Photo of Starset’s Dustin Bates by Erica Vining
Fall in, and follow me…straight to The Pageant for Starset’s final chapter.
The last time I caught Starset in St. Louis was next door at Delmar Hall the night of the tornado outbreak that killed six in Edwardsville. That show was incredible despite the frequent weather delays, with the band managing a full set while concertgoers were oblivious to the tragedy miles away.
Tuesday night’s demonstration was free of weather related woes, and fans flocked to the venue in droves for the ominously titled The Final Chapter tour. Final chapter of the tale Starset has woven for years through their albums, final chapter for the band as we know it now? The answer remains to be seen.
An emerging trend in live shows is the use of LED boards for background animations. Starset opted to up the ante by using their LED boards for a film which progressed through the story between each song. The true gem of production came not from LED boards and lasers, however, but seven fans placed near the front of the stage. With “WARNING: ROTATING PARTS” signs posted all along the pit, I was intrigued to see what was to come, but found myself shocked as 3D images projected themselves off the stage into the audience. Through a series of spinning blades, Starset created an interactive and mesmerizing experience that propelled those in the audience from concert goers to members of a Hunger Games-esque world where you would be “sublocated” for minor infractions.
The fight to survive began, ironically, by “Unbecoming.” The song hails from the band’s 2017 album Vessels and, like many Starset songs, features themes of transformation and tackling hard things to become who you are meant to be through unbecoming who you were. Moody lighting shrouded the band as vocalist Dustin Bates sang the track from inside his space suit, complete with hooded helmet and all. Fog was abundant throughout the night, which was a welcome change from the pyro of my last show. The helmet was left behind as the band transitioned into “Carnivore” followed by fan favorite “MANIFEST” off their 2019 album Divisions. Holograms relating to the videos playing between songs continued to be projected via the oscillating fans. Starset utilized risers for cellist Zuzana Engererova, instrumentalists Cory Juba and Siobhán Richards, and drummer Adam Gilbert. On the main platform were vocalist Dustin Bates, Brock Richards on guitar, and on bass was Ron DeChant. The set list told a story through their four studio albums, as well as featuring newer songs like “Brave New World” and “DEGENERATE” off their yet to be announced fifth album. Starset’s sound has evolved over the years, undergoing a metamorphosis from heavier to softer and more recently back to a heavier sound. The fluctuations through their album singles during the night created a scene of musical theater more so than a concert, with the special effects adding to the cinematic masterpiece. The band played through fourteen songs before an intermission for an outfit change, where we were again treated to cinematic lore via the video boards. Following the intermission, we were treated to five more songs including “Halo” and “ECHO” before Starset encored with their newest single “TokSik.” The Final Chapter Tour felt like a video game that we were dropped in, truly a unique experience which is difficult pull to off in the modern music scene. The tour wrapped up domestically with their performance at Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY (which I also conveniently was present for) and they will take it overseas for another three weeks beginning in Leeds, England on October 12th. | Erica Vining
