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Live Review
by SashaS
9-2-2002
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| James Walsh of Starsailor |
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Live: Starsailor
Astoria, London
Friday, February 8, 2002
Starsailor play “The Best” NME Carling Awards show
Starsailor are really getting big but more gradually and naturally than, let’s say, Coldplay. Just a few days after playing the same venue with Travis they return for another sold-out show. But, to get to their performance, this being the NME Carling Awards show, we had other acts to entertain us during our waiting for the star of the evening who, it has to be said, needs to do something about de rigueur washed-out T-shirt look. (Even the stagehands are more chic!)
Electric Soft Parade and Hoggboy (a Stooges-wannabes) were supporting with the former, and their album ‘Holes In The Wall’, having been showered with a lot of praises and are certainly showing promise. But, as ever, hailing someone to heaven serves no purpose, but indulge the media’s egos, while putting an undue pressure on young artists. We’ll reserve our opinion until they have some more experiences under their collective belt.
Ed Harcourt was there about six months ago and continues to progress by exploring an eclectic sonic world. He is also getting more comfortable with his role of a frontman, whether he is behind keyboards or guitaring in front. His musical approach, as captured on ‘Here Be Monsters’ album, might be a bit too wide for mass consumption but it can’t be denied that this young man deals in emo-rockness that hasn’t been explored by his contemporaries. As far as a show goes, it‘s difficult to deny him a Silver medal in slalom.
Starsailor’s onstage arrival is to, what’s now a tradition, an ovation of thousands before a set that has been well aired on numerous occasions since April last year. But, although familiar, songs from ‘Love Is Here’ have changed due to two backing singers and a cellist who have made music more soulful. James Walsh’s voice is getting stronger, he hits notes more confidently, soaring higher and penetrating deeper with its emotional clout.
A new song, more complexly arranged and of greater epic-ness, entitled ‘Somewhere To Live’ which, theme-wise, could also have been called ‘Someone To Leave’. At one moment Walsh comments, “We better play the best of the NME Shows… Except, perhaps, The Charlatans.” No debate about but the last part of the statement.
SashaS
9-2-2002
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