(Welcome to the) S.T.A.R.

[buell]

I was listening to this album this weekend, and I am still impressed by the band that cut this record. The album's too short to be really good, but I adore the formula: folk-rock, Zeppelin-esque blues rock, psychedelia. It reminds me of a classic '70s jamband version of early dnc. Gibb's a great guitar player (40 Watt version of "Indian Song" just kills), and Joey wails with reckless abandon on "Madman Blues."

Anyone else dig the original version of this band? I'm a bit nostalgic for it because I think it should've been more successful. I assume it was de-railed by Kevn's throat problems, and by the inability to keep Gibb and Joey on-board for a longer period of time.

I would love to see something like this again, as I think it could be commerically viable with the right business decisions: i.e., finding the right audience.

I wonder if the Kevn/Anton/Andy Hess project bears any similarity to this?

[slackdaddy]

I liked the band

[buell]

Let me clarify that the only reason I singled out Gibb and Joey is that the lineup with them only played a few times. You and Dave also brought the goods to that band! More "fluid" than dnc.

Do you have the 40 Watt show from 2004? That "Indian Song" is spectacular! If you guys want to recapture that sound and need a second guitar player, I gladly volunteer. Hell, I'll even play for free!

[judgenothing]

buell: I totally dig STAR! I believe it must have been 2004 (since I was living in California & Tennessee in '02-'03)...Bryan can validate this for me...I think it was the first official live performance of STAR...September/October...Chili Cook-Off at Stone Mountain Park... It had been well over 2 years since I had seen Kevn or DNC in concert. I got excited when I heard on Z93 (DaveFM) that Kevn was gonna be playing with a new band.

I made the 65 mile drive from my home in Waleska. I didn't know what time they would be taking the stage so I left around noon & got there around 1 - 1:30. I don't even remember what time they started playing now. I believe it was around 3 or 4. I was sampling free chili from the time I got there til I saw some action developing on the stage. My first thoughts when I saw Bryan..."wow...who is this guy with dreadlocks & how did Kevn meet up with him?" I didn't know who Dave was either. I just knew it wasn't Jeff Sullivan behind the drumkit. I now believe it was October because the debut STAR album had just been released & Kevn was heavily promoting it during the show. Of course, they played some DNC & Kevn solo tunes during the set. I wasn't really big on keeping track of the setlist back then or I would have been writing it down.

After their set, I walked over to the merch table to see what was available. There was just some DNC & KK cd's. I asked the girl (I think her name was Britnee Smith...I believe she is thanked by Kevn in the lyric booklet of that album) if she had the new STAR cd & maybe some shirts too. She told me that she did but that they were in the trunk of her car in the parking lot. I volunteered my services to help her bring in this HUGE box full of STAR merchandise from her car to the merch table. I wasn't gonna leave there without a brand new cd & shirt. She even made me a deal since I had helped her. I don't really know what happened to Bryan & Dave, but Kevn stayed around to autograph & talk with the fans.

If you don't have Comin' Around Again, you NEED to get it also.

[buell]

If you don't have Comin' Around Again, you NEED to get it also.

Good story, Robert. Yes, I have that record, too. Not nearly as good as STAR! (sounds more low budget, and K's voice is shot)

[Stargical]

I listened to it a few times last week. First time I had listened to it in a while. I got it not too long after it was released, and have thought from the beginning it had a really good sound. I've always felt the different tempos/arrangements are well done. It is also a very stylistically creative album.
Seems that anyone who at least saw the cover art would be intrigued. . .

[Lew]

I miss those STAR shows with Gibb playing lead guitar. The band was pretty tight in those days.

I just listened to a show from late 2002...They sounded amazing, and i really miss some of those songs. Maybe we'll get a new album/shows somewhere in 2010.

[judgenothing]

Maybe we'll get a new album/shows somewhere in 2010.

Lew: That would be really nice. I wonder if Kevn, Bryan & Dave will be able to make some time in their schedule to do so. Bryan appears to be busy with THE HEAP now & of course Kevn & Dave will still be touring in support of the new DNC album in 2010. As Bob Marley (Black Crowes too) once sang..."only time will tell..."