#Starset The Music Enthusiast

[miela]

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.”── Edgar Allen Poe

 ✧ WRITINGS ✧ PLAYLISTS ✧ MOODBOARDS ✧ LIBRARY ✧ GALLERY ✧ GRAPHICS {SOON} ✧

dividers by cafekitsune

✧ 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 ✧

✧ reading: crimson rivers, bizzarestars / cadence of part-time poets, motzwolo

✧ audio reading: all the young dudes, mskingbean89

✧ listening to: {message from the clergy} - ghost

✧ watching: bridgerton (season i), the boys (season 4)

✧ writing: shattered memories 

✧ playing: hogwarts legacy (gryffindor run)

✧ researching: greek mythology, goth subculture

✧ 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐌𝐄 ✧

my name is miela [mee-EL-Ah] but you can call me mae! ✧ aries, slytherin, infp-t, chaotic neutral, the helper ✧ i’m secretly a fox ✧ i am 28 years old {minors may follow, but dni in dms} ✧ {she/they} genderfae demigirl ✧ sapphic, panromantic, asexual ✧ biracial latina ✧ pagan-align spiritualist ✧ renaissance darling ✧ mythology enthusiast ✧ fantasy and sci-fi lover ✧ theatre kid ✧ bookworm ✧ gamer ✧ poetic artist ✧ musical storyteller ✧ creative writer ✧ graphic designer ✧ oc creator ✧ spider & snake tendencies ✧ tea and coffee connoisseur ✧ caffeine consumer ✧ alt fairy ✧ dark whimsigoth butterfly and elegant romantic goth luna moth ✧ nature lover, but will fight and flight when seeing a bug ✧ gave myself copper hair once and i never went back ✧ fangirl since 1996 ✧ spotify playlist queen ✧ pinterest moodboard goddess ✧ chronic tummy ache, headache and body pain survivor ✧ full bio here 

✧ 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐒 ✧ 

marauders / hogwarts 1970s ✧ spiderman/spiderverse ✧ sailor moon ✧ atiny ✧ swiftie ✧ bvb army ✧ the dragon prince ✧ avatar: the last airbender ✧ shxtou guildie ✧ arcane/league of legends ✧ genshin impact ✧ demon slayer ✧ stranger things ✧ dungeons and dragons ✧ superheroes ✧ alt music ✧ kpop ✧ and many, many more!

✧ 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂 ✧ 

I listen to all types of music. literally anything and everything from around the world. here are some of the artists and groups i listen to to get an idea ✧ lindsey stirling ✧ ateez ✧ dreamcatcher ✧ one ok rock ✧ rolling quartz ✧ conquer divide ✧ starset ✧ black veil brides ✧ poppy ✧ hatsune miku ✧ paramore ✧ loveless ✧ honey revenge ✧ good kid ✧ conan gray ✧ olivia rodrigo ✧ coldplay ✧ aurora ✧ aidoneus ✧ evanescence ✧ meet me @ the altar ✧ waterparks ✧ ghost ✧ switchblade symphony ✧ banshee ✧ kordhell ✧ panic priest ✧ babychaos ✧ taylor swift ✧ hozier ✧ skott ✧ the oh hellos ✧  kero kero bonito ✧ gorillaz ✧ maneskin ✧ fleetwood mac ✧  billy idol ✧ nova twins ✧ odetari ✧ scarlxrd ✧ scene queen ✧ fka rayne ✧ upsahl ✧ twenty one pilots ✧ bibi ✧ jackson wang ✧ astari nite ✧ modern alibi ✧ muse ✧ pvris and many, many more.

✧ 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐒 ✧

 lily evans {crimson rivers} ✧ regulus black {crimson rivers} ✧ pandora lestrange-rosier {marauders} ✧ robin buckley {stranger things} ✧ eddie munson {stranger things} ✧ gorou {genshin impact} ✧ venti {genshin impact} ✧ denki {chainsaw man}  ✧ usagi {sailor moon} ✧ minako {sailor moon} ✧ claudia {the dragon prince} ✧ zenitsu {demon slayer} ✧ eloise bridgerton {bridgerton} ✧ lexi howard {euphoria} ✧ {more to come}

✧ 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒 ✧

{more will be added as time goes on}

✧ asks {all those who wonder}: ask mae ✧ mutuals {fellow garden dwellers}: moots ✧ music {what birds whisper}: mae’s playlist ✧ writing {ink-stained dagger}: mae writes ✧ artworks {color-stained wands}: mae draws ✧ moodboards {petals of a flower}: mae’s pov ✧ original characters {born from the storm cauldron}: mae’s ocs ✧ thoughts {brain flutters}: mae speaks, mae thinks, mae yaps

[acldcoated]

>welcome to my artpage (pinned post)

>MY NAME IS GELEGENHEIT.

aka acidcoated/acldcoated/eternalexpansion

name is shortened to «gel» or «gelya»

>pronouns

they/it/he/she (last one i use incredibly rarely tho)

agender/aroace

english is my second language. sorry for any grammar errors

continuing on.

>who am i?

>beginner programmer, artist(currently working on a visual novel), beginner musician

(however, here i post my art only w/ some reposts)

>space, sciences and computers enjoyer, HUGE MUSIC LOVER, brainrotted beyond repair, transhumanist and sci-fi enthusiast. also my fav color is obviously green lmao

links:

@/acidcoated on tg, tiktok and insta (last one will be active soon)

continuing on.

>fandoms

>project moon (mostly lor and lobcorp)

>reverse1999

>detroit become human

>arknights

>fnaf

fav charas:

>netzach (im obsessed w him)

>voyager(r1999)

>schwarz(arknights)

continuing on.

>music interests

fav bands:

>starset (this band owns me i’m obsessed)/downplay/mnqn

>celldweller/circle of dust/etc

>perturbator

>death grips

>slipknot

>blue stahli

>motionless in white

>set it off

>missio

>in this moment

>seahaven

>nine inch nails

>grandson

>slowdive

>and one

other bands i like:

>unlike pluto, crown the empire, bring me the horizon, babymetal, idkhow, radiohead, fangclub, korn, sick puppies, nürnberg, ruin of romantics, molchat doma, limp bizkit, will wood, tu333, machine girl, ayesha erotica, kim petras, lady gaga, rammstein, reach, solence, awaawa/mili, carpenter brut, dynatron, oomph!, chase icon, half • alive, romes, god’s computer, type o negative, lana del rey, misfits AND A BAJILLION OTHER BANDS IM A REAL MUSIC ENJOYER YEAH

>THAT’S ALL. ILY.

[josephinegerardywriter]

Character Introduction

Royal Sabourin

“It’s only fitting for you to follow the rules of the game.”

WIP: Puppet Kingdom

-----

Theme: It Has Begun - Starset

-----

Pronouns: He / Him

Age: 20

Appearance: He has dark brown skin and hair that’s styled short on one side and comes to a long curly front on the other. One ear is pierced with a line of stud earrings. 

Traits: Full of Words, Loyal, Calculated, Enthusiastic, Confident

-----

Random Facts:

He carries a thesaurus on him at all times

When talking, he loves randomly omitting normal words for less used synonyms

He collects all sorts of clothes and has an extensive wardrobe

He loves giving compliments and gushing about his friends

-----

I can’t quite tell his backstory because of spoilers, so I will show when we first meet him instead. The scene will be below the cut and in Althaia’s POV.

