Starsailor play triumphant Christmas show in Belfast
22 Nov 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR played a triumphant Christmas show in BELFAST's MANDELA HALL last night (December 21) rounding off the European leg of their 'SILENCE IS EASY' tour.
The band made it a festive family affair with frontman James Walsh's parents making the trip from north England to watch the gig alongside the family of his Irish girlfriend Lisa McNamee. The singer dedicated the show to the Walsh and the McNamee families "whose alliance inspired most of the album".
It was the second of two Irish shows. The four-piece played the Ambassador in Dublin the previous night. During the show, which saw a set mainly drawn from the band's two albums 'Love Is Here' and 'Silence Is Easy', Walsh covered two John Lennon-penned tracks - 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' and 'Jealous Guy'.
Starsailor head to the US in January for several months of touring. Their second album 'Silence Is Easy' is released in the States early next month.
James on J-wave
11 Dec 2003
James Walsh popped on Japanese Radio station 'J-wave'. He appered programme called 'Viva! Access', played Born Again and Silence Is Easy.
Live streaming : Visit Viva Access
Shibuya AX
7 Dec 2003
Starsailor played about 1hour20min set at Shibuya AX in Tokyo. This was actually 3rd times they performed in Japan.
Band seemed enjoy playing and singing. James got a fab voice, soft and warm, also powerful.
Of cause gig were brilliant! I really loved that.
Oh my friends BOYS landed in December, creating something for US to remember！
Setlist @Shibuya AX, Tokyo - 7 Dec 2003
- Shark Food (Tape/Vocal)
- Music Was Saved
- Alcoholic
- Poor Misguided Fool
- Fidelity
- Lullaby
- Where The Streets Have No Name (U2 Cover) - James Acoustic
- Telling Them
- Love Is Here
- Four To The Floor
- Born Again
- Tie Up My Hands
- Silence Is Easy
--- encore --- - Fever
- Good Souls
US Tou Date
26 Nov 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR will release 'SILENCE IS EASY' in the US in January 2004 and will tour around the same time.
The album, the band's second, has already been released in the UK. Now the US release date has been confirmed as January 27. To coincide, the band will tour, calling at:
- Detroit St. Andrews Hall (January 15)
- Toronto The Guvernment (17)
- Montreal Cabaret Music Hall (18)
- Boston The Paradise (20)
- New York Irving Plaza (22)
- Philadelphia Theatre of the Living Arts (23)
- Washington 9:30 Club (24)
- Chicago Metro (28)
- Minneapolis Fine Line Music Cafe (29)
- Boulder Fox Theatre (31)
- Vancouver Commodore Ballroom (February 3)
- Seattle Crocodile Cafe (4)
- Portland Berbati's Pan (5)
- San Francisco Slim's (7)
- Los Angeles El Rey Theatre (11)
- San Diego Epicentre (12)
- Toronto The Guvernment (17)
Starsailor to play one-off Belfast gig
31 Oct 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR will play a one off gig in BELFAST in December.The band, who release new single 'Born Again' on November 17, will play at Mandela Hall on December 21. Tickets cost £18.
The band are currently on tour in Europe promoting their latest album 'Silence Is Easy'.
One Live in Brighton
28 Oct 2003 [Radio1]
Starsailor performed at One Live in Brighton yesterday (27 Oct). Visit One Live in Brighton site for pics, interview and watch their live!
News from Official Site
24 Oct 2003 [Official Site]
You might not recieved official e-mail, here are some news from starsailor.
New Single on 17 Nov
Starsailor will release 'Born Again', the second single to be taken from 'Silence Is Easy'. The single will be released on 3 formats, CD, a limited edition wallet, and DVD and 7" vinyl edition.
- 2track CD:
- Born Again (Radio Edit)
- At The End Of A Show - brand new track!
