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Beginning appropriately with “The Night Starts Here”, Stars commenced to play their hearts out for ninety minutes. Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan filled the air with their usual lush male/female vocals, which alternate and culminate in swoons, creating a lullaby effect that’s filled with a soothing kind of chemistry.
Amy Millan of Stars
This time around, Stars dropped their usual angst for a much more hopeful vibe. Missing from the setlist were politically-fueled songs such as, “Set Yourself on Fire”, “He Lied About Death”, and “In Our Bedroom After the War”. “Take me to the Riot” was the closest the band came to touching on this element. Even “Going, Going, Gone”, a song previously filled with personal vs. political anger, was reworked and slowed down and replaced with a much more melancholic feeling.
Torquil Campbell of Stars
Though the five-piece hails from Montreal, they had much to say about how “happening” Chicago is as a city. Appearing humble, Campbell thanked the audience for coming out during hard times, saying how much the band appreciated it. He appeared just as moved by the experience as the starlit set of young eyes gazing from the front row, staring in awe at their favorite band playing on a stage adorned with roses.
Amy Millan of Stars
Lyrically, the songs often come across as very intense and personal stories. Yet, they manage to transcend the inner personal domain and venture into the world of shared anthemic experience. Mainly, they accomplish this task by addressing issues that many can relate to. Such is the case for “What I’m Trying to Say”, which was a clear highlight of the set along with “One More Night”. Though at times the songs can take on an edgy tone, they are often sentimental and romantic, especially when the vocals shine strongly via dynamic duets.
Torquil Campbell of Stars
Amy Millan of Stars
It should also be mentioned how well rounded the band’s setlists are. Stars have been releasing music since 2001 with three full lengths and two EPs, and yet they always revisit that first release even while seeming eager to debut new songs. There’s an energy to them that is searching for progress but at the same time understands that it’s futile to ignore the past.
Amy Millan of Stars