-----

“Royal!” Novalie calls. The band has stopped for a pause between music and her voice slices through the room, which is quiet for its hostess.

I give her my best look of betrayal as she repeats her call.

In a second, a young man, presumably older than me by a few years, traipses not indelicately towards us. He has dark brown skin and eyes. His hair, a shade darker, is styled shortly on one side and long and curly on the other, coming to a loose point above his cheekbone. On one ear is an identical line of silver stud earrings. His suit is the color of night sky blue with silver leaves sewn into it in a wild pattern.

“If it isn’t my darling, favorite, quintessential courtier,” he grins, waving an arm and bowing deeply.

You’ve gotta be kidding. I raise my eyebrows while Novalie just chuckles. “You say that to everyone.”

He shrugs, an easy smile on his lips. “How can I help, madam?”

“It just so happens that dear Mademoiselle Althaia here-” she unceremoniously pushes me forward, “-Is without a partner for this dance. Perhaps there is a way you can remedy that?” 

“Whoa, whoa, wait!” I speak up, stepping back. “We don’t even know each other!”

The man’s eyes brighten as if he’s close to laughing. “You may call me Royal, if it bothers you.”

-----

[themusicenthusiast]

Starset Will Embark on Immersion: Part One Tour in Early 2018; Canton Hall to Host Dallas Stop on March 10th

2017 was a banner year for Starset. They released their sophomore record Vessels (out via Razor & Tie) to plenty of accolades and fanfare. In support of it, they embarked on what had been their largest headline tour up to that point, leaving nothing but satisfied fans and sold-out shows in their wake. With those performances, Starset pushed themselves to an all new level. Long buzzed about for their energetic live shows, the four-piece outfit became even bolder and more commanding. They made their gigs into legitimate experiences; their one-of-a-kind style of electronic hard rock (that is behooving of the atmospheric quality that define their shows) making for utterly riveting displays. That was merely the start of a new era for Starset, who will begin a new tour on January 28th, 2018. They'll be gracing the biggest stages yet of their headline career, and these shows, too, will surely sell out. Expect a grander, fiercer stage show to accompany these "demonstrations". Hitting 35-cities, the Immersion: Part One Tour will see Starset visiting much of the U.S. and conclude on March 16th with a hometown show at Express Live in Columbus, OH.

Palisades,Grabbitz,and Year Of The Locust will be joining them as the support acts. Tickets for all of the event dates are on sale now. Immersion: Part One Tour Dates: 2018 January 28--The Underground--Charlotte, NC 30--Palladium--Worcester, MA 31--Highline Ballroom--New York, NY February 2--Reverb--Reading, PA 3--House Of Blues--Cleveland, OH 5--The NorVa--Norfolk, VA 6, 2018 Stage AE--Pittsburgh, PA 7--Opera House--Toronto, Canada 9--St. Andrew's Hall--Detroit, MI 10--Pieres--Fort Wayne, IN 11--Bogart's--Cincinnati, OH 12--The Intersection--Grand Rapids, MI 13--Concord Music Hall--Chicago, IL 15--The Rave--Milwaukee, WI 16--The Apollo Theatre--Rockford, IL 17--Sanctuary Events Center--Fargo, ND 18--Skyway Theatre--Minneapolis, MN 20--Bourbon Theatre--Lincoln, NE 21--Granada Theatre--Lawrence, KS 23--Summit Music Hall--Denver, CO 24--The Complex (Grand)--Salt Lake City, UT 26--Hawthorne Theatre--Portland, OR 27--Rickshaw Theatre--Vancouver, Canada 28--El Corazon--Seattle, WA March 2--Ace Of Spades--Sacramento, CA 3--UC Theatre--Berkeley, CA 4--Soma--San Diego, CA 6--The Regent--Los Angeles, CA 7--Marquee--Phoenix, AZ 9--Diamond Ballroom--Oklahoma City, OK 10--Canton Hall--Dallas, TX 11--White Oak--Houston, TX 13--The Masquerade (Heaven)--Atlanta, GA 15--Top Golf Live--Nashville, TN 16--Express Live--Columbus, OH Additional Tour Dates: March 21--Academy 3--Manchester, United Kingdom 23--Islington Academy--London, United Kingdom 24--O2 Institute 2--Birmingham, United Kingdom 25--Fleece--Redcliffe, United Kingdom 27--Luxor--Cologne, Germany 28--LOGO--Hamburg, Germany 29--Musik & Frieden--Berlin, Germany 31--Chelsea--Vienna, Austria April 1--Legend Club--Milan, Italy 2--Werk 21--Zurich, Switzerland 4--Les Etoiles--Paris, France 5--De Helling--Utrecht, Netherlands 8--Red Club--Moscow, Russia 9--Aurora Concert Hall--Saint Petersburg, Russia 20--WXTB 98ROCKFEST Amalie Arena--Tampa, FL 21--WJRR Earthday Birthday Central Florida Fairgrounds--Orlando, FL 22--WYBB 98ROCKFEST Exchange Park--Charleston, SC

[lettersofsky]

For the "Get to know the Author": all of them. Every single one. Because I adore you and love knowing more about you.

Get to Know You AuthorYou asked for it! And now have a lot of rambly answers! Under a read-more line because I’m still a decent person. 25′s probably longer than it should be but I just love that scene, I love it so much.

1) Isthere a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason?

The Later DEEPGROUND AUthing I wanna do; it’s got all the notes and plot points down include quickrough drafts of some ‘drama’ scenes, I’m just not really ready to start it yet?I’ll get there eventually though! There’s also my own thing which exists onlyin concept design and small character pieces and that I’m far too willing toadmit that I’m not ready to start yet.

2) Whatwork of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

I tend not to getembarrassed over my things because even if they’re not the best thing, I’ve atleast been able to get the idea down or I’ve tried something different aboutthe thing so they’re all experience and the chance for constructive criticism.

3) Whatorder do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenesfirst? something else?

It varies depending onwhat I’m doing; like some things I’ll start with a specific scene and thenwrite the build up for it, others I’ll write a scene I’m looking forward too,the afterwards of it and then the start, others will be chronological. The besttimes are when I write out notes for the thing then I can work out of orderwhile retaining all the few key points that I wanna touch on and where they’d fallin the timeline of the story.

4) Favoritecharacter you’ve written

Genesis is such adramatic, lit nerd and I love him. Writing him is fun because he’s just thisbig ball of conflicting thoughts and contradictions and I absolutely love him,especially the way I try to write him; kind of a more mature, softer, ‘realizedthat I’m never going to achieve this thing that’s completely out of my leaguebut hey! That doesn’t mean I don’t have achievements to be proud of!’ He’s alsoreally easy to angst!

5) Characteryou were most surprised to end up writing

I’d never thought that I’dwrite Rosso! Nobody cares to write about the Tsviets! But I am because she’s my murder girlfriend and I absolutely adoreher! She’s very much a femdom whenever I write her, it’s a thing

6) Somethingyou would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated tochange now

I don’t know? Because if Ireally have a problem with something then I can go back and redo it, which Ihave done in the past (not for anything I’ve posted here, but other things).

7) Whenasked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?

I’m neutral about it, Ithink? Not a lot of people around me would think to ask and the one’s thatwould already know because I’ve shoved things in their face to tell me if the wordsmake sense.

8) Favoritegenre to write

I love writing fluff! Cuteslice-of-life, romance stuff! Warm feelings in my chest as I break my face fromsmiling at my own stuff! Ecto’s probably calling me a liar right now because ofall the angsty stuff I write…

9) What,if anything, do you do for inspiration?

