I had heard about Starsailor. I’d been told I would like them, because they have melody and emotion. Until their live show in Athens, I knew a few things about them, and that beyond having a great name, they also have good songs. On the occasion of their mini tour in Greece, I took a closer look at the band and became a fan. I even wrote about them here, but I really needed to see them live to understand just how great a band Starsailor truly are. So, let’s take a look at what happened on Thursday, at their second concert on Athenian soil.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Gazarte opened its doors right on time; however, only a small number of people arrived early. You could tell that the show wouldn’t draw a large crowd, and indeed, not many attended the concert. Not even half of Gazarte was filled, but that didn’t discourage the bands from giving their very best.
D3lta opened the show for Starsailor. The Greek-British musician took the stage with his band and, with confidence but also humility, performed his beautiful material. There was strong musicality, great chemistry, and they captivated us with their pop/rock songs. It didn’t take long to realize that D3lta is a highly capable musician who writes quality compositions and delivers them on stage with real emotion. It’s clear that he values substance over flash and gimmicks, and he gave us a solid taste of his music. Direct, sincere, and generous, D3lta won us over and warmed us up perfectly for what was to come. But time flew by, and soon D3lta bid us farewell. He’s definitely an artist we’ll be keeping an eye on.
So, the stage cleared and everyone waited for Starsailor, the heroes of the night. It didn’t take long for them to make their appearance. Welcomed by warm applause, they took their places and, without any introductions, kicked off their set with their most well-known song, “Alcoholic.” What an incredible start—with a heartbreaking song that touched our hearts and made us sing along quietly.
What followed was just as strong, with beautiful, emotional songs, all the result of admirable songwriting inspiration and unique sensitivity. One song followed another, with the band performing flawlessly, pouring their souls into the music and delivering true lessons in artistic expression. The band’s frontman, James Walsh, spoke to the audience frequently, saying just enough, fully focused on his art and radiating deep emotion.
Starsailor were celebrating 25 years of career, so the setlist included their finest songs—although they also played a few tracks different from the previous show. Highlights of the night included “Four to the Floor,” as well as “Poor Misguided Fool,” “Silence Is Easy” and “Lullaby.” The beautiful covers of “Jealous Guy” (John Lennon) and “Don’t Let Me Down” (The Beatles) fit perfectly within a set that flowed effortlessly, maintained constant interest, and built repeated emotional peaks. Starsailor gave everything they had, captivated the audience with their artistic charm, and proved that they truly belong among the great bands of post–Brit pop/rock.
The end of the concert found us truly captivated. Starsailor are a band filled with deep emotion and an incredible sense of melody. Yet they keep a low profile – they don’t shout, they don’t try to overwhelm. They have things to say, they speak to each of us individually, and they create a musical and emotional bond with every listener. This live show was an unforgettable experience, one that each of us lived in our own way. Music prevailed, along with the connection between band and audience. And that is a great victory—one that only a few bands manage to achieve. Starsailor are one of them.
