Stellastarr*
by Linda Spielman

With the resurgence of what everyone is calling the pop/punk movement in music and the overwhelming response to this new era of punk, those who remember the truly golden days of this genre of music feel void of what it was like to listen “true punk”.

Hearing NYC based Stellastarr* takes one back into a time machine where London’s neo-punk bands like the Clash, The Cure, The Dead Milkmen, and all those who followed embodied what we all remember as true punk rock. Robert Smith would be proud to hear his haunting vocals reincarnated in lead singer Shawn Christensen’s stage presence, raw energy and singing. 

The band comprised of Christensen, Arthur Kremer on drums, Michael Jurin on guitar & vocals, and bassist/vocalist Amanda Tannen bring back a genre of music to its truest form that has been recently saturated into an MTV friendly format by many bands. UK based NME publication toted Stellastarr* as a “dream of a band with nearly every element absolutely perfect. This is a band with wit, imagination and a knack for hooks.”

With an EP already under their belt and embraced by the London music scene, an ever growing fan base that seems to outnumber the capacity limits of the NYC clubs they’ve been playing, and now a newly released full-length, self titled CD, Stellastarr* now has the backing of a major label to push forward in bringing a not so forgotten form of music back to public.

If you were to close your eyes during their set, those of us who grew up in the day of John Hugh’s movies, skinny ties, Devo, Valley Girls, etc., can almost feel transported back in time. With Tannen’s Pixie-esque backing vocals complimenting Christensen’s lead, Kremer’s strobe light and Elvis sunglasses, Jurin’s rebellious guitar riffs all complete the visual to the equally strong songs. Their songs are classic in melody and structure, but not knock-offs of their punk forefathers.

Opening for the Raveonettes, who in their own right are current underground music icons, Stellastarr* seem to have no problems winning over the U.S. crowds.  More than up for the challenge of grasping the audiences attention, the band playing through their newly released album win more applause and fans with each song.  Songs such as “My Coco”, “Somewhere Across Forever” and “In The Walls” are just a few that bring back the true elements and guts that made punk music such a force to be heard in its glory day. Stellastarr* is not a sugar coated version of what people are calling pop/punk today. They are what people remember as true punk of yesterday for a new generation.

Official Website - learn more about the band and preview songs from their EP

Preview and purchase the new EP from Stellastarr*