OTP Prompts are mysaviour, I would be left with character-centric things exploring ideas I haveabout them otherwise (read Truths and Crownless)

10) Write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?

Definitely backgroundnoise, I usually put on some music (I’ve been listening to Starset and NWTB alot lately) or a video (I like Plague of Gripes stuff, he goes a lot intocharacter development and worldbuilding). I can write around people, but I preferto be alone when I write, mostly because I kind of end up roleplaying thecharacters a bit, especially when I’m stuck on dialogue.

11) What aspect of your writing do you think has most improved sinceyou started writing?

I’d like to say that I canwrite dialogue better now but I’m not sure about that. I’ve definitely improvedwith my NSFW pieces, they’re apparently decent now!

12) Your weaknesses as an author

Dialogue is difficult. Plotsare difficult. A Decent Ending is difficult. Titles are hell.

13) Your strengths as an author

Hyper fixation on things Ilike. Willingness to completely abandon all of fanon to run with a characterizationI like. I can write dumb idiots being cute real good!

14) Do you make playlists for your current wips?

Not often, there are a fewthat I have but not many.

15) Why did you start writing?

It was a way suggested tome to help deal with depression by a councillor; they probably never expectedme to write about… what I currently do.

16) Are there any characters who haunt you?

Ravus Nox Flueret. He’s myabsolute favourite thing from FFXV and Crownless is my longest single thing fora reason! He just keeps creeping into my other FFXV stuff! Like an AU I’ve beenbouncing around, started one way and then I wondered what he’d be doing in itand the whole thing shifted to include him in the main narrative.

17) If you could give your fledgling author self any advice, whatwould it be?

Stop thinking and worryingabout the thing and just do them, it’s fine if not a lot of people see thestuff you’re doing someone definitely is and it’s probably put a smile on theirface and that’s good.

18) Were there any works you read that affected you so much that itinfluenced your writing style? what were they?

I don’t think so? Maybeand I just haven’t realized it? I used to have a very Victorian-style ofwriting (or so I was told) but I might have lost that somewhere along the way.

19) When it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keeptrack of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

A document absolutely filledwith the information; that’s how I did it with my Bloodborne AU, just some 40pages of characterizations, backstory, weapons and their backstories, acomplete timeline of events and things to touch upon in the works. But yes, foranything that’s large and complex then I’ll just have a separate document (or two) tohave up that has all my ideas; for example, TSoaF, my Dragon AU, has the mainstory file, the info file, the draconics file – with all their designs, characterizationsand backstories, and a predecessor fic – which is only dot-points of plotpoints and will probably remain that way.

20) Do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?

Both, considering my moodand what I’m working on. If it’s a part I’m feeling up to like my smut bender lastweek then I can do the long sit-down, other times I can’t sit still and haveto get up every few minutes just to move.

21) What do you think when you read over your older work?

It pretty much boils down too,‘Oh! Look at my OTP being cute together! *heart eyes* I love them!’ or ‘… Oh,no! Why did I write that?! Now they’re crying and I’m crying and, god damnitme!’ It’s a fifty-fifty chance.

22) Are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?

Some of the more extremekinks or fetishes maybe? Other than that, I can’t really think of anything.

23) Any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped yourwriting?

Unfortunately, myexperience as a nurse, both in age care and in the neurological section of ahospital, have not helped me with my writing at all. Damn you, four years of specializededucation!

24) Have you ever become an expert on something you previously knewnothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?

Not an expert, but I ammore versed in kink after writing for Kinktober than I ever thought I would be.I also looked up numerous method of torture for one of my Bloodborne fics, thatwas pretty fun.

25) Copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’reparticularly proud of

Genesis had liftedhimself to a seated position and had dropped his head into his hands, hisshoulders shaking with soft sobs. | Cloud dropped down to his knees next to theother, gazing at him in concern. “Genesis? What’s wrong?” He asked, voiceclearly distressed. | “I can’t,” Genesis whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I can’t do this anymore.” | “Genesis,”Cloud coaxed, pressing closer to the other man. “Talk to me.” | “I’ve tried so hard,” Genesis stressed, lifting his gaze to stare atCloud with wet eyes. “But I just can’t handle this anymore Cloud.” | Cloud didn’t understand what theother meant by that but whatever it was, it must have been important to causethis much distress in the other man. “Tell me about it,” he coaxed in a softvoice. “Let’s talk about it.” | Genesis shook his head sharply, a harsh noiseleaving his lips. “I’m trying to make it up,” Genesis told him, stressing hiswords in a desperate tone. “But I can’t handle having you like this anymore.”| Cloud was stunned silent, staring at Genesis’ face. | “And I know I don’t deserve to be picky,” Genesis continued, reachingout to grip Cloud’s arms in a tight grip. “You’ve been so kind to me, eventhough I don’t deserve it after I threw you away.” | Cloud felt hisbreath quickening as Genesis continued to speak, his eyes widening as he beganto realize what the other was talking about. | “I promised myself that I’d takeanything you gave me when I saw you out in the wastes. I promised that I wouldn’t interferewith your life any more than I already had.” Cloud swallowed heavily, his chestheavy as he continued to listen to the other’s ramblings. “But I can’t deal with this, I can’t handle you looking at me like I don’t mean anything to you.” | Cloudfound a harsh noise falling from his throat, interrupting Genesis’ ramblings.He dropped his own head into his hands, smothering the noises falling from hismouth. | A wounded noise left Genesis’ throat as he took Cloud’s face in hishands. “Look, I’m still ruining things,” he pressed his forehead to Cloud’s astears started leaking from his eyes once again. “I just keep hurting you, precious.” | Cloud shook his own head softly, pullingaway from the other’s hand to stare at his face, admitting in a soft, fragilevoice. “I had Mako Poisoning,” Genesis stiffened, freezing at his words. “I, Iforgot everything. I don’t remember ever meetingyou before.” | Another wounded noise left the other man before he was wrappedin a warm embrace and pulled into the other’s space.

I’m also really proud of AnOld Hurt (a KH fic) in general. I just really love how it came out and how Iwrote Xemnas in it, it’s really great.

[readerwatch]

Introducing: Mod Kris

Salutations, fellow Overwatch enthusiasts! I'm one of the new mods on the blog, and I figured I might as well introduce myself properly and say a few things.

I play OW on the PC, and just got the game recently (I've had it three weeks or so) and I main Reaper. Probably Sombra as well, though I tend to switch it up a bit.

Favorite OW characters in general would have to be Reaper, Sombra, Mercy, McCree, and Hanzo, but not in a particular order.

My favorite game(s) would probably have to be the Jak and Daxter trilogy. As much as I love Overwatch, those boys will always have a place in my heart.

I sadly can't choose between a favorite movie. My most watched consist of Logan, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and maybe Inception.

I love animals. I have a cat named Devreu it's weird to pronounce, I know and a yorkie named Daisy. They both like to cuddle a lot.

Favorite band would have to be Starset; I love them sososososo so much. I'm actually planning to go to college for music production, or anything music related; perhaps I might even go for theatre. I'm a huge creative arts nerd, and music could probably be considered my passion.

My main blog is @mainlys though I usually just reblog Star Wars/Marvel/AOT stuff on there. If you wanna talk, just shoot me a message! I don't bite.