- Special Limited Edition Wallet:
- Born Again (New Radio Edit)
- White Dove (Original Demo)
- Silence Is Easy (Live from Radio One's 'One Big Weekend' in Cardiff)
- Born Again Video (Alternative Version)
- 4 Postcard prints
- White Dove (Original Demo)
- DVD Single:
- Born Again video
- White Dove (Original demo)
- 10 min documentary: Includes Interviews and Live Studio Footage
- White Dove (Original demo)
- 7" Single: - on 24 Nov
- Born Again (Radio Edit)
- At The End Of A Show
Later...with Jools Holland - 24 Oct
Starsailor perform 3 tracks from their new album on Later...with Jools Holland this Friday 24th October, check it out to see exclusive live versions of 'Born Again', 'Silence Is Easy' and 'Music Was Saved'. Also on the show are Dizzee Rascal, Texas and Desert Sessions aka Josh Homme's side project with guest PJ Harvey. The show is on BBC2 at 11.35pm.
James on Mark & Lard show - 23 Oct
James popped in to see Mark & Lard on their Radio 1 show and sang U2's cover 'Where The Streets Have No Name'.
To Watch James' live 'Where The Streets Have No Name', visit Mark & Lard radio1 web site.
Born Again Video
You can watch the brand new video for 'Born Again' on the video section of official website.
James on Lamacq Live
21 Oct 2003 [Radio1]
Steve Lamacq chats to the Starsailor frontman about the new album 'Silence Is Easy' and about how becoming a dad has changed his music.
Click here to listen James's interview!
Starsailor Interview
13 Oct 2003 [BBC Radio1]
The band on names, fame, and world domination
Trashing 'Waterface' and 'Morph' as bad ideas, Starsailor changed their name to the title of a song by musical hero Tim Buckley. They reckon it's helped them to a million-selling debut album and made them accessible outside the UK. Now they're touring album number two 'Silence is Easy,' and headlining at Radio 1's One Live in Brighton . Frontman James Walsh and bassist James Stelfox (aka Stel) tell OneMusic what's in a name.
'Starsailor' has worked for you, but why?
James: It's unique and other worldly and it conjures images of astronauts. You can do things with it. We thought of it as a tribute to Tim Buckley but the name has just grown with us. We're not keen sailors or anything, but we are reaching for the stars.
Stel: And it's romantic, everyone likes to be romantic. You can't say that about 'Waterface' or 'Morph'.
When did you first feel like rock 'stars'?
James: I think picking up an award at the Q Awards (Best New Band in 2001) was pretty special. Just having all these people sat in the audience like Johnny Rotten, Liam Gallagher and them thinking, 'Who the hell are they?' From that day on they never forgot our name. From that day on Starsailor were on the map.
Stel: Supporting the Rolling Stones at Twickenham was the best moment for me. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were just the coolest people when I was young.
Has it all been plain 'sailing'?
James: It's been pretty good so far. We've had a few critics who've gone against us but no more or less than any other British band. It's just their way sometimes, to build you up and then make you work harder and harder to keep your place. So it's up to us to prove ourselves.
Have you ever felt like a fallen star?
James: There's a few times where we've been on tour, on like a 15-hour coach journey from Minnesota to Los Angeles and we've been tearing our hair out, and each others. It's hard work travelling for a day to play a twenty-minute set in front of a hundred people in a car park.
Stel: Trev, the sound engineer is quite a comedian so we call on him in times of woe. And Hamish the keyboard tech, he's a really positive bloke and keeps morale on high.
You're on record as big Elbow fans. Who do you think are the huge stars of the future?
James: I think The Coral are destined for great things. They're already well on the road. The Thrills are gonna do really well. There's a band called Bell X1 who we're touring with - I think they'll become The Thrills of this year because of their musicianship.
There's a lot of great bands out there but Bell X1 have got the musicianship of Radiohead, as well as the songs.
Who are the hidden stars in the Starsailor camp?
Stel: I think our guitar tech Les has star quality. Every time he comes on stage he gets more whistles than the rest of the band. He's a handsome young chap. And he lives the rock & roll lifestyle more than we do!
'Silence Is Easy', or is it? Do you ever get any peace in the band?
Stel: On tour you've got to respect each other's privacy and their moods. I know when James is in a bad mood definitely cos you can tell by his face. He's alright again after a few drinks but then he starts talking about Liverpool. Ben (drummer) is quite shy.
I know when not to talk to him. If everyone's being miserable I go in a bunk on my own and watch a DVD.
So where are you setting sail for now?
