STARBENDERS BRING THE BEAST TO SOUTHAMPTON

(Special Guests: Väin Wild + Jimmy B and The Death Rattles)

The 1865, Southampton, UK – June 11, 2026

Kimi Shelter at Southampton's The 1865 (Photo by Jose Crespo).

When Starbenders released The Beast Goes On earlier this year, the title felt like far more than a collection of new songs. The message was: perseverance. The beast keeps going. The band keeps going. And standing inside Southampton's The 1865 as Starbenders approached one of the final UK dates of their first major British headline run, that philosophy suddenly felt very real.

This wasn't the beginning of the tour. By the time the Atlanta quartet arrived in Southampton, they were already few shows deep into the UK run of this 32-date European trek that had begun with a sold-out show in Athens on May 30, where the Greek audience once again embraced the band with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for far bigger acts. After Southampton, only London and Brighton remained before the tour continued across mainland Europe.

Opening the evening were Jimmy B and The Death Rattles, local heroes from England's south coast whose appearance immediately gave the night a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere. Before their set even began, vocalist Jimmy B could be spotted among the crowd chatting with family and friends before casually making his way onto the stage as the rest of the band launched into position.

It was a fitting image for a group that has built its reputation through years of dedication to the local scene. Their blend of classic British rock and pub-rock spirit provided an enjoyable and authentic start to the evening.

Jimmy B and The Death Rattles (Photo by JL Crespo)

Next came Väin Wild, a remarkably young band whose self-titled debut album only arrived a few months ago. If Jimmy B and The Death Rattles represented the roots of traditional rock and roll, Väin Wild looked determined to resurrect the Sunset Strip.

Frontman Artem possesses the kind of appearance that would have looked entirely at home on MTV in 1987. There are undeniable shades of a young David Coverdale & Jon Bon Jovi in his image and stage presence, although vocally he is still developing and finding his own identity. That said, experience can only come from nights like these, and the confidence already appears to be there.

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Musically, the band's influences are impossible to miss. Mötley Crüe, Poison, Skid Row and early Guns N' Roses all cast long shadows over the material, but what truly elevated the performance was the band's guitarist, Tizzy Wild. While the rest of the group displayed plenty of youthful attitude and ambition, he consistently threatened to steal the show, delivering solos with a confidence and technical ability that felt a step above his years.

Then came Starbenders

The opening riff of "Blood Moon" exploded through The 1865 with all the swagger and raw energy of vintage Mötley Crüe at their nastiest. It was the perfect opener: aggressive, immediate and impossible to ignore. Within seconds, Starbenders had transformed the room into their own world.

What immediately stood out was the sound. Every instrument sat perfectly in the mix. The guitars carried weight without overwhelming the vocals, the rhythm section remained punchy and precise throughout, and Kimi Shelter's voice cut effortlessly through everything. For a band whose latest album relies heavily on atmosphere and detail, the clarity of the performance made a significant difference.

Kimi Shelter from Starbenders (Photo by JLCrespo)

There are plenty of talented singers in modern rock. There are far fewer genuine frontwomen. Kimi Shelter belongs firmly in the latter category.

She possesses the rare ability to command a room without appearing to force anything. At times provocative, at times playful, she constantly challenged the audience to give more of themselves. Following a performance of the title track, she delivered one of the night's most memorable lines:

"If you've seen us before, you know how I am. If you don't make noise, I'm going to give you some shit, so you'd better sing."

The crowd happily obliged.

That connection only grew stronger as the evening progressed. "The Beast Goes On" translated beautifully to the stage, its message of resilience taking on an almost autobiographical quality. For this reviewer, however, "Summon My Heart" remained a personal highlight. emerged as one of the standout moments of the night, combining arena-sized hooks with one of Shelter's strongest vocal performances. If there was any doubt about the quality of Starbenders' new material, songs like this quickly erased it.

Another song from the last album like "Tokyo" perfectly captures everything that makes Starbenders so difficult to categorise: glam rock attitude, alternative textures, massive melodies and enough individuality to avoid sounding like anybody else.

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The emotional centre of the set arrived with "We're Not OK". In a room filled with fans singing every word back at the stage, the bond between band and audience became impossible to ignore. It was one of those moments that reminded everyone why smaller venues can sometimes provide experiences that arenas simply cannot replicate.

Elsewhere, the band's punkier instincts surfaced through performances of "Sex" and "Nothing Ever Changes", injecting extra urgency into a set already packed with energy and momentum.

Behind Shelter, the rest of Starbenders delivered the kind of performance expected from a band that has spent years refining its craft. Bassist Aaron Lecesne brought his usual elegance and understated cool, while guitarist Kriss Tokaji looked every inch the rock star, effortlessly combining stage presence and musicianship.

Special mention must also go to drummer Qi Wei. Although still relatively new to the lineup compared to some of her predecessors, she already feels like a natural fit. Beyond her impeccable playing, there is an infectious positivity to her performance. Throughout the show she attacked every song with precision, power and an ever-present smile that became impossible not to notice.

Starbenders at The 1865, Southampton (Photo by JL Crespo)

As closer "Saturday" brought the evening to an end, one thought lingered above everything else.

Starbenders no longer feel like a band trying to reach the next level.

They feel like a band that has already arrived.

The venues may still be intimate. The crowds may still be growing. But the songs, the confidence, the performances and the vision all point in the same direction.

The Beast Goes On is more than an album title. For Starbenders, it has become a mission statement.

Jose Crespo for The Riff Collective