SHOW REVIEW - Starset - Highline Ballroom, NYC

Oh, New York City. The buildings. The sights. The throngs of people dressed as superheroes, comic book characters, and a couple TV villains. They roamed the streets as if it was an everyday thing. Maybe some of it could have been an everyday thing, but for the most part it was clear: Comic-Con had landed. And, it had landed hard, with people of all ages milling about in various stages of costumed fare. This past weekend was a feast for the senses in the Big Apple. For this writer and first-time city-goer, the dessert at the end of the feast came in the incredible demonstration by alt-metal band, Starset.

Hailing from my home state of Ohio, Starset’s star shows no signs of setting. This was never more apparent than at their Friday, October 7^th demonstration at the Highline Ballroom in NYC. The line was down the sidewalk quite a ways as the crowd waited patiently for the doors to open.

Fans new to the band mingled with longtime fans in the chilly New York evening. All of us waited for another taste of the kind of sounds only Dustin Bates, Ron DeChant, Brock Richards, and Adam Gilbert can provide. I was in attendance not only as a writer, but also as a big fan. And the band more than delivered the lion’s share of their good stuff.

The doors opened, and the fans flooded into the small, intimate venue. The night was kicked off by a band I had not yet heard of – Gambit. I was pleasantly surprised by their sound and energy. The crowd really got into them. It was clear many others in the venue were at least familiar with Gambit. For one, I was thrilled when their lead singer announced that they had their CDs for free at the merch table. I love listening to and discovering new-to-me artists. They did not disappoint. I was not the only one feeling the electricity in the room as their set ended. Suddenly, the stage began to change hands to usher in Starset.

The opening notes of “First Light” echoed through the Highline, and the crowd went nuts. Adam, Ron, and Brock stood in full Starset regalia, waiting command from their fearless, bow-tied leader, Dustin. The roof could have lifted off the building from the sheer volume of the fans as Dustin took his place in front of the stage. I am not ashamed to admit I was one of the ones screaming and shouting the loudest. Likewise, the crowd around me seemed equally excited as Dustin announced they would be playing their 2014 release, Transmissions, in its entirety.

They had also snuck in a song from their as-of-yet unnamed and unreleased new album in between sets. I can tell you firsthand that based on that song alone (which I recognized as being theirs as it rolled over the speakers before they took the stage), the next album will be as amazing, if not more so, than their current release. But, I digress. On with the show.

From the powerful and raw, “Rise and Fall” to the melodic “Halo” and my personal favorites “Point of No Return” and the show-closer, “My Demons,” the guys in Starset had the audience captivated. It was their first ever headlining show in New York City. I can tell you, it won’t be their last! The crowd sang along with every word to every song. And, for moments at a time, the fans’ collective voices blended with Dustin’s on “Antigravity,” “Down With the Fallen,” and “Carnivore.” Every song was performed with precision and drive. And, it was clear that Starset is a well-oiled machine on stage.

Early in the night, Dustin had thanked their record label – Razor and Tie – for being in the audience. I hoped they were as moved and influenced by these four incredibly talented musicians as everyone else in the place was. Adam drove the band forward, as he does best, on drums. And, along with their duties on strings, Brock and Ron provided an amazing, steady backup for Dustin’s always incredible and powerful vocals. The range in Dustin’s voice, from gritty and raw to yearning and emotive, is something not seen from a lot of other artists. Therefore, it remains a highlight and signature true to Starset and to Dustin himself.

Alongside that, the emulator that Dustin manned was quite the sight itself. The way he made music come from it with just a swipe of his fingers was really unique. Technology merged with art, and it was beautiful. That is their whole message: technology and its affects on our lives. The emulator was not something I’d had the chance to see before that night, as I had only seen them one other time on an acoustic set. I was impressed with the emulator and look forward to the new ways Dustin can use it in the future.

My vantage point at the feet of Brock Richards on guitar gave me quite the view of everything that happened on stage. Also, YouTube had given the band a 360 degree camera to film their set – the footage of which I will hopefully be able to share here when it posts – which is a unique feature of a show. One doesn’t usually get the chance to see every single thing that happens on a stage during a concert. So, that will be an awesome inside look for fans once it is up and rolling.

As Dustin begged the crowd one last time to “save me, if I become my demons,” and the final notes settled over the crowd, he announced that they would come out to chat with fans. Unsurprisingly, when Dustin and Ron emerged into the crowd after a quick break, fans flocked around them. Fans stopped Dustin, congratulating him and telling him their own stories behind Starset’s music. A little boy standing beside me had memorized a list of three things he wanted to say to Dustin. As Dustin stood with his attention on the boy, a smile on his face, one thing was crystal clear: every single fan matters to this band. And, their stories matter to them as well.

Next, a young couple approached Dustin and told him that their wedding song was “Telescope.” Also, I believe they’d said that the show was on, or close to, their one-year wedding anniversary. Dustin seemed so touched by this, and it gave everyone around him a glimpse into the humble heart of this musician. It isn’t often that these moments happen for every day fans, but when they do happen, they’re special.

It is clear that the fans humble the guys in Starset. Likewise, it was obvious every person who stayed behind and had a moment with Ron and Dustin in the crowd felt like they were appreciated and heard. As a journalist, I love moments like that and will take that part of the night with me for a while. I had my own moments with both of them, and I left as the announcement was made that the room was closing for the night. It never feels like the night lasts long enough…

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In all, it was an amazing set that, even at thirteen songs long, felt like it flew right by. The energy from the crowd matched the energy from the band, and both entities worked in tandem to make it in amazing night.

If you haven’t gotten the chance to see Starset live, I recommend getting tickets as soon as they go on sale for their next tour, whenever that may be. Dustin told the crowd that they were going to “disappear for a bit.” But, he promised that when they return, they would bring new music with them. And that is something that all fans can be excited about. It was also announced a few days prior to the demonstration that Starset will be working with Marvel for graphic novels. This is sure to please comic book fans and music fans alike. Starset is on a rocket right now, and I, for one, can’t wait to see all of the incredible things in store for this talented group of artists.

Show Review/Photos by Devon Anderson, Journalist/Managing Editor