Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - StarRider

StarRider is a Chicago area based classic rock band covering a wide array of the hits of the 70s and 80s.  And I do mean a wide array.

They are a 5 piece band, with George as the lead vocalist/frontman, Len on guitars/vocals, Joe on bass/vocals, Guido on drums/vocals, and last, but most definitely not least, Dawn on keyboards/vocals.  Can't really be a 70s/80s cover band without a keyboard player - those were by far, especially the 80s, the best decades for an usually underrated instrument.  With the 5 piece approach, the band also follows the classic lineups of the 70s/80s arena rock bands - with the lead vocalist also playing the role of the ring leader, the frontman.  This is all important to note, because to truly represent the feel of those decades, the band must also present the dynamics of that decade.  Most (not all) of the most successful bands of those decades followed this lineup formula.  Because of this, it's very easy to be transported back in time while watching StarRider perform.

As mentioned at the outset of this entry, StarRider has a wide array of songs in their repertoire, ranging in styles from Bad Company to Bob Seger, from U2 to UFO, from Mellencamp to Money, from Foreigner to Foghat, from Santana to Steppenwolf, from Zeppelin to ZZ Top, and so many bands in between.  Covering heavy rockers to classic rockers, from the 70s arena jams to the 80s power ballads, from "guitar rock" to Americana rock.  And that is what makes this cover band stand out - they are not afraid to mix and match the genres.  Sure, it's all "classic rock" but there were so many different sounds coming from those two decades, and this band doesn't get stuck in just one style.  Not just "hair band", not just "jam band", not just "guitar", and not just "vocals".  Listening to this band is like listening to a jukebox from the 70s and 80s on random-play.  And that means, there is something for everybody.

On the stage, the band fits the bill perfectly as well, as each member seamlessly can move from that in-your-face hard rocker to that soulful power ballad performer to that high energy band to that slow and meaningful band.  They can play the epic power ballad of "I've Been Waiting For A Girl Like You" and within a few songs be kicking out "Feel Like Making Love".  And on stage, as they perform these songs, it's easy to remember hearing them (or possibly even seeing them) performed by the original artists in the 70s or 80s.  They have that intangible "attitude".  They just don't play the songs or recreate the songs - they perform the songs.  This is a live band, this is where they excel. 

I happened to first see them perform at Steger Days of Music 2014, and they had the audience head-banging one minute, grooving the next, and even had couples up dancing slow to song like "I've Been Waiting".  The key to their performance was they were able to engage the audience.  As with most festival type events, many in the audience tune the music to the background and socialize with their friends over drinks and food - nothing wrong with that at all.  But I noticed as StarRider played, the majority of the audience focused on watching the band and being part of the moment.  The frontman was not afraid to leave the comfort of the stage often times coming down into the open area in front of the stage and singing to/with the audience.  The rest of the band never shied away from making eye contact with the audience either.  It really felt like a great party among friends - and that's what a live performance should feel like.

StarRider currently plays live shows in the Chicago area - you can watch for them on facebook.