Live, In Review: Starpainter at The Pioneer
June 2, 2023
The Pioneer - Calgary, Alberta
These days, it can feel damn near impossible to create anything that will get noticed amidst the never-ending battle for our attention. In an age where we can access music from any corner of the globe at ease, there is something extra special about music that reminds you of home – something that could only come from the place you come from. For us prairie folk, that band is Starpainter. They are carrying the torch of the great prairie folk-rock tradition that feels uniquely Canadian. They wear their influences on their sleeve with pride and they have the chops to back it up. Fans of Blue Rodeo, Andy Shauf, The Tragically Hip, and The Sadies will all have something to enjoy in Starpainter’s unique blend of heartfelt song writing and inimitable prairie earworms.
In honour of their latest release Rattlesnake Dream, Starpainter took to the roads to share their tunes. On June 2nd, the day of their album’s release, they celebrated with an intimate appearance at the Pioneer in Calgary alongside Amy Nelson. Nelson was a perfect opener to showcase Rattlesnake Dream. She played like a veteran country crooner as she brewed a cowboy’s blend of originals and classic murder ballads. Adorned in Stevie Nicks sleeves, she harnessed the 70’s flower child energy as the audience bobbed and weaved with every flutter of her southern-tinged voice.
I’ve followed Starpainter for many years as the band has changed, matured, and pumped out a bunch of really nice tunes, but Rattlesnake Dream feels like a real turning point for the group. Confidence and ease abounded as they weaved through a huge stack of new tunes. Since the album was crafted in the early days of the pandemic, Starpainter “didn’t really get the chance to road test them, so playing these songs felt like a sigh of relief.” That Friday night we got to watch a band who were proud of their work and confident in their identity. They are not reinventing the wheel, but they did prove to be very good at what they do.
Not one to get pinned down by their sheet music, they had the instincts to settle into a groove and harness their inner jam band instincts that were just yearning to be let loose. But what really elevates this band from a handful of talented players to a really great rock band is front person Joel Stretch’s song writing. Whether he’s singing about his mediocre gardening skills or referencing legendary Canadian poet Al Purdy, Stretch’s writing has a gentle and warm poetic touch that delicately balances summer levity with careful contemplation. When his poetic instincts are bolstered by such a strong band, it feels like a cool glass of cold lemonade on the porch. Slide guitars crooning over warm keys with a back-line laying bricks, there’s little more you could ask for – this is a band that deserves to get noticed. Rattlesnake Dream might just be their moment.
- Clay Geddert