It seems like yesterday back in 2014 when Starset opened for Lacuna Coil and Devil you Know (now Light the Torch) at the Gramercy Theater and later in the summer of 2015 when they were direct support for 10 Years at the same venue. From Transmissions to Vessels to their latest album Divisions, it seems Starset is not only using space as their theme behind the music, but it almost seems that they are reaching up to space in their own right. They went from opening the stage at Gramercy Theater on multiple occasions to headlining it and making it their own in 2019.

On 10/25, Starset completely transformed the Gramercy Theater into a realm of Space, Time and the Universe. It was both sonically and cinematically beautiful. Opening with a brand new song of Divisions, A Brief History of the Future, all eyes were fixated on the stage as a multitude of instruments from electric guitars, glowing drums and orchestral created movement and soul amongst everyone in that venue. Whether you were at the front of the barrier, or sitting in the far back in the seats, everyone was able to interact and experience this adventure. After playing Manifest, we get a good blast from the past with Monster of the Transmissions album followed by another new track, Echo. We get the first interlude with a screening letting us no of technical difficulties. Some may have been puzzled in not knowing if this was part of the production or if there actually were technical difficulties. Either way, it completely added to the narrative, imagery and suspense as these interludes would sporadically appear throughout the set. Not only did you have intense and beautiful production, Dustin has a great ability to engage and interact with the crowd as he executes each song note for note. Clearly there wasn’t as right after the first interlude, Starset kicks right into Where the Skies End and It Has Begun.

After the second interlude, which made the performance feel like we were in a movie or demonstration (as Starset calls their shows) we get some more taste of new music live with Telekinetic. Next we get a cover of one of the most classic songs in Rock N Roll, Kasmir by Led Zepplin. Starset has already established themselves as being able to execute covers very well as we seen in their cover of Type O Negatives, Love you to Death, it was amazing to hear a group that already has their own signature sound in rock, appropriate this classic and make it their own. Things take a semi-romantic turn when the screen behind them shined blood red and they kicked in with another track of tenderness, Perfect Machine. Many fans in the audience present there with their spouse would hold each other as this mesmerizing track serenated the crowd. After another new track Trials, we get another classic from the Transmissions days, Carnivore. We heard that cello deliver the classic orchestral intro, and all hell broke loose as the intense riff and rhythm kicks in, followed by the beautiful tone of Dustin’s vocals.

After the third interlude, we get another classic cover, ACDC’s Thunderstruck we get another blast to 2017 with a Vessels track, Brining it Down and another oldie but goodie, Telescope. After our final taste of new music with Other Worlds than These we get some early classics with Frequency and of course, the song that dominated the hard rock world on Sirius XM Octane in 2014, My Demons. Ending with an orchestral outro, Starset could not have started and ended things on a better note.

Starset is more than just a band that takes the stage and plays their songs and executes them very well. Dustin has referred to their shows as Demonstrations, and with that, it definitely feels like it. They are able to create an atmosphere that transforms the room around you with their visuals and sounds and on top of that, you will also learn a thing or two. Not only is this band kicking upwards to space themselves, but they are taking everyone with them.

Starset’s newest album Divisions out now via Fearless Records