STAR @ Reggie's 1/8/08

It's a Tuesday night. South Side rock club Reggie's is practically dead. It could be because it is a Tuesday ,but also it's been raining for days. Some goth kids keep dancing to a DJ set that includes PB&J. Who would've thought? After a few bands, Chicago natives STAR hit the stage (not to be confused with Canadian uber-group Stars). Comprised of lead singer Shannon Roberts, bassist Ted Beck, and guitarist Scott Cortez, they've been making a name for themselves on the local scene since their full-length self-released debut, Devastator, last year. Time Out Chicago named it the second best local album of the year. Comparisons to shoegazers My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain spring to mind, but Roberts sounds akin to Tanya Donelly of Belly than the aforementioned groups.

Download: STAR - "Pure Gold Reason"

Their set is pretty stripped down: one girl, two guys, two amps, and one loud sound. With My Bloody Valentine making a comeback this year, 2008 is deemed to be the return of shoegaze, which is a good thing. It's hard to translate the fuzziness and distortion of shoegaze live, especially on such a tremendous record as Devastator, but STAR pulls it off. They begin with non-album entry "Like Flies on Sherbert" emanating distorted guitars drenched in reverb and Robert's luscious voice. The trio in fact only play four songs from their album which is a nice change in pace from a lot of neophyte acts who just simply play their one album in its entirety. They are the parallel universe version of Yeah Yeah Yeahs down to Roberts' Dorothy inspired shiny red shoes. They could potentially have the success of latter group. Roberts' lyrics are just as scathing as Karen O's. For example, "Pure Gold Reason" laments: "We'll never have any love children," and "Bad Attention" digs deep: "Just like shattered glass/there's a sound that only love makes/just like a car crash/I'm a total mess of complete heartache around you." Mid-set, they break into a Guided by Voices cover, "Game of Pricks," a solid cover Pollard himself would approve. Near the end, they play excellent Devastator tracks "Pure Gold Reason" and "Liars in Love." Two songs later, the set ends. What, it's over already? And no "Switchblade Heart?" Next time, guys. The set does seem like an exercise in brevity, but then again, their songs are only a couple of minutes each.

Now it's time to sell some merch. A stalkerish guy comes up to Roberts and politely asks for an autograph and to have his picture taken with her. This is the first sign you're becoming famous. Every group needs a fanatic, I suppose. Of course, as long as it's an innocuous fanatic. STAR will be performing at Ronny's on the 25 and The Hideout on Feb. 1. Now go out and check them out before all the Pitchfork hipsters do so you can you saw them in all their magnificent glory before they break into the stratosphere. Seriously, they're great live, they have an awesome record, and they are really cool kids completely deserving of all the accolades coming their way.

Click here for complete photo set.

Setlist:

"Like Flies on Sherbert"
"Various Gun Designs"
"Cruel 15"
"Champion of Love"
"White Fear"
"Cock Swan"
"Game of Pricks"
"Flesh-Eating Mothers"
"Pure Gold Reason"
"Liars in Love"
"Rock Hard"
"Noise Parade"