You can always tell when a band is actually happy to be on stage, when they genuinely want to be there. Stars are one of those bands, and a bustling Corner Hotel was treated to a group that cherishes every moment they’re performing.

Sydney’s Phebe Starr opened the night with her Triple J-loved electronic pop songs.

Starr’s soaring, Lane Del Rey-esque vocals and a constant electronic backdrop proved to be a bit repetitive, and the songstress’ flowing movements and gestures were somewhat lost on the sparse Melbourne crowd.

After a lengthy break, the fashionably late five-piece (with an added guitarist) strode onto stage and sprawling synths signalled the start of ‘The Theory Of Relativity’.

The vocal interplay between Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan already stood out on the 80s sounding track, with the pair trading lines and harmonizing perfectly.

‘Ageless Beauty’, the first older song played, received easily the biggest reaction of the night thus far, and after opening with a slew of new songs, the Set Yourself On Fire track is a welcome way to truly begin the evening.

The innovative Canadians always seemed to be adding something new to each number, with ‘A Song Is A Weapon’ featuring a bass and tambourine solo, while Campbell’s skills on the melodica were first introduced on ‘The North’.

The set included all but two songs from Stars’ seventh and latest album, The North, and the synth-heavy material mostly blurred together without providing an abundance of captivating moments, but Campbell and Millan’s voices still shine, especially when together, nearly 13 years after the band’s conception.

Campbell was ever the charismatic frontman, rousing strong reactions from the audience and even entering the crowd at one point, clearly right in his element in the live setting.

After describing his fears earlier in the night that “nobody was here”, he claimed that “you all showed up just before we came on,” and he was exactly right. What had previously been an almost awkwardly filled room had briskly transformed into a very healthy and adoring attendance.

‘Your Ex-Lover Is Dead’ featured the first huge sing-along of the night, with the final lines of “I’m not sorry I met you / I’m not sorry it’s over / I’m not sorry there’s nothing to save” echoing across the room.

Campbell also found great amusement at The Hoff’s impending visit to the same venue, even going so far as to dedicate the ballad ‘Do You Want To Die Together’ to the great man.

The delicate song slowly built with call and answer vocals from the duo, into an explosive and layered chorus.

Seemingly overjoyed and almost surprised at the loving reaction that every song was met with, confirmed with a heartfelt speech of thanks to “the people around the world that we don’t even know that invest in our art.”

The band then launched into ‘Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It’, far and away the best song of The North, and one that seamlessly fits in with the best that Stars have produced.

‘Take Me To The Riot’ was just as wonderful live as you’d expect. Patrick McGee’s commanding drumming shone across the song, as did the fantastic harmonies.

On set-closer ‘Walls’, Campbell and Millan seemed to be singing as much to each other as to the crowd, and as each of the band members left one by one, it was obvious that they would be returning.

With a shout of “As if we were gonna leave now,” a third of Stars returned to the stage, with Millan and guitarist Chris Seligman performing a “campfire” version of ‘My Favourite Book’. The intimate interpretation of the song allowed the strength and power of Millan’s voice to be placed front and centre, and the hushed masses seemed almost mesmerized.

Campbell returned to the stage, saying “I feel like we should play for another hour,” and with the huge cheer, it was obvious that this sentiment was shared by everyone else.

After imploring everyone in the room to “start a band with your friends” because “it’s a great fucking thing to do,” the band played a song “about fucking someone to death,” a.k.a. ‘One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)’.

Stars finished the night with ‘The 400’, which saw Campbell’s emotional vocals accompanied only by keyboard and restrained guitar lines, along with backing vocals from the other band members.

The song came to a quiet end, and for just a moment, there was a stunned and wonderful silence in The Corner Hotel, one that was quickly broken by a loud and extended ovation as the Canadians departed.

Although the synth-heavy material dragged at times, Stars proved that when they get it right, they get it really right, and for most of the night, they did.

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