, they did most of my favorite songs, including the double-wammy of set closer "Calendar Girl" with Amy Milan taking lead vocals and encore of "The First Five Times". I have the worst memory, but I remember being really happy that they finally did "Calendar Girl" because I was waiting forever for them to get to that song.
I sort of saw Stars at NXNE in Toronto a few years ago, but they were playing in front of a million other people (they were so faraway that I had to view some of the songs on the big screen). It was definitely a stark difference from the intimate 400 Bar to a festival-sized show.
I know they came back to Minneapolis a few other times, but I was never rich enough to afford their old-fashion theater tours (these seated venues are usually $30 and up, not including Ticket Master's "convenience fees").
So, anyway Stars just announced their North American tour. See all the dates below and as a special gift, you can grab "Backlines" the Eight and a Half remix on Soundcloud. The remix song is taken from their latest album, The North.
If you live in Asia, Stars is putting together a Pledge Music project to help them fund the shows. I will bet they will have a fantastic time in Singapore, I was over there for about a week and absolutely fell in love with the country. It's quite small, but there are a good mix of Malay, Chinese, Thais, Singaporeans, and other race there. Their food is a good fusion of the different cultures as well. It's a country that's both modern but also traditional… I'm sure Stars will have a great time there.
Stars' upcoming tour dates:
I got into Stars fairly early on - with their brilliant Nightsongs, released in 2001 in the U.S. by Le Grand Magistery Records. I took a chance on their album, considering that I was already hooked by Momus and Baxendale (both on le Grand). Let me tell you: I loved the album. I think Nightsongs, in some ways, was very different than what Stars have become, but that's another story.
If you've never heard of Nightsongs, there is a wonderful cover of the Smiths' "This Charming Man" that must be heard.
I picked up The Comeback EP and eventually the Canadian cover of Heart, but it wasn't until Set Yourself on Fire in 2004 that I was absolutely floored by what the band could do. So many well-played songs from "Ageless Beauty" to "Reunion" to "The First Five Times" to "One More Night" to "Calendar Girl"… it was the soundtrack of my Summer.
When I heard that Stars were stopping in Minneapolis at the 400 Bar, I jumped at the chance to see them. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the band, I just thought their music was so emotional and introspective that I wasn't expecting singer Torquil Campbell was totally dancing throughout the show. The way Campbell sang and the way he moved, it was like he was giving everything he's got.
As you can see from their setlist from 2005, they did most of my favorite songs, including the double-wammy of set closer "Calendar Girl" with Amy Milan taking lead vocals and encore of "The First Five Times". I have the worst memory, but I remember being really happy that they finally did "Calendar Girl" because I was waiting forever for them to get to that song.
I sort of saw Stars at NXNE in Toronto a few years ago, but they were playing in front of a million other people (they were so faraway that I had to view some of the songs on the big screen). It was definitely a stark difference from the intimate 400 Bar to a festival-sized show.
I know they came back to Minneapolis a few other times, but I was never rich enough to afford their old-fashion theater tours (these seated venues are usually $30 and up, not including Ticket Master's "convenience fees").
If you live in Asia, Stars is putting together a Pledge Music project to help them fund the shows. I will bet they will have a fantastic time in Singapore, I was over there for about a week and absolutely fell in love with the country. It's quite small, but there are a good mix of Malay, Chinese, Thais, Singaporeans, and other race there. Their food is a good fusion of the different cultures as well. It's a country that's both modern but also traditional… I'm sure Stars will have a great time there.
Stars' upcoming tour dates:
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12/12 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp 12/13 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff 12/14 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso 12/16 - Brussels, Belgium - Orangerie 12/17 - Cologne, Germany - Luxor 12/18 - Munich, Germany - Hansa 39 12/19 - Prague, Czech Republic - Roxy 12/20 - Vienna, AT - Flex 02/09 - Sydney, Australia - The Factory 02/10 - Melbourne, Australia - The Corner Hotel 02/11 - Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo 02/13 - Perth, Australia - Perth Int'l Festival 02/16 - Manila, Philippines - Alpha Tents 02/19 - Singapore, Singapore - Kallang Theatre 02/20 - Taipei, Taiwan- Legacy Taipei 02/22 - Seoul, South Korea - V-Hall 03/05 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground 03/06 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero Theatre 03/07 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live 03/08 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg |
03/09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
03/15 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre 03/16 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre 03/18 - Kingston, ON - Sydenham United Church 03/19 - London, ON - London Music Hall 03/20 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall 03/21 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall 03/22 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre 03/23 - Chicago, IL - Metro 03/25 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall 03/26 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 03/27 - Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Centre 03/28 - Regina, SK - Orr Centre 03/29 - Saskatoon, SK - Odeon 03/30 - Calgary, AB - Mac Hall 03/31 - Edmonton, AB - Winspear 04/02 - Nelson, BC - The Royal 04/03 - Kelowna, BC - Kelowna Community Centre 04/05 - Victoria, BC - Alix Goolden 04/06 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore *AA Matinee 04/06 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore *18+ Eve |
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