Dark, intimate and dripping with rock ‘n’ roll attitude, Slay was the perfect setting for Atlanta glam-rockers STARBENDERS for their Glasgow stop. The underground venue felt tailor-made for a band whose entire aesthetic exists somewhere between a haunted cathedral and a 1980s stadium show.
Arriving a few minutes before the support act, the crowd was already hyped with anticipation.
First up were local Glasgow act FERRI AND THE FEVERS, a three-piece blending together elements of punk, glam and folk into their own brand of alternative rock. Fronted by LISA FERRI, who commanded the stage with electric guitar in hand and a personality that filled the room, the band had the crowd on their side from the very first note. Horror-themed songs like Awarewolf, inspired by the works of drummer and horror author CRAIG MEIGHAN – gave their set a delightfully dark edge, while bassist MARTIN KELLY anchored the sound with a steady, driving low end. The standout moment came with I Want One of What He’s Got, a swaggering rock ‘n’ roll tune that had everyone tapping their feet and dancing along. By the time they left the stage, the crowd was warmed up, loose and ready. Exactly what a great support act is supposed to do.
The short break between sets felt longer than it was. At 9pm on the dot, CARMINA BURANA‘s O Fortuna began to build through the speakers, emotion swelling up as the track could barely contain the cheers of the crowd. One by one, QI WEI, KRISS TOKAJI, AARON LECESNE and finally frontwoman KIMI SHELTER walked onto Slay’s stage, welcomed by a wall of screams as they took their positions. The cinematic opera faded into the first chords of STARBENDERS‘ own glamorous rock ‘n’ roll intro. Their signature sound breaking into the opening notes of Blood Moon, a rebellious, unapologetic track that is pure trademark STARBENDERS. They followed with If You Need It, a more mellow, melodic offering from previous record Take Back the Night, where SHELTER demonstrated the full range of her voice: her soft, delicate delivery turning into a gritty growl that portrayed every emotion hidden in the lyrics.
The set drew from both old and new, bringing in the title track The Beast Goes On – the tongue-in-cheek name that also lends itself to the current tour – alongside Tokyo, the catchy, dancey single that defined the start of this new era for the band. By this point, the crowd was singing along louder and more confidently with every song, a clear indication that the new material has landed and that the connection between band and audience was deepening with every track.
All four members are solid performers, and that became evident from the moment they stepped on stage, but what truly sets them apart is their evident love for the craft. SHELTER is not only a compelling vocalist but a skilled guitarist, switching between the two without ever missing a note. TOKAJI and LECESNE coordinated their riffs and lines with a precision that made the music feel like it was dancing with itself, combusting into heavy, electrifying moments that vibrated through the chest. And QI WEI – who flew across the world to join the project, and made her live debut in this era – was one of the standout performers of the night. An absolute force behind the kit, smashing the rhythm with an ear-to-ear smile that never once faded; her joy, contagious.
Their live show gives you the full STARBENDERS experience: the music taking your soul and transporting it somewhere else, or alternatively, grounding you in the room and connecting you to the musicians on a personal level – depending on what the song demands. The instrumental sections were a particular highlight; extended glam guitar riffs, rhythmic bass lines and pounding drum patterns that lengthened the original songs and worked as breathless intermissions between tracks, sending the room wild every time. Although there were moments where the mix felt slightly unbalanced, with SHELTER‘s vocals occasionally swallowed by the instruments, the band adjusted quickly, giving each other the space to truly shine.
Fan favourite Seven White Horses was haunting and powerful, making the room feel heavier and somewhat atmospheric. A personal favourite was Cold Silver – the dark, emotive piece of the new album, its 80s-tinged rock sound pulling you into the music while the band encouraged the crowd to swing their arms to the rhythm and move along together.
After almost 60 full minutes, it was time for the night to close. STARBENDERS chose their cover of Saturday – originally by ALL THE DAMN VAMPIRES – as their farewell, and it was a beautiful one. Energetic, celebratory and full of the colour that has defined this era for the band. As the final notes rang out, the quartet stood together and took in the applause, excitement written across their faces. The same excitement that reflected on the smiles of the people leaving the venue after the gig. This was exactly the type of show that leaves you glowing. The kind you replay in your head on the way home; and still buzzing when you wake up the next morning.