ARTICLE BY SOPHIA PORTIER
JULY 31 | WEST HOLLYWOOD—Sold-out shows at the Troubador are always good times. Tonight was no exception, and it was a perfect way to close out July, with Brooklyn favorites Stellastarr* headlining in support of newly released album Civilized.
The night began with a crowd of 12 surrounding the stage for early openers Mason Proper. For their first time on the West Coast, these ambitious Michigan-rockers opened with spastic brilliance. For further reference, check out their most recent album, Oily Oxen Free. It bounds with intricate melodies and rocking crescendos. Check out the bittersweet jiving rhythms of “Fog,” which features the quirky romantic refrain of “I’ll meet you in the fog.”
Wearing button-up shirts, the guys of Mason Proper look so proper that you could just yank them off stage to meet your parents. Their music, however, is all Radiohead sonic drama, albeit on an indie-rock scale. They ended their short set with brilliant indie gem “Lock and Key,” which included a tambourine breakdown courtesy of lead singer Jonathan Visger. Also on keyboards and guitar, he is the cutest guy to hit a stage in years with his oh-so-wicked black glasses. His onstage dramatics are a sight to behold as well and a small performance in and of itself.
Up next, Wild Light really tuned the crowd to high-voltage energy with their raucous stamina and inciting blend of rock, which was perfect for building the anticipation for Stellastarr*.
Stellastarr* came on with all kinds of hip New York sophistication, sexiness and swagger. The band is also graced with beautiful female bassist Amanda Tannen. She provides the most exquisite back-up vocals known to modern indie rock; her wailing is almost other-worldly and soul-piercing. It is a most welcome contrast to lead vocalist/guitarist Shawn Christensen’s voice, which sounds a bit like Placebo’s Brian Molko at times, while at other times he sounds a wee bit British.
If highlights could be subtle, they would most definitely come in the form of long-haired luscious Tannen and scalding-hot drummer Arthur Kremer.
The band played a handful of tracks off their new album, including superb standout “Freak Out,” whose dance-rock grooves have that ability to slither and slide all up and down the body. They also treated the audience to their early work, which, if you’ve never checked out, is fantastic in all capital letters. Their self-titled album is fabulous, but even more so is their follow-up, Harmonies For The Haunted.
The band played their songs in full-on, anthem-like glory, the songs singing aerial throughout the venue and swinging to enormous swirling heights. Stellastarr has all the right influences—ranging from Pixies to The Cure. They are well-schooled in indie rock and know how to craft a song that rocks ‘n’ rolls in the minds and ears of their listeners. Memorable songs tonight included the lush “Sweet Troubled Soul” and the pounding “Stay Entertained.” The crowd just drank it all up, and Stellarstar went on to play beloved favorite “Jenny”, a track that is wholly reminiscient of early-Pixies.
Despite all of their East Coast sex appeal, the band is humble. Christensen paused in between songs to thank his fans “for selling the Troubador out.” Near the end of the set, he exclaimed to the crowd, “You kicked ass tonight.” What all of us really wanted to communicate back was that Stellarstarr kicked a musical burst of divine grace into our very own sweet troubled souls.
Their phenomenal set ended with the scorching “On My Own,” with Christensen literally rolling around on stage with the mic in his grasp. It was one hell of a wrenching, passionate performance, but Stellastarr* wasn’t through with us yet.
They came back on stage to much wild applause, wherein the hot and shirtless drummer Kremer praised L.A. fans. The band’s final song of the night was the truly super-stellar hit “My Coco,” which had everyone in the audience busting a hip and dancing along as well as busting a lung and singing along.
If L.A. wasn’t the city of smog and light pollution that it is, Stellastarr* would have played the very stars down from the sky that night.
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