STARCRAWLER AT ADELAIDE HALL IN TORONTO
I was intrigued that rock ‘n’ roll band Starcrawler decided to play at Adelaide Hall here in Toronto. It’s typically a hip-hop venue, but it’s a good space! Upon learning the band Foolproof from Niagara was opening for them, I admittedly had to search them up as I haven’t seen them around gigs or festivals in the city, so I think they’re a casual touring band that got handpicked by the promoter to play that night. Arriving at the venue there was a large number of older folks at the young band’s gig. The band takes a lot of inspiration from 70’s punk and blues, and 60’s psychedelic rock so I wasn’t hugely surprised. The venue was already about half full before the one opener, showing anticipation for the night’s act. On the stage was Starcrawler’s gear and backdrop entirely in pink. Fender amps, drums, soundboards, you name it; it was pink.
Foolproof casually arrived on stage and began their alt/punk songs. All originals, no covers that I had noticed anyway. In the crowd it felt like there were family and friends to support. Lead singer Paige Kopp began shyly, but eventually shared great and loud rock vocals. She popped off her shoes and chatted between sets to the friends in the crowd.
After they departed from their chill set, the Starcrawler crew began to set up and even more pink equipment arrived; all microphones, soundboards, guitars. Even the tape of the setlists! The branding is very strong for this album era, perhaps funded by the big label. The crowd appeared to have some devout fans huddling closer, gripping their newly purchased vinyls. A woman wore a custom pink Starcrawler rodeo merch and stood by the bar.
The male band members arrived on stage, including the classic and rowdy lead guitarist, Henri Cash, who also was wearing that pink rodeo dress shirt. He marched on stage, cigarette lit in mouth, gesturing to the crowd to come in closer and start to party. Leading lady, Arrow de Wilde, arrived on stage towering over everyone with her pink ribboned and white bikini top and trousers. After playing a few songs, I could tell the band was disappointed with the lack of crowd reaction, playing it up and calling the crowd cowards as they weren’t even as enthusiastic as Edmonton (Alberta). A couple more attempts to loosen the crowd were made and finally a small mosh pit emerged and played in and out throughout the night.
The theatrics of Arrow and Henri played out like they read about rock ‘n’ roll from a textbook. It didn’t seem entirely disingenuous because the music is really there, but it seemed like the music industry told them keynotes on how to behave; like they overdid it but only by a smidge. When the slower or more vulnerable songs came on, Arrow was still trying to tease the crowd when vulnerability would have been more genuine. However, their iconic theatrics did really help the crowd a lot in having a more enjoyable time. Don’t know what was up with the Toronto crowd this time, they usually are not this relaxed when they really like an artist. Henri played guitar off stage twice, on the bar and in the crowd. In their encore, Arrow crowd surfed, she connected with the ladies in the front, she bent over backwards like a circus performer, and really physically gave it her all throughout the entire night. Her vocals and shouts are just like the albums and she could not be more perfect for rock ‘n’ roll. The other three guys played their instruments, and that’s really it for them. To be fair, it would be hard for five people to be dancing around on the bar sized stage. Also in the last song of their encore, Henri went into the crowd and brought a fan on stage to play his guitar and even lit up his cigarette for him! Okay… that was rock ‘n’ roll.
As for their new album She Said, which came out in September, fans knew most of the words, but definitely reacted with more enthusiasm for songs from their two other albums. Those albums are more punk and still have that California twang to it that they’re consistent with. This newer album is still really great, but I think this is a case of the sophomore slump. It’s not bad (at all), but it just keeps them afloat and is not quite growing yet.
Starcrawler is definitely catching the eyes of many in the music industry, like, for example, My Chemical Romance who they toured with in May, but perhaps they aren’t growing as much (yet) because maybe the big man has too much of a hand in their vibe at the moment. I would hope in the future for a tiny bit more vulnerability, but overall they are a rock act not to miss. Arrow is one of the most compelling performers in rock right now and Henri serves classic rock energy and is really sweet with fans after the shows. I had so much fun watching and singing along. Great show overall, keep on going Starcrawler!