Stars Upon Thars & Pine Grove Faithfuls

The legend formally known as Stars Upon Thars came and left the Chico music scene all too soon — and every member of their cult-like following was there for their final show at 1422 Warner St. last Thursday evening. Flooding the footsteps of Zeke’s (SUT member and Chicolist.com administrator) house, kids of all musical tastes anxiously waited to get their “indie twist” and “shoe-gaze” on (if you aren’t familiar with these terms, please do check out the band’s Web site which is still up at www.chicolist.com/starsuponthars). I was sure that even though the show was only known by Chicolist viewers and through word-of-mouth, it was going to be a guaranteed great night.
Local Redding rockers, Pine Grove Faithfuls (jokingly dubbed “The Faceholes”) took the stage around 8:30 PM with full energy and a full audience’s attention. Loud, garage-influenced rock ‘n’ roll blasted through the house, throwing punches with more force than any other band I’ve seen in Chico recently. Since January, they’ve played a handful of shows in Redding, Chico and Sacramento, and I’ve heard Pine Grove Faithfuls’ name popping up everywhere, with good things being said. After a good sized set, the house was hotter than a Chico sidewalk in the middle of summer, with humidity at 100 percent. Satisfied groups of friends gathered on the front lawn — most very happy with the surprise of a great opening band.
The great thing about Stars Upon Thars is their diversity; no matter what kind of music you are into — punk, rock, pop, or dare I say, emo — you will find a way to grasp onto them in one way or another. I must say, if any band in Chico united the youth in the past couple years, it would be them. There is a definite endearing factor that goes into every live SUT show, and this being the last time these songs would be sung, it was ultimately sentimental. With a house full of feet dancing and kids that still remember all the words to the songs singing along, the party was in full effect. Making the Sifl & Olly Show song, “Whatever,” locally famous over a year before Liam Lynch stole Micah’s throne, how can you deny Stars Upon Thars? On behalf of the Chico music scene, I say thank you to Zeke, Micah, Aubrey and Curtis for being the ultimate rockers, rollers and out of controllers.

– Jourdan Ladley

Bookmark: