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Live Review
by SashaS
2-11-2001
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| Full-sail Stardom |
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Live: Starsailor
Forum, London
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Starsailor storms London again with a show that offered further look into the band’s tortured emotions
In the world of hype-dom it is really refreshing to see a band hype had to catch up with. That’s what happened with Starsailor: while our attention was busy with whatever was being touted at the moment (and who can remember with so many goings on but probably The Strokes and The White Stripes), Starsailor played their music, scored couple of hits and fans gathered.
London’s seen this band several times in the past six months and Starsailor have continued to offer an improved version, each time. They are more confident, tighter, punchier and songs gain more aura. And it’s grown further following the Top 2 spot with the debut album, ‘Love Is Here’, (the mighty petite Kylie barred their top step). And the surest sign – vociferous reception to the instrument strapping.
Opening with ‘Alcoholic’, it was a parade of album tracks that sound better with each spin, all ‘growers’ – the definite way to becoming soundtrack to lives. And yet, James Walsh is still a reluctant star, not very comfortable with his (quick) success and future role-model appointment, impressing as a budding Thom Yorke, his kind of fame, in particular. Thus, the patter is next to non-existent… But who needs it when you have such a singing instrument!?
It shines through like a diamond in a desert to become untouchable on solo portion of the show, ‘Coming Down’ and Dion’s ‘Born To Be With You’. There might be a touch of a problem, in pacing the setlist with heart-wrenching songs dominating the eve. If Walsh could spend sometime with his public he’d discover a 100 per cent shift in the mood when ‘Fever’ or ‘Good Souls’ are performed – all song-along with astonishing passion.
Otherwise the back of the auditorium’s attention is not grabbed and they could be feeling left out by projecting to a ‘mosh-pit’ generally. The most surprising thing tonight is the percentage of male-to-female attendees and it looks like the Oasis-like brigade of fans is not only into ‘High Fidelity’ and ‘Pitch Fever’ but it has its ‘Bridget Jones’s’ side.
Grab these boys now because they are good’uns!
SashaS
2-11-2001
Starsailor’s ’Love Is Here’ is out now on EMI:Chrysalis
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