Live Review: Starbenders and Väin Wild at The Fleece, Bristol
Date: June 9, 2026 | Tour: The Beast Goes On
Atlanta glam-rockers Starbenders brought their Stateside magic to the UK with their finely drilled, wildly professional "The Beast Goes On" show, tearing up the stage at The Fleece in Bristol. This blistering Tuesday night was just one stop on an extensive tour sweeping across the UK before rolling out to lucky fans throughout Europe.
The Appetizer: Väin Wild
This was my first Starbenders show, and they were expertly warmed up by the heavily 80s-injected hair-metal outfit, Väin Wild. These guys have the aesthetic down to an absolute science. Lead singer Artem moved like a panther across the stage, complete with the prerequisite flowing bandanas, while the pumping basslines were laid down heavily by the suitably attired Georgie Lane.
The band delivered a set of foot-stomping original 80s rockers, spiced up by a ripping, Van Halen-inspired cover of "You Really Got Me." Guitarist Tizzy Wild hit the tapped solo with sheer aplomb. Dropping squealing dive bombs throughout the set, Tizzy's wide stance and exotically painted Charvel instantly brought to mind George Lynch back in his glory days. It was the perfect, high-octane aperitif for the bubblegum-glam main course.
The Main Course: Starbenders
Starbenders took the stage to a bouncing, visibly excited crowd—a brilliant energy to witness.
The band is a visual and sonic powerhouse, starting with guitarist Kriss Tokaji. Cutting a striking, ripped figure, his bulging muscles and six-pack made short work of wielding a low-slung Gibson Les Paul. Backed by a menacing backline of Marshall stacks, he delivered the heavy-hitting grunt that anchored the show.
Meanwhile, Aaron Lecesne brought the gender-bending glam factor. With his flowing blonde locks, badge-studded black leather jacket, leopard-print shorts, and black fishnets, he commanded the low end with a road-worn Fender Precision bass rumbling through roaring Orange amps.
In the engine room sat the highly "kawaii" Qu Wei, presiding over her red Tama drum kit, replete with Evans drumheads and Meinl cymbals. Qu was absolutely metronomic. Delivering a superb performance with flawless timing, she beautifully beat the skins with her Promark drumsticks. She was poetry in motion and the propulsive driving force behind the band's groove all night long.
The Enigma: Kimi Shelter
Finally, emerging from backstage, the enigmatic frontwoman Kimi Shelter arrived. Crowned with a voluminous, back-combed black bouffant, Kimi truly brings the "star" to Starbenders. Her ghostly white face paint, accented by alien-red eye splashes, created a mesmerizingly eerie effect. Sporting a blood-red blouse, black leather arm stockings, and a beaten-up black Les Paul Junior, she was a captivating sight.
At times, you couldn't even see her face through the amorphous mass of hair obscuring her features, but it never impeded her haunting vocal flow. She delivered the tunes with polished, strong, and husky vocals, tinged with a fine Southern drawl, all while laying down riffing, arpeggiated chordal rhythm guitar.
The Verdict
The band delivered each song with the precise level of aggression and style the musical context demanded. They are a fiercely cohesive unit, working seamlessly together to bring their lyrics to life. The crowd was incredibly responsive, happily reacting to Kimi's onstage taunts and whistling their roaring approval as each tune subsided.
Before long, it was time for the final song. Kimi dedicated the closer to the fans who had been following them on tour, and the band launched into the opening chords of "Diet Soda." The crowd went absolutely wild for the raucous, bubblegum-punk anthem.
When the house lights finally came up, the merch stand buzzed with eager fans as the band lined up to sign CDs and take photos. Overall, this rocking show was an absolute blast from start to finish. If Starbenders' "The Beast Goes On" tour is rolling into a town near you, I cannot recommend checking them out live highly enough.
Comments
Post a Comment