(Edit: I wanted to change my name bc why the hell not. Sounds better too lol)

[fedorasaurus]

Fedorasaurus Goes to Concerts: STARSET - Part 2

Read Part 1 here

I’m going to backtrack a bit (cue title card reading “Two Hours Earlier…”) and tell you guys about the VIP session that STARSET held right before the concert. Before I do that, though, there’s an element of concert culture that I neglected to discuss previously: standing in line outside the venue. Vaguely-defined queues of folks there to see one or more of the performances as suggested by the logos on their shirts, busloads of tourists from out-of-town (or out of country, as was the case with VAMP’s Japanese fanbase), hailing venue staff every couple of minutes to figure out where, exactly, the VIP groups are supposed to gather… That in itself is a wild experience!

Although the venue wasn’t particularly far from my apartment, it was in a “historic” part of downtown, meaning that traffic and parking was sure to be a mess, so it was very generous of Flib to give me a ride there and back. We arrived much earlier than we needed to, but this seemed to be same idea that a lot of other folks had, for a line had already begun to wrap around the side of the building, and this was just the VIP people! I later heard that the main band, I PREVAIL, had around 100 VIP attendees, but if STARSET’s mass e-mail list was accurate, our particular group only totaled at 13 or so. I assumed that this small number was due to STARSET being a… not-super-well-known band, but from what I later overheard, it’s more likely that they had toured with BREAKING BENJAMIN in previous years, and with BB performing in a separate venue in the same town around the same time, it caused the shared fanbase to dilute a bit. With such a small group, I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to find the others, but after a few minutes, a very tall lady walked towards my part of the line, wearing a shirt clearly printed with the word “STARSET.” She was with an average-height friend who she referred to as her “road trip buddy,” and it seemed like the two of them were pretty familiar with the whole concert circuit thing. She asked if this was the VIP line, and I gave the answer that people in both lines would say variations of until we figured it out: “well, I’m VIP, and I’m in line.”

Nobody was sure, really.

(Continued after the pagebreak)

-

Now, one might think that it would be easy to make friends in this setting. After all, there’s already a common interest between us, right? Unfortunately, I’m not one to open up right away to new people, so a lot of the observations that I mention in this post come from a place of standing around in a state of polite near-silence. Luckily, there was plenty of outgoing personality to go around when we were eventually herded over to the main entrance that was the proper meeting place for the Very Important Persons. A gal about my height (possibly shorter) made easy conversation with the Tall Lady and Road Trip Buddy, discussing tattoos, show horses, and an idea that STARSET should make starfield-print belts as part of their merchandise (the kind with the seatbelt-looking clasp, except that the buckle would have to be like the band’s glowy masks).

Eventually, the official STARSET VIP representative came out to verify our names and give us our special badges and double-sided posters (band photo on one side, album cover art on the other). She double-checked our names a few times, and tried very hard to make sure that the whole VIP group was there, but in the end, it seemed like one or two people never showed up. I do have to give her props for determination, though! It means a lot that they care about their fans.

(My poster got sort of crushed during the concert wherein our bodies were all smushed together by the mosh folk, but I got a nice frame for it a few days later and can confirm that it is doing well)

At some point, a guy walked over from the general admission line and asked the rep if it would be possible to buy a VIP pass, which apparently it was! Again, I’m sort of ignorant to concert life and didn’t consider the possibility of extra VIP spots being available for purchase the day of the show. So that was cool. I later overheard the same guy lamenting that he wasn’t able to sell his extra concert tickets, which was not cool. I’m just going to assume he had a date who didn’t show, rather than believe that he’s one of those ticket-scalping types.

When they finally let us into the venue for the VIP session, my heart went all aflutter at the welcoming greetings of “come on in!” and “have a seat! Get comfortable!” by the band’s lead vocalist. Such a hospitable attitude! Most of us didn’t end up sitting, though; we wanted to get as close to the band as possible for maximum visual and audial experience. I would later regret not having a seat on the lounge’s comfortable wooden benches, though, when I would find myself standing in front of the stage in the main concert area for an hour or so with an aching back, waiting through mosh-pit-inciting opening acts to see the band that I’d come for.

Dustin Bates, for all the aggressive shouting that accompanies his music, turned out to be a scrawny fella with big glasses and an armful of nerdy tattoos. Compared to the band’s stage outfits (which we saw hanging limply in the back of the lounge in what we came to believe was a “makeshift dressing room”), their clothes for the acoustic set were much more “civilian,” consisting of backwards-facing black caps and snug-fitting bomber jackets (both STARSET merch, naturally). Along with their casual clothing, the mood of the whole session was equally relaxed, freeing up some opportunity for banter between bandmates that was really quite endearing.

Or just, banter in general:

“I woke up today and I was like, ‘damn, it’s been a long time since we’ve played My Demons.’” *pause for laughter* “Yeah, we play it every day, like, six times a day.”

This particular comment from Dustin was delivered with a playful dismay, but still, I kept thinking, Oh no, dude, you don’t have to play anything that you don’t want to! Look, I love My Demons as much as the next guy, but I acknowledge that STARSET isn’t a music-playing robot and is, in fact, composed of real humans with real feelings. Still, they did an excellent, enthusiastic job on it, so I doubt they had too terrible of a time playing it yet again.

The band was willing to take some requests for their songs to be played acoustically, but it seemed like they were deliberately saving most of their new pieces for the main event. Which is kind of a shame, because I wanted to ask for Unbecoming. Let’s be real, though; I was a mix of starstruck and socially anxious, and I sure as heck wasn’t about to ask for anything until at least three other people started requesting the same thing (which happened in the case of Carnivore, for which Dustin took off his jacket–see image above for his amazing choice of t-shirt that day).

After the acoustic set, the members of STARSET had a few minutes to sign our posters and other merchandise. I knew I would only have a few seconds to say/ask something to them, so I had to work up my courage pretty quick. A few possible things to say came into my head while I waited for my turn:

“So, I obviously have my own favorite songs, but which one are you most proud of/most enjoy playing?”

“I noticed that your concert schedule has you guys playing somewhere almost every day. I’d imagine that it can get exhausting. What can we, as fans, do to improve the experience for you, the performers?”

“Personal question: what’s your favorite pokémon and why?”

In the end, though, I decided to stutter out something about how I only just got into their music within the past few months and, while perusing their website, had happened to notice that they’d be playing in my town, so I figured, why the heck not buy a VIP pass while I’m at it–by the way can you also sign my Vessels CD?

To this, Dustin smiled warmly and said, “Well, thank you for coming tonight!” I don’t have a picture of the smile when it happened, but this photo might give the general idea of what I was looking at:

But–HOLD UP–did Dustin Bates just thank ME for SHOWING UP?

No. All I did was pay for a ticket and get a short ride downtown to the venue. No, Dustin, thank you guys for offering a VIP session. Thank YOU for taking the time to come to come all the way to our state to perform the same songs that you’ve been playing almost every day for months with the same level of passion that you give in every other venue across the country, even though you must be exhausted and thoroughly bored of My Demons by now. Thank YOU for doing all of these live shows and inevitably throwing your voice out by screaming into a microphone in stuffy concert rooms when you could be spending your nights relaxing somewhere nice.

Maybe the music lifestyle is fun for them, but I’m still shaken by that little comment. I think I started going into an endless loop of “thank you” while the rest of the band signed my things. I wasn’t sure that everyone’s signature would fit on the CD, but they did!

