There are very few new bands that manage to impress you with material and a show worthy of bygone eras, when bands used to work on every tiny detail of their songs and production. Here at Rockpages, we’ve been keeping an eye on Starbenders since their first appearance in our country as the opening act for Palaye Royale in 2023, as well as through the releases of their albums. This would be the Atlanta-based band’s third appearance in our country, and this time on Gazarte’s impressive ground stage.
With doors opening at 9:00 p.m., the first thing you saw upon entering was the merch booth selling their latest album, “The Beast Goes On,” as well as a T-shirt featuring the album’s distinctive cover art. By 10:00, when Starbenders took the stage (to the sounds of Sabbath’s “The Sign of the Southern Cross”), there must have been about 200–250 people of all ages and musical tastes gathered—you could see T-shirts from classic rock, hard rock, alternative, metal, punk bands…you name it. A really beautiful sight, if you ask me!
The opening notes of “Blood Moon” signaled the start of the party, as it was obvious that Starbenders were in top form and in a great mood. Obviously, everyone’s eyes were drawn to the imposing figure of frontwoman Kimi Shelter, who captivated the crowd with every move she made. The set continued with “If You Need It” and the title track from their latest album, and everyone realized that Starbenders were tighter than ever, with drummer Wei Qi putting on a show behind the kit and Aaron Lecesne (bass) and Kriss Tokaji (guitar) being truly flawless. The 70-minute set was based mainly on their previous album, the fantastic “Take Back The Night,” though it would be an oversight not to mention the frenzy that erupted during “We’re Not OK” due to the crowd’s reaction.
With crystal-clear sound, excellent lighting, and a band playing like there was no tomorrow, we don’t think anything more was needed for a perfect Saturday night, right? Maybe we’d have liked 2-3 more songs, but we can’t have it all. What’s important is that people are slowly embracing this glam rock/punk/alternative/new wave hybrid from Starbenders, and we hope to see them often in our country because, quite honestly, they deserve it. Huge congratulations to Giorgos Fakinos for the excellent organization and the decision to book the Gazarte venue. Even more congratulations to the kids who supported a rock band. They are the future, and they…will take back the night!
Sakis Nikas
