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Stellastarr* generates atmosphere at 7th Street
By Joe Palmersheim
Published:
Monday, April 19, 2004
Media Credit: Joe Palmersheim
Rocking out at 7th Street Entry, Stellastarr* lead singer Shawn Christensen is in hysterics while guitarist Michael Jurin pounds the noise out of his guitar.
Media Credit: Joe Palmersheim
Stellastarr* lead singer Shawn Christensen finds something more interesting on the other side of the stage and bassist Amanda Tannen holds the course April 15 at 7th Street Entry.
MINNEAPOLIS -- It's an inherent risk to see a band you like play a live concert. Some bands put on a mediocre show, or are just plain terrible. There's nothing worse than sitting through a bad show, praying for a familiar song or waiting for it to end. Stellastarr* has nothing to worry about in this department - their material is even better live than it is on CD, and they sacrifice nothing to please the audience.
The room in front of the stage at 11 p.m. Thursday at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis was packed to capacity, with the band playing like their lives depended on it. Some fans were exuberant, smiling and singing along to every word, while others just stood and looked moody in a haze of cigarette smoke. But all were impressed - that much was obvious.
From the opening notes of "In the Walls" to the last note of "Untitled," the band gave its all. Lead singer Shawn Christensen writhed in controlled histrionics, occasionally falling to his knees as if overwhelmed. Guitarist Michael Jurin strutted about, complimenting the strobe light that keeps drummer Arthur Kremer in a world of his own. To top it off, bassist Amanda Tannen struck a pose reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'Arcy, with a touch of Garbo thrown in for good measure. She remained coolly off to the side, seemingly unreachable, providing a stable anchor for the otherwise animated group.
This isn't the first time the band has played Minneapolis. They were there in September supporting their self-titled album.
"We had a great time last time," Jurin said.
The tour they are on now has no official name, but Jurin has a suggestion.
"I think the Killers (the support band) have a name for it. They left gas caps at every gas station they've stopped at accidentally, so it's the 'Gas Cap Tour.'
They are about halfway through the tour at the moment, which ends with them playing with the recently reunited Pixies at a music festival in California.
The band, which has yet to achieve mainstream success in the United States, is adored in England. Jurin chalks it up to differences in the music press.
"The great part about (British music magazine NME) is that they can write about anything, because they're a weekly, and it's a small area, so they can write as much as they want about something they adore."
He went on to say American music magazines are monthly, which means they stick to things that people, for the most part, are already familiar with.
For a band most people are unfamiliar with, the fans gave no indication they were aware of this. Within minutes of the set's end, the band's posters on the wall were ripped down and taken home by souvenir-hungry admirers.
There was no shortage of people waiting for the band to come out and mingle after the show either. The fans waited patiently for autographs, and the band was kind enough to oblige them.
If being in a rock band is supposed to change one's personality for the worst, the members of Stellastarr* remain refreshingly grounded.
"We didn't get a really good feel of the town (in September). We were very unsure coming here - what to expect - but I thought it was a great crowd," Kremer said.
Kremer had a strobe light going next to his kit while he played to draw in atmosphere.
"It helps me get into the mood. It kind of gives this pulsing atmosphere, or energy, that I really like," Kremer said.
Earlier in the evening, Jurin mentioned the stars that cover the outside walls of First Avenue and joked about making their own before they left.
If they keep doing what they are doing, they may not have to joke.
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