I normally have this disc in my car to listen to on my way to work and back, but now I’m a little concerned that the CD player might eventually wear down on the ink, so I might switch to digital files for this album to play it safe.

The last thing the band did before sending us away to the main concert area was a photoshoot, as in, we each got to have our pictures taken in a group photo with the band. Which… holy crap, I wasn’t prepared for. They’re all so… tall? and handsome? Meanwhile I’m like a tiny bespectacled gremlin with a cherubic build. 

Anyway, it was great.

Thanks again, STARSET!

[rockrevoltmagazine]

VATTICA Release Official Music Video for "Criminal"

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Hollywood based Alternative Rock Band VATTICA has released the official music video for their single, “Criminal.” Directed by Prentice and filmed and edited on location in Los Angeles, CA, “Criminal” is a direct criticism of the current political turmoil in American politics.

“The word ‘Criminal’ really describes this administration perfectly”, says Alexander (vocals, guitar). “From the way they ‘won’ the election, to their active and purposeful targeting of the Latinx, BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities, to their enthusiastic and unapologetic support of blatantly racist, sexist and misogynistic rhetoric, to their ravenous erosion of any laws that restrict pollution, they are the epitome of corrupt. They are dangerous and need to all be voted out. For this video we tried to focus on the fact that this is all really happening now, this isn’t some distant historical event, and that it’s up to all of us to correct the course that these liars and thieves, these fascists, have set our country on.”

Stream / Download: Spotify | iTunes | Amazon

  VATTICA is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in early 2014, the band quickly built an impressive local following in Southern California, including on the infamous Sunset Strip, performing at legendary venues such as The Viper Room, The Roxy Theatre, The Echo and The Troubadour. VATTICA’s bombastic and energetic live show caught the attention of Another Century/Century Media Records, who promptly offered the band a recording contract.

VATTICA then set about refining their sound, which quickly coalesced into an arena-ready style reminiscent of alternative chart-toppers such as Muse, Starset, PVRIS, Our Lady Peace and Imagine Dragons.

Next, VATTICA entered the studio to begin recording their debut album at The Mix Room in Burbank, CA with veteran producer Ben Grosse (Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry, Filter, Red, Starset, Vertical Horizon, Third Eye Blind, Thirty Seconds To Mars).

In 2017 VATTICA finished their debut album, entitled “WE SURVIVE”. At the same time, Another Century was absorbed by Sony RED Music which ultimately resulted in VATTICA deciding to part ways with the label. VATTICA then joined forces with new management and released their first single, “Remember To Breathe”, on their own label in May 2018.

“Remember To Breathe” premiered on ALT105.3 (KITS) (and has been added to rotation on the station’s local music show SOUNDCHECK), as well as the iTunes “Alternative Music” page. It has also made it into Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” algorithm, amassing over 60k+ plays to date. The lyric video for “Remember To Breathe” received over 10k+ views on its first day and was promptly picked up by the popular YouTube channel spaceuntravel, where it has amassed over 40K views.

Connect with VATTICA: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

VATTICA Release Official Music Video for “Criminal” was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

[testingb-log]

Introducing: Mod Swagi

Salutations, fellow Overwatch enthusiasts! I’m one of the new mods on the blog, and I figured I might as well introduce myself properly and say a few things.

I play OW on the PC, and just got the game recently (I’ve had it three weeks or so) and I main Reaper. Probably Sombra as well, though I tend to switch it up a bit.

Favorite OW characters in general would have to be Reaper, Sombra, Mercy, McCree, and Hanzo, but not in a particular order.

My favorite game(s) would probably have to be the Jak and Daxter trilogy. As much as I love Overwatch, those boys will always have a place in my heart.

I sadly can’t choose between a favorite movie. My most watched consist of Logan, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and maybe Inception.

I love animals. I have a cat named Devreu it’s weird to pronounce I know and a yorkie named Daisy. They both like to cuddle a lot

Favorite band would have to be Starset; I love them sososososo so much. I’m actually planning to go to college for music production, or anything music related; perhaps I might even go for theatre. I’m a huge creative arts nerd, and music could probably be considered my passion.

My main blog is @mainlys though I usually just reblog Star Wars/Marvel/AOT stuff on there. If you wanna talk, just shoot me a message! I don’t bite

[themusicenthusiast]

Monday, February 6th, 2017 – Starset Explores Their Creative Depths During Thrilling Sold-out Dallas Demonstration

Starset wasted no time hitting the road in support of their sophomore release, Vessels (out via Razor & Tie), the band kicking off their first ever headline tour in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio on the day the record dropped. That was about two weeks before the band rolled into Dallas for their date at the famous Trees. A Monday night would be challenging for many bands, particularly the ones that are still working on carving out their place in the world, though Starset’s heavy touring as a support band coupled with their many festival appearances have apparently paid off. The festival environment is the only one I had every caught the electronic rock/alt-rock band in, and in such a setting it’s hard to actively gauge just how many people are legitimate fans or if they’re just enjoying the lesser known acts as they wait for the top tier talent to take the stages. Clearly, they have won over a great deal of supporters over the past couple of years, because a line stretched well outside the door to Trees and around the side of the building. That was about 7:30, half an hour after the doors were scheduled to have opened. The turnout was certainly impressive, the inside already being quite full at that early hour as patrons continued to file in until Trees was at capacity. Dallas’ own Awake in Theory had the privilege of kicking off the night, the rock group delivering the most solid show I’ve seen them do over the few years I’ve been a fan. They brought their A game in order to compete with the touring talent they were getting to share the stage with and it showed, the near 30-minutes they got being as excellent as possible. That meant they also needed to streamline their set and they worked in the strongest songs they had, the band constantly working to pump up the spectators, who they left cheering and singing their praises.

