ACL Fest: Quirky Sassy Soulful Stars

Photo by Eric Uhlir

With a stage decorated in silver flowers and red roses, Stars came onto the ACL scene looking cool and confident. While the heat was probably killing them (and everyone in the audience) it didn't stop the passion from ringing strong in their voices. Amy Milan and Torquil Campbell playfully bounced lyrics off each other, producing charming and melodious sounds. Strong and beaming instrumentals would take a quick pause before slamming into heavy riffs of strong musicality. Harmonies felt like burst of flower petals, which was a great compliment to the actual flowers being thrown off stage sporadically by band members. Presenting composure and class throughout the set, Milan and Campbell sang as if they were making love to the microphone. Milan's voice was delicate and whispy as Campbell brought a powerful, romantic tone to the table. Bursts of piano and synthesizers created a mystic vibe during this set, creating a beat for crowd goers to bounce along with. A definite highlight of the gig was when the bassist ducked into the front row of the audience to blast his solo. The band brought about new and old hits, keeping fans dancing and clapping throughout. Campbell and Milan made several song dedications throughout the set, but the most humorous was probably "Going Going Gone," dedicated to Mr. George W. Bush. Quirky, sassy and soulful, Stars delivered strong to their self-proclaimed favorite festival of all times. --Candace Birkelbach