Stars - Live Photos from Webster Hall, NYC 9-22-12

There is something exciting about the energy of a sold-out show. Stars headlined a sold-out show at Webster Hall last month in support of their sixth full-length album, The North, which came out at the beginning of September via ATO Records. Paste Magazine gave the new disc a "9" and said "The North offers the same sense of depth and darkness that first propelled the five-piece into the limelight with singles like “Ageless Beauty” and “Your Ex-Lover is Dead,” but with an increased sense of awareness and age. The band has grown. The music has evolved. But the message of feeling alive despite all odds is more apparent than ever." Prior to the show, I hadn't heard any of Stars' music so it might of helped if I had listened to the new disc but I really enjoyed watching the crowd sing along to every song and feeling the floor at Webster Hall bounce under the weight of the people "pogoing" in place.



The live video below (is there ever a concert that doesn't end up on YouTube?) does a pretty good job of capturing the energy of the show.



Stars Fall Tour Dates
10/09/12 - Lawrence, KS, Bottleneck
10/10/12 - Tulsa, OK, Cain’s
10/11/12 - Little Rock, AR, Revolution Room
10/12/12 - Houston, TX, Fitzgerald’s
10/13/12 - Dallas, TX, Granada
10/14/12 - Austin, TX, Austin City Limits
10/17/12 - San Diego, CA, House Of Blues
10/18/12 - Los Angeles, CA, The Mayan Theater
10/19/12 - Santa Cruz, CA, Rio Theatre
10/20/12 - San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore
10/21/12 - Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA

Links:
Stars

Diamond Rings - Live Photos from Webster Hall, NYC 9-22-12 (Astralwerks)

I've never heard of Diamond Rings prior to seeing him open for Stars at Webster Hall. In talking with the woman next to me, she described him as sounding like Vanilla Ice. Haircut aside, I think a more relevant comparison is to either Klaus Nomi or David Gahan.



For anyone who also hadn't heard of Diamond Rings, here is some background from Wikipedia on the artist: "John O'Regan (born July 6, 1985) is a Canadian artist and musician best known by his stage name Diamond Rings. In addition to writing, recording, and producing his own music, he is also noted for transcending traditional representations of gender and identity in his live performances and videos...His debut full length album, Special Affections, was released in North America on October 25, 2010, by Montreal's Secret City Records. Lead single "Something Else" was released a month prior and features a cover of the Milla Jovovich song "The Gentleman Who Fell," with string arrangements by Canadian musician and Polaris Prize winner Owen Pallett. Diamond Rings has since signed with New York City-based Astralwerks Records a division of Virgin/EMI Records, which re-released Special Affections on June 21, 2011."



Diamond Rings' October Tour Dates
10/09/12 - Lawrence, KS, Bottleneck w/ Stars
10/10/12 - Tulsa, OK, Cain’s w/ Stars
10/11/12 - Little Rock, AR, Revolution Room w/ Stars
10/12/12 - Houston, TX, Fitzgerald’s w/ Stars
10/13/12 - Dallas, TX, Granada w/ Stars
10/14/12 - Austin, TX, The Mohawk
(Austin City Limits Official After-Party w/ Friends)
10/17/12 - San Diego, CA, House Of Blues w/ Stars
10/18/12 - Los Angeles, CA, The Mayan w/ Stars
10/19/12 - Santa Cruz, CA, Rio Theatre w/ Stars
10/20/12 - San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore w/ Stars
10/26/12 - Chicago, IL, Empty Bottle w/ Gold Fields
10/27/12 - Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry w/ Gold Fields
10/28/12 - Madison, WI, The Frequency w/ Gold Fields
10/30/12 - St. Louis, MO, Off Broadway w/ Gold Fields
10/31/12 - Nashville, TN, The Hi-Watt w/ Gold Fields

Links:
Diamond Rings