Gemini Syndrome kicked things up further, truly getting everyone energized as they had much of the sea of people singing along to what they played. A fairly even mix of old material and new, they owned the stage for the time they had it and left everyone anticipating what Starset had planned for them… along with what they could do with a lengthy set. That was perhaps the most intriguing thing of all, seeing Starset no longer bound by the time constraints of opening/supporting sets. Both of their albums have almost a cinematic flow on some levels, each song acting as a piece of a larger story, and everyone was excited to experience something with a broader scope in the live environment. A chant of “STARSET!” broke out amongst a small group of concertgoers as they worked to compete with the droning electronic sound that was gradually building, the bass growing louder and louder as the fuzzed out piece continued. Suddenly, the curtain opened a bit after ten, revealing a violinist as well as a cello player. Two screens were behind them, one on either side of the stage, while the drum kit was somewhat encased in one. That was how it appeared at least. Moments later bassist Ron DeChant and guitarist Brock Richards took the stage, mirroring one another as they assumed their spots and gazed out at the audience, their faces barely visible through the masks of the space like suits they sported. Dustin Bates then bounded out, quickly stepping onto one of the risers at the front of the stage. “DALLAS!” he screamed as he towered over everyone, taking a flying leap off it and back onto the stage as they set to work. Fittingly, they opened with “Into the Unknown”, the new song creating a sense of mystique while doubling as a charged opening number, one that found Starset displaying what a mighty force they were. They immediately appeared hungry and eager to prove themselves to the throng of fans that had turned out. The energy they were radiating was overwhelming, Bates constantly roaming about the stage, making sure he was paying attention to the fans on either side. They relied heavily on visual elements throughout the night, something not every band can pull off, though it was behooving of Starset, often accenting the music in a way. A third screen was in front of the drum kit; and as that song wound to a close, it became translucent, Adam Gilbert suddenly visible as he continued his assault on the drums. It was a cool aspect that would persist throughout the night, Gilbert sometimes hidden due to the footage, but ultimately he was visible more than he wasn’t. “Thank you,” said Bates as he welcomed everyone to their third demonstration in Dallas. Not bad to have only played the city twice before and already they were acting as the main attraction with a sold-out crowd there to watch them. This tour may have been to support their new album, but much to the delight of fans, it was 2014’s Transmissions that received the majority of the attention. “Halo” was one such song, the fan favorite coming early enough that it helped Starset secure their hold on everyone. It utilized the orchestral instruments exceptionally well, Bates even waving his arms around at the end as if he were a conductor, the frontman belting out a few of the lines in more of an operatic fashion, demonstrating the gorgeous tones he’s capable of. “Thank you so much for coming tonight,” he remarked afterwards, his expressions of gratitude being genuine and heartfelt. From behind his station with a state of the art looking touch screen Bates began the brief backing track for their next number, the audience cheering as they recognized it as the lead in to “Down With the Fallen”. “Can you tell me what is real? ‘Cause I've lost my way again…” much of the crowd sang, echoing along on the chorus; while the lights on DeChant, Richards, and Gilbert’s suits continued to light up, casting them in a red, green, or blue tint, alternating on a consistent basis. Another track bridged them into their next song, offering enough downtime that the musicians slipped into the shadows of the wings. When Bates was next seen he had ditched the long, heavy looking jacket he had been wearing, his other layers of clothes, such as a vest, and his bow tie becoming hard to miss. “Antigravity” ventured into the melodic side Starset is capable of, being a potent combination of electronic and rock styles, and continuing the pace was one of the tracks they released in advance of Vessels release date, “Ricochet”. It was an impassioned performance of what is one of the most emotional songs Starset has done. Bates poured everything he had into his singing, obviously connecting with it on a deeply personal level, while it came to a brilliant finish, the violin taking command as DeChant moved over to a keyboard for the outro. It wasn’t without its explosive moments, though Starset was still in the midst of the lull of their performance. “Dark on Me” felt like it was an appropriate follow up, as if it could be an extension of the previous song, delving into what happened in between the start and end. The guitar and bass may have been more restrained, though the cello and violin were given the opportunity to shine; while Gilbert’s steady drumming was thick and pronounced, the vibrations from it rattling one’s chest cavity. Without warning, they kicked things back into overdrive with “Rise and Fall”, the song being a sheer adrenaline rush right from the start. His sleeves now rolled up, Bates appeared eager to continue about pushing themselves to their limits as performers, he, Richards, DeChant, and Gilbert making “Telescope” an exceptionally charged song, even before it reached its peak, the core musicians eventually bowing out for a sensational orchestral finish. “Do you want to hear something from the new record?” the frontman asked, the slew of people cheering, giving him a resounding “yes” as Starset began a stretch of Vessels material with “Frequency”. People may have only had a couple weeks to familiarize themselves with the music, though that seemed like ample time, several die-hards singing with every word, while everyone else was actively engaged in it. They seamlessly wound it into “Satellite”, the evolution between this new batch of songs and the old being quite noticeable. You can hear the progression, the band having matured and developed a clearer idea of how they want their music to sound, the result being something bolder and more commanding than even what their debut release had to offer. Displaying that better than any song this night was “Everglow”, the final track found on Vessels finding a stunning beauty in its minimal first half, Bates’ voice being the sole driving force for that portion of it. It sounds so grand, though, the live rendition of it being even more amazing, as you were able to truly marvel at the powerhouse vocal performance it required Bates to give. The 77-minute long set was beginning to wind down; and as he fiddled with the computer, Bates took a moment to thank KEGL (97.1 FM The Eagle) for their support in spinning the bands’ music. “…Without them, you probably wouldn't know about us or this song,” he remarked, fanfare filling the room once everybody recognized “Carnivore”. Their energy hadn’t diminished in the least, even nearly an hour in, DeChant, Richards, and Bates leaping backwards off the risers each one had available to use, in perfect synch no less, and continued to give it their all. “Bringing It Down” and “Back to the Earth” were a couple more new tracks that were worked in to the set, Bates commenting on the fact that the show was sold-out during the latter of those. “…I guess it's sold-out, which is amazing…” he said, sounding a bit baffled by it as he expressed their gratitude to everyone for showing up. He went on to say they didn’t know what to expect from their first outing as a headliner, the fact that most everyone was singing along to every song meaning a great deal to them. “It’s humbling,” he said after a short pause. Just as the band continued to push themselves, so, too, did the fans, who were seen bouncing around throughout the exhilarating “Monster”; and during a break in “The Future Is Now”, Bates checked on everyone, seeing who was witnessing their first demonstration this night. Quite a few were getting their first experience with Starset on this night, though many more had caught them at least once in the past; those who might not have been familiar being given a quick overview of the mission of The Starset Society. There would be no encore, Bates stressing that, that they didn’t do the “encore thing”, as he urged the still packed Trees to make things count, soon leading a clap along as “My Demons” got underway. That was the final song people were longing to hear, the voices’ of the fans being louder than ever as they sang along to the striking song that ended the performance in a remarkable fashion. “Fun” and “a pleasure” was how Bates described the show as they waved goodbye, soon disappearing from sight, but before the curtain could completely close on the stage, the musicians returned, tossing out picks and drum sticks, grinning from ear to ear as they basked in the love they had received. During the couple of years that Starset has spent amassing a fan base and building a name for themselves, I can see how some people may have perceived them as more of a novelty act of sorts. From the back-story they’ve crafted to (outer) space, in one form or another, being a theme of every song in their catalog, or even the eye-catching attire they all wear (the instrumentalists in particular) they’ve cast themselves in a mold unlike anything else currently out there. And some who saw them in the early afternoon at those various festivals or caught them as a supporting act during other bands’ tours might have viewed Starset as a quirky band that catered to a small niche. As I said, I can understand how some may have felt that way, but after seeing this Trees show, they proved themselves to be so much more. It didn’t take long this night to see those short sets Starset has often been confined to allowed them to barely scratch the surface of what they’re truly capable of. The lighting, while often dark or backlit, worked perfectly with the music to cultivate an atmosphere that was conducive of what the group was tirelessly working to accomplish on this night. Coupled with the music it was moody, ranging from being eerie to hopeful, capturing a sense of elation or sadness and an array of other emotions, each song evoking something different. The use of the cello and violin ensured an authenticity about everything, allowing it to sound how the fans expect it to; and the performance was purely dazzling, the band having no trouble keeping the hundreds of pairs of eyes glued to the stage. It did appear to be slightly cramped up there, though they never appeared hindered, DeChant and Richards thrashing and hopping about their respective sides of the stage, while Bates constantly trekked between the two, seldom being still. They were utterly dynamic and maintained that energetic demeanor for the duration of their show, gleefully showcasing the depths of their chops as performers as they solidified themselves as a headline quality act with seemingly unlimited potential. Far more than just a demonstration (Starset’s terminology for a concert) it was a presentation, one with a brilliant ebb and flow as the songs often transitioned seamlessly, complementing one another in the process. For now, one can only wonder what lies ahead for Starset, but now more than ever they sky truly does seem to be the limit for the band. This tour runs through February 17th, the remaining dates including stops in Baton Rouge, LA (at The Varsity Theatre on the 10th); Madison, AL (at 11th Frame on the 11th); and Johnson City, TN (at Capone's on the 12th). Shows in Baltimore, MD (at Soundstage on the 14th); Lancaster, PA (at Chameleon Club on the 15th); and Pittsburgh, PA (at Rex Theatre on the 17th) will round out the tour. Through late April and into May they’ll also be making appearances at various festivals, such as 98Rock Fest, Welcome To Rockville, Fort Rock, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion, and Rocklahoma. Their complete calendar with more info on all of those events can be found HERE; and check out Vessels in iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY.

