Who doesn’t love Stars? If this year was all about Canadian indie-rock blasting off, then Stars went, well, supernova. And if there’s a band that deserves to be heard as widely as possible (yes, even if that means the inevitable, annoying nod from The O.C.), it’s the Toronto-Montreal sextet (the core of singer Torquil Campbell, singer/guitarist Amy Millan, keyboardist Chris Seligman, and bassist Evan Cranley has been augmented by drummer Pat McGee and guitarist Steve Ramsay on the band’s seemingly never-ending tour).
With their near-perfect songs-mini-epics that swell with strings one moment and bleed guitar feedback the next-beyond-clever lyrics, charming boy-girl vocal interplay, and tell-your-friends live show, what’s not to like? More accessible than their Broken Social Scene brethren, softer-edged than their Metric pals, and yet catchier than most indie-scene scream (I don’t care how much you love Wolf Parade, kids, they’re just not going to be in regular rotation, if you know what I’m sayin’), Stars are clearly well on their way to shooting into the musical stratosphere.
With the success of last year’s Set Yourself on Fire showing absolutely no signs of waning, the band has been touring across the globe for months on end, and won’t be getting off the road anytime soon. A planned remix record will hopefully see the light of day in 2006, Amy Millan’s long-awaited slow-burn alt-country solo record should turn heads (and may throw fans for a bit of loop) this spring, and we wouldn’t be a bit surprised if several Stars turned up for Broken’s big hometown stand in January.
But where BSS went for the big, shacking up at the Kool Haus (ugh, we know) for two nights, as befitting the hopeless romantics they are, Stars decided to go for something a bit more intimate, closing out their amazing year right here at home with six (count ’em!) straight shows (bless their hearts, they’re even spreading the love with two all-ages gigs for the kids) at the much cozier Lee’s Palace.
We can’t wait for the shows, so in the meantime decided to catch up with marvellously manic frontman Torquil Campbell before the band heads home from their current jaunt in the U.K.
Tabassum Siddiqui: Set Yourself on Fire is the record that will never die! Are you surprised by its longevity, or was it always the plan to ‘work’ it as long as possible?
Torquil Campbell: I think a record with strong songs, like Set Yourself on Fire, makes itself heard. The album deserves to be around a long time. We wanted to make a classic Canadian indie record, one for the vaults.
TS: You guys have been on tour for over a year now-what’s your best and worst tour story so far?
TC: Best: Being loved in Dublin. That was a thrill for everyone. The Irish have really shown the love! Worst: Ypsilanti, Michigan….just wrong. No one should ever play there… I’m sorry I can’t elaborate, but it’s just too dark.
TS: It’s an amazing time for Canadian music right now-what is it about our acts that is striking a chord with listeners, do you think?
TC: It’s simple: we are not afraid. We want to be original; we want to make a home for our music [and take it to] a place that has never existed before.
TS: Any favourite bands from here or elsewhere that you’ve come across during your travels that you think your fans should know about?
TC: [Portland lo-fi crooner] Bobby Birdman, and [Montreal art-rockers] The Dears, of course.
TS: Stars are always referred to as a “Montreal” band, but really several of you are from right here in T.O.-do you identify with one city more than the other? Or it is just sexier to say you’re from la belle province?
TC: I’ve been a musician in Toronto for half my life, but I was pushed out of my city because of the high prices. Yuppie rent bullshit. Montreal was a place that we could create in. It has a backbone and a certain romance. The place just breeds inspiration. We will always write and produce music in Montreal-it gives us an edge.
TS: It’s been quite a year for the band-after all these years, do you feel like you’ve finally “made it?”
TC: No. You can never truly ‘make it’-if you think you have, then you’re done!
TS: What’s coming up for the band in the next little while?
TC: We’re going to keep touring until the summer-and try to keep our sanity.
TS: Stars are playing not one, not two, but six shows at Lee’s Palace! What’s going to be your secret to getting through ’em all?
TC: Good whiskey. And family… We can’t wait to come home!
Stars play Lee’s Palace Dec. 15-18. All shows sold out.
