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AUSTIN, TX- For most of our SXSW artist coverage, we’ll keep it relatively short and sweet. We have over 80 artists to cover, so cut us some slack! 😉 We’ll basically be formatting each post into two parts: (1) Why our contributor wanted to see this act and (2) what our contributor thought of the performance”. Easy peasy. If you want to learn more about the act, make sure you click through to their social media links to get in the know. You won’t be disappointed!
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Why I Wanted To See Starcrawler: Sometime in the middle of last year, I had friends in Los Angeles keep telling me check out a band named Starcrawler, and for a good 6 months I kept missing all of the gigs they had in Los Angeles. Now, I usually make it a point to catch bands that aren’t L.A.-based at SXSW, but I literally missed a baker’s dozen of their L.A. gigs, so I made it a point to make up for lost time and catch them twice in Austin.
What I Thought Of Starcrawler’s Performance: Thank GOD that I decided to schedule Starcrawler twice at SXSW, because if I hadn’t, I just may have missed them for a 12th time. After being awarded the prestigious Grulke Prize by SXSW, the band’s lead singer, Arrow de Wilde sustained an injury and was hospitalized causing them cancel their last scheduled SXSW gig for Miles Davis House, the original gig I had scheduled. Thankfully, earlier in the week, I was a little bored with Pussy Riot’s gig at The Main, and decided to skip out a little earlier to head next door to catch Stawcrawler’s performance at The Main II.
These kids are are great live, and when I say kids … well .. they basically are. Arrow just graduated from high school last year. Guitarist Henri Cash is, technically, still in high school. Bassist Tim Franco isn’t old enough to buy a beer. Their drummer, Austin Smith, is 22, but we’ll give him a pass on this one.
But age ain’t nothing but a number when it comes to music. Their rough around the edges glam/punk rock recalls the sonics of from the early/mid 80s. It’s Alice Cooper, Kiss and Twisted Sister if Alice Cooper, Kiss and Twisted Sister were fronted by a young woman. And like Alice Cooper, Kiss and Twisted Sister, Starcrawler has the same kind of shock factor that those giants had.
Arrow, dressed in in a form fitting corset, with her bright red-dyed hair, and pale, gaunt figure became possessed on stage. As soon as Henri ripped the first guitar lick, her eyes became possessed. She growled and snarled each note, letting the music guide her body. As the music progressed, antics became more wild. From spitting water at me, to jumping off stage and onto the venue’s bar, nothing was off limits, and it was liberating to witness.
Let’s not discount the playing of the band. Henri’s ability on the guitar in particular was inspiring. For someone so young to have that kind of confidence and skill on the axe, even while climbing atop speakers that were almost as tall as he was, was impressive.
For a band so young to have the kind of energy, enthusiasm and skill I witnessed live gives me hope. Starcrawler is part of a new cycle of acts that are bringing back the old and making it brand new again. I can’t wait for more.
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