[themusicenthusiast]

Starset to Embark on a Series of Demonstrations in Support of Sophomore LP, ‘Vessels’; Performing at Trees in Dallas on February 6th

Coinciding with the release of their sophomore album VESSELS, cinematic rock band STARSET is heading out on a U.S. headlining tour this winter. The four-week outing will feature direct support from Gemini Syndrome. Tickets go on sale tomorrow Friday, December 9. "We look forward to the freedom that headlining will bring - allowing us to further realize our sonic and visual objectives.  This will be the most immersive series of 'demonstrations' to date," says front man Dustin Bates. VESSELS--set for release January 20, 2017 via Razor & Tie--is a data-stream rendered in sound where Bates becomes the deus-ex-machina in an age of information overload that is increasingly complex yet ultimately human. From atmospheric opener, "Back To The Earth" to the driving hooks of the album's first single, "Monster" to the catchy, nearly progressive moments of "Frequency," Bates has succeeded in escaping the gravity of formula radio rock. Instead, he has re-imagined his genre-defying vision as an arena where Hans Zimmer interfaces with Radiohead and Trent Reznor. VESSELS was produced by Rob Graves (Halestorm, Red) and mixed by Ben Grosse (Breaking Benjamin, Filter), who also helmed their 2014 Razor & Tie debut, Transmissions, a landmark album selling in excess of a quarter million combined albums, streams and downloads, and propelled by singles including the unforgettable "My Demons" (which spent an unprecedented 43 weeks scaling rock charts).

With over 300 shows logged to date, STARSET--front man Dustin Bates and his helmeted-and-pressure-suited crew, bassist Ron DeChant, guitarist Brock Richards and drummer Adam Gilbert--has distinguished themselves touring with the likes of Breaking Benjamin and In This Moment, playing major U.S. rock festivals and four sold out performances in planetariums, becoming the first rock band to play live in the full dome entertainment environment. This spring, the band will return to Welcome To Rockville, Fort Rock, Carolina Rebellion and Rock On the Range, the famed rock festival in the band's hometown of Columbus, OH, following their 2015 debut at all four events. Tour Dates: January 20--Express Live!--Columbus, OH 21--Metro--Chicago, IL 23--Marquis--Denver, CO 25--Knitting Factory--Boise, ID 26--Knitting Factory--Spokane, WA 28--Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor--Reno, NV 29--Fulton 55--Fresno, CA 31--The Roxy--Los Angeles, CA February 2--Pub Rock--Scottsdale, AZ 3--Club XS--Tucson, AZ 6--Trees--Dallas, TX 8--Brewsters--Corpus Christi, TX 9--Scout Bar--Houston, TX 10--The Varsity Theatre--Baton Rouge, LA 11--11th Frame--Madison, AL 12--Capone's--Johnson City, TN 14--Soundstage--Baltimore, MD 15--Chameleon Club--Lancaster, PA 17--Rex Theatre--Pittsburgh, PA April 28--98Rock Fest--Tampa, FL 29--Welcome To Rockville Festival--Jacksonville, FL 30--Fort Rock Festival--Fort Myers, FL May 5--Carolina Rebellion Festival--Kannapolis, NC

[themusicenthusiast]

Single Review: “Ricochet” by Starset

The latest single from Starset is about the closest the electronic rock outfit that hails from Columbus, Ohio has been to doing a balled, “Ricochet” capable of being every bit as intense as it is slow and tender. The third song to be released from Vessels (out January 20th via Razor & Tie) is an emotional one, the music bed being tied to the most explosive outbursts of the single, spiking at those points, while being more serene during the reflective moments of the first couple verses. It puts Dustin Bates in a rather exposed setting, both in him at times showcasing a more delicate side of his voice (his normal singing voice sounding lovely and every bit as emotive as the harsher tones he’s known for) and the story, revisiting a past love and making the assessment of where it all went wrong. That’s why “Ricochet” is such a reflective number, because it’s about making self-realizations.

Through wonderful metaphors that fit with space themes the band has established for themselves (“And we were bold; over the world we were flying through the satellites. We had a hold of the lightning strikes…”) it tells a story of two people seemingly enamored with one another, but never meant to last. “…And in the silence, now I realize, that after all I built the wall,” ends the second verse, establishing a coming to terms with the fact that the divide between the two wasn’t created the way in which he initially thought. It’s sobering; the rest of the song feeling slightly more heartbreaking as Bates belts out the bridge in epic fashion, expressing doubt about ever connecting with someone on such a level again. “Ricochet” is a striking song, and arguably one of the deepest that Starset has produced. From reminiscing of a past love to agonizing over it, it takes you through the spectrum of emotions, Bates helping guide it with the occasional vehement screams and gently singing. The guitar and bass seem to take more of a backseat to the electronic components on this one, however, that actually feels more behooving given the nature of it, the keys and synth helping to accent the pulsating percussion that roars in from time to time. Pre-order Vessels on: iTunes | Google Play | Amazon MP3 Visit Starset’s websites: Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube Current Shows: January 14--The Machine Shop--Flint, MI 20--Express Live!--Columbus, OH 21—Metro--Chicago, IL 23—Marquis--Denver, CO 25--Knitting Factory--Boise, ID 26--Knitting Factory--Spokane, WA 28--Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor--Reno, NV 29--Fulton 55--Fresno, CA 31--The Roxy--Los Angeles, CA February 2--Pub Rock--Scottsdale, AZ 3--Club XS--Tucson, AZ 6—Trees--Dallas, TX 8—Brewsters--Corpus Christi, TX 9--Scout Bar--Houston, TX 10--The Varsity Theatre--Baton Rouge, LA 11--11th Frame--Madison, AL 12--Capone's--Johnson City, TN 14—Soundstage--Baltimore, MD 15--Chameleon Club--Lancaster, PA 17--Rex Theatre--Pittsburgh, PA April 28--98Rock Fest--Tampa, FL 29--Welcome To Rockville Festival--Jacksonville, FL 30--Fort Rock Festival--Fort Myers, FL May 5--Carolina Rebellion Festival--Kannapolis, NC 26—Rocklahoma--Pryor, OK

[themusicenthusiast]

The Bands of Monster Energy Rock Allegiance 2017: Starset

Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and Live Nation, it took just two years to make Monster Energy Rock Allegiance into the “Northeast's biggest rock experience”. That’s a remarkable feat that further speaks for the knack those companies have at putting on events and making them into a truly special experience. And, as the experience continues for Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, it will continue in a different location. This year will see the festival relocating to BB&T Pavilion and Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ, just minutes away from Philadelphia. The new venue should allow for some picturesque views; and still being a one-day festival, it will see several huge names and plenty of well-established acts gracing the three stages that will be set up, along with plenty of up-and-comers that are definite bands to watch. Being confined to one day makes it a perfect festival to make a road trip for, especially for those on a time crunch who aren’t able to stay gone long. So, no matter how far or close you are to Philly, consider going; and now, let’s take a look at some of the bands that will be performing at that October 7th festival… Starset has had a banner year thus far, releasing their sophomore record just a few weeks in to 2017, Vessels being the album that cemented them as one of the most promising up-and-coming bands currently out there. Well-written in regards to both the music and lyrics, it shows immense growth from where they started; the spacey themes and artful use of electronics in their brand of hard rock resulting in something rather unique. They solidified themselves as a band to watch with plenty of sold out shows on what was their first ever headline tour, from wowing a capacity crowd in their hometown of Columbus to a sold-out Trees in Dallas, Texas on a weeknight and many others. It was in that environment they truly got to shine, having ample time to work their magic, creating a near constant flow as they segued from one song to the next.

