Starset brings high end sci-fi production to the Paramount on the Immersion The Final Chapter tour.
It's not often you go to a show and it's one band playing the whole show. Tonight was one of those nights. The almighty Starset made their stop in Huntington, New York at the world famous The Paramount with their high end, sci-fi movie like production. Starset formed in 2013 in Columbus, Ohio by Dustin Bates who at the time was the lead vocalist of alternative metal band Downplay. Bates graduated from the University of Ohio with a masters in electrical engineering. That's where his interest for astronomy took flight. Bates even completed research for the Air Force and taught at the International Space University. Not long after Starset was formed. Bates created the fictional backstory that was the basis for the band's music and theatrics. Long story short, the basis of the backstory is Starset was formed as a public outreach initiative by the Starset Society whose goal was to warn society of messages from a mysterious signal from space. Starset brings this to real life as they treat the backstory as real in interviews with rare exceptions. The band has 4 current members. These members are of course Dustin Bates on lead vocals, Ron DeChant on bass and keyboards, Brock Richards on guitar and Adam Gilbert on drums. Currently touring with Starset is Siobhan Richards on violin, Zuzana Engererova on cello and Cory Juba on guitar, synth and piano. Yes, Starset brings everything but the kitchen sink into their performance. But that is what makes them a can't miss performance. Starset has climbed higher and higher with each release and have been able to reach a massive audience after signing with Fearless Records and touring with bands such as Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin and I Prevail.
A massive white curtain with the band's logo blocked everyone's view of the stage before the band took the stage. The lights went out, the curtain dropped and fans were greeted with the background screen displaying a message from the leader of the New East warning his people to be vigilant of people who want to destroy our world. Just in front of the screen was a massive platform where Gilbert, Richards, Engererova and Juba entered the stage in futuristic space costumes that were chrome but glowed red on the chest. There were set fans on front risers of the stage that had LED displays which gave the production that extra kick to it. I was very nervous my hair would have gotten caught in the fans (luckily it didn’t). The Hollywood magic isn't over yet. The screens displayed what was a scene from their mini-movie. After it concluded, DeChant and Richards took their place on the lower part of the stage and then came out Bates. While DeChant and Richards were in uniform with the rest of the group, Bates was in a beige space suit with a cape easily distinguishing himself as the front man. Bates even said later into the night how his costume is more dramatic and cooler than the rest. Bates began singing the intro to “Unbecoming” a song from their 2017 album “Vessels”. The production was out of this world (literally) as every screen and even the fans displayed futuristic designs and symbols. Fans were sporting face paint and accessories that resembled what the band and people in the displayed mini-movie would have on their faces. Starset fans are devoted to the Starset Society and that devotion took place when the band started playing “Carnivore” from their 2014 hit album “Transmissions”. Starset isn't the heaviest band out there. Starset is known for fusing aspects of hard rock,metal and electronic. When the time calls for it, Starset has no issue turning up the heat. Fans know that quite well and formed a mosh pit. Fans were being flung around in the put like pinballs.
A few songs later Bates walked off stage for the mini-movie to continue playing. As it concluded minutes later, Bates walked back on stage with a flag and began waving it around as fog blew out from underneath him, This would kick off the intro to “Trials” the second single from their 2019 album “Divisions”. It was a scenic shot as fog surrounded him as the flag vigorously waved around like he was actually leading the charge into battle. Later into the set Bates asked if the fans wanted to hear some new music. After a roar from the crowd he then asked if they wanted to hear some heavy stuff. The roar got twice as loud. Next up was “Brave New World” a single released on May 3rd, 2024 and has already amassed over 5 million streams on spotify. Bates was not kidding around when he said this track is heavy. Starset tapped into some sort of electronic metalcore vibes with this one. This song also showed off the wide range of talent Starset shows off. Let's start off with the guitar work. Brock Richards and Juba were absolutely killing it with the riffs and breakdowns tonight. The pure creativity and skill they showed was tremendous. What was special was Engererova and Siobhan Richards were able to match the energy and the sound of the guitars on the strings. Starset has said that composer Hans Zimmer is a massive influence on them and the work on the strings proves it. AS we neared the breakdown it was time for Gilbert to strut his talents. From blast beats to snare bombs to bashing the cymbals like a mad man, he puts so much raw energy into his performance is infectious. So infectious when that breakdown came along the crowd formed a wall of death. And in my usual fashion I got caught in the middle of it. Bates unleashed these low brutal screams that you don’t usually hear from Starset. The pit split open and collapsed on itself as the two sides ran into each other.
Soon after it was time for intermission. Yes, there was an intermission. Elevator music played as the band walked off stage to get suited up for the next act. The lights went out and the mini-movie continued. The group walked out in all new costumes and they kicked off the next set with “DEGENERATE”, a single released on July 5th, 2024. A song that was more sing-along geared has fans crowd surfing more than usual tonight. Starset incorporated their classic electronic sound to it with an electronic-core breakdown and Bates showed his monsterish sounding screams. And to no one's surprise the pit was getting extra rowdy again. Bates thanked the fans and complimented them as the reason why Starset can bring out this super high end production on the road. Bates stated the reason they couldn’t have opening bands was because of the production. The production had too many moving parts to have more than one band change their gear in a restricted time frame. Bates said they had two trucks full of production gear alone. But all is good because we got more time with Starset than we usually would. With that it was time for the last song. Starset played “My Demons” , the smash hit off of “Transmissions”. This song has almost 350 million streams on Spotify and also went platinum in the USA and Gold in Canada as a single. A song the whole crowd sang their hearts out too. A sing along so infectious Bates jumped down into the crowd and sang along with them. This is what live music is all about. The special connection from artist to fan. The band walked off the stage, but everyone knew there was going to be an encore.
Sure enough, Starset returned for one more song. Their latest single was saved for the finale. This song was “TokSik” which was released on August 16th, 2024. The band gave it all their one last time and so did the fans. The whole night was filled with fun back and forth energy. Starset doesn’t headline with a massive production often so everyone savored the moment. Starset will be finishing out the latter half of the tour and will swing over the United Kingdom and Europe for the next leg of the tour. Keep an eye out for more of Starset because it seems like its only getting better from here.
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