Fierce performers with that drive and hunger to become something grand, it was festivals like Rock Allegiance that helped introduce Starset to people in the first place, winning over a slew of new fans that way just a couple of years ago. And now, armed with their new record and having had the chance to explore their depths as performers, finishing cutting their teeth and realizing what they’re actually capable of, Starset stands poised to blow minds come the fall. Event info: Saturday, October 7th at BB&T Pavilion and Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ. $49.50+

[themusicenthusiast]

The Bands of Monster Energy Aftershock 2017: Starset

Not just a staple of the fall festival season, the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival -- produced by Danny Wimmer Presents – has become one of the most diverse festivals there is. Relying on hard rock and metal bands, it isn’t built exclusively around them, and intriguing variety of bands having been tapped to perform over the years, and those interesting pairings will continue as the festival gets ready for its sixth installment. Back at Discovery Park near downtown Sacramento, California, it’s probably the only festival where you’ll have a chance to see Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle on the same night. And those two are barely scratching the surface of the stellar lineup that has been assembled for this year. Upwards of three dozen bands are slated to perform over the course of the two-day festival, which will be taking place on Saturday, October 21st and Sunday, October 22nd. From rock legends to a host of impressive bands on the rise, this will be THE festival every rock lover and metalhead needs to be at this year. If you can only make one, let it be Aftershock; and with it being just a few short months away, let’s take a look at some of the bands that are on tap to play… Starset has had a banner year thus far, releasing their sophomore record just a few weeks in to 2017, Vessels being the album that cemented them as one of the most promising up-and-coming bands currently out there. Well-written in regards to both the music and lyrics, it shows immense growth from where they started; the spacey themes and artful use of electronics in their brand of hard rock resulting in something rather unique. They solidified themselves as a band to watch with plenty of sold out shows on what was their first ever headline tour, from wowing a capacity crowd in their hometown of Columbus to a sold-out Trees in Dallas, Texas on a weeknight and many others. It was in that environment they truly got to shine, having ample time to work their magic, creating a near constant flow as they segued from one song to the next.

Fierce performers with that drive and hunger to become something grand, it was festivals like Aftershock that helped introduce Starset to people in the first place, winning over a slew of new fans that way just a couple of years ago. And now, armed with their new record and having had the chance to explore their depths as performers, finishing cutting their teeth and realizing what they’re actually capable of, Starset stands poised to blow minds come the fall. Event info: Saturday, October 21st and Sunday, October 22nd at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA. $94.50+

[themusicenthusiast]

The Bands of Louder Than Life 2017: Starset

Louder Than Life has built itself into the mecca of the fall festival circuit, particularly in the hard rock/metal realm, and it only took a few years for it to achieve that status. Everyone who attended in the first year knew it was something special, the aura at Champions Park in Louisville, Kentucky being truly magic. That’s been repeated for a couple of years now, LTL having that special touch that only the producers Danny Wimmer Presents are capable of capturing, transforming it from merely a music festival into a legitimate experience that also focuses on food and a variety of other things. Now entering its fourth year, fans are perpetually wondering how Louder Than Life can one-up itself from the previous year, and, somehow, the festival always manages to, this year being no exception. When it returns on September 30th and October 1st, Louder Than Life will feature a host of astounding bands, some of which aren’t participating in many fall festivals, making them exclusive or semi-exclusive to LTL. This WILL sell out, so grab your tickets while you can, and if you need further persuading, here’s a look at some of the acts that will be performing… Starset has had a banner year thus far, releasing their sophomore record just a few weeks in to 2017, Vessels being the album that cemented them as one of the most promising up-and-coming bands currently out there. Well-written in regards to both the music and lyrics, it shows immense growth from where they started; the spacey themes and artful use of electronics in their brand of hard rock resulting in something rather unique.

They solidified themselves as a band to watch with plenty of sold out shows on what was their first ever headline tour, from wowing a capacity crowd in their hometown of Columbus to a sold-out Trees in Dallas, Texas on a weeknight and many others. It was in that environment they truly got to shine, having ample time to work their magic, creating a near constant flow as they segued from one song to the next. Fierce performers with that drive and hunger to become something grand, it was festivals like Louder THan Life that helped introduce Starset to people in the first place, winning over a slew of new fans that way just a couple of years ago. And now, armed with their new record and having had the chance to explore their depths as performers, finishing cutting their teeth and realizing what they’re actually capable of, Starset stands poised to blow minds come the fall. Event info: Saturday, September 30th and Sunday October 1st at Champions Park in Louisville, KY. $79.50+

[themusicenthusiast]

The Bands of Monster Energy Houston Open Air 2017: Starset

There’s no denying that Monster Energy Houston Open Air got off to a rocky start last year. Keeping everyone safe (fans, musicians, staff and vendors) is paramount and trumps even music, no matter how great the bands scheduled to perform may be. People learned that the hard way when a perpetual threat of thunder storms delayed the start of HOA on its first day and essentially cancelled day two of the event. Festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents (with Live Nation also participating) promised to be back and give the people of Houston the festival they deserve, and for year two they are going to deliver. Slated to go down on October 14th and 15th, Monster Energy Houston Open Air will be relocating to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands. The outdoor arena should ensure that, even if weather conditions get somewhat nasty, the show will go on; a second stage planned to be set up to accommodate the more than two dozen bands that will be performing. DWP’s first ever festival in the Lone Star State, 2017 should be the year that they show Texans and other festival goers why they are one of the most revered and successful concert producers in the U.S. Their events have a special touch about them that only they can create; and if you still need further convincing to get your tickets, well, here’s a look at some of the bands performing this October… Starset has had a banner year thus far, releasing their sophomore record just a few weeks in to 2017, Vessels being the album that cemented them as one of the most promising up-and-coming bands currently out there. Well-written in regards to both the music and lyrics, it shows immense growth from where they started; the spacey themes and artful use of electronics in their brand of hard rock resulting in something rather unique.

They solidified themselves as a band to watch with plenty of sold out shows on what was their first ever headline tour, from wowing a capacity crowd in their hometown of Columbus to a sold-out Trees in Dallas, Texas on a weeknight and many others. It was in that environment they truly got to shine, having ample time to work their magic, creating a near constant flow as they segued from one song to the next. Fierce performers with that drive and hunger to become something grand, it was festivals like Monster Energy Houston Open Air that helped introduce Starset to people in the first place, winning over a slew of new fans that way just a couple of years ago. And now, armed with their new record and having had the chance to explore their depths as performers, finishing cutting their teeth and realizing what they’re actually capable of, Starset stands poised to blow minds come the fall. Event info: Saturday, October 14th and Sunday October 15th at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX. $45+