Stel: Our first proper tour for two years. We'll be doing Europe, then Asia, back to England for shows in December and then concentrating on America from January. It's quite weird there - all the DJs think they're really shocking and different but really they're all the same.
James: I remember this whacky American DJ saying I had' very good teeth for an Englishman'. I felt like saying, 'And you're not fat like Americans are.' Really all we want is world domination, and a good night's sleep. Or at least to become one of the most important bands in Britain.
Japan Tour 2003
26 Sep 2003 [Creativeman]
Starsailor are coming to Japan this winter!
| 7 Dec (Sun) | Tokyo Shibuya-AX (Open 17:00 Start 18:00) 11 Oct (Sat) on sale |
| 8 Dec (Mon) | Nagoya Club Quattro (Open 18:00 Start 19:00) 25 Oct (Sat) on sale |
| 9 Dec (Tue) | Osaka Bayside Jenny (Open 18:00 Start 19:00) Ticket TBA |
>>More info : Creativeman(Japanese only)
Starsailor in Aberfeldy
19 Sep 2003 [Scotland Today]
When it comes to the rock n roll tour circuit, Aberfeldy is a little bit off the beaten track but for one night only, it has become Scotland's pop capital and it's all thanks to one of the biggest bands in the business.
Our music correspondent Billy Sloan spoke to the band, and asked singer James Walsh what it felt like to be in the Perthshire town?
"It feels great," he said, "I know Idlewild have done some unusual gigs on the Scottish islands so it's partly inspired by that really. Just to get back and play in front of a small audience in an unusual place."
"When I was a school kid, I thought it was the most boring place on earth but as I've grown up and matured, I've learned to appreciate the quietness and the atmosphere and the scenery and everything. We came here just before we got signed because the manager said "you'll need somewhere to go for a bit of calm" and this was where we came."
Billy asked drummer Ben Byrme what it was like working with legendary producer Phil Spector on their new album "Silence Is Easy".
He said: "It was just an honour, first and foremost because he'd come out of retirement to work with us and he could have worked with anybody else but he chose us so just a great honour and privilege really."
Asked if he was a bit daunted going into the studio with somebody who has such an incredible reputation, James Walsh said: "Not really, we were daunted when we first met him, when we first walked through the doors of his castle thinking we've heard all these stories about him threatening people in the studio and things. We were a little bit apprehensive but then he made us feel at ease. He was completely calm and collected and just a really nice bloke. His enthusiasm for music is still infectious."
>> To watch TV report, visit Scotland today Website!
Starsailor cover U2 at low-key Scottish gig
18 Sep 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR covered the U2 classic 'WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME' at an intimate gig in the rural Scottish village of ABERFELDY last night (September 17).
An audience of just 250 competition winners bussed in from around Scotland were there to witness the event.
Part of the SRH local radio network's series of Up Close events, the Town Hall gig was particularly fitting as Aberfeldy is the hometown of Starsailor frontman James Walsh's mum.
The band played a nine-song set, which included five tracks from new album 'Silence Is Easy', which was released on Monday (September 15).
Walsh performed a rousing version of U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name', from their 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree', alone.
The full setlist ran:
Music Was Saved
Alcoholic
Four To The Floor
Born AgainWhere The Streets Have No Name
Telling Them
Tie Up My Hands
Silence Is Easy
Good Souls
Starsailor kick off a UK tour in Glasgow on Friday (September 19).
Baby changes everything for Starsailor's James
17 Sep 2003 [BBC Radio1]
James from Starsailor says he used the birth of his daughter as inspiration for the band's new album - 'Silence is Easy'.
They're part of the line-up for next month's One Live in Brighton, and they told us they'll be mixing up some of the older and new stuff, which went down really well at One Big Weekend in Cardiff.
Between the albums, James' girlfriend had a baby girl. She's called Niamh and he reckons she's given him a great excuse to act like a big kid again:
"It's great fun! It's an excuse to become a child again yourself, really. It's making faces and messing around."
"I think it can get a bit overserious, this old game! The birth, specifically, was massively inspirational - the biggest change in your life you can possibly have, really."
>>Video & Pics from One Big Weekend in Cardiff
Starsailor launch new album at special London show
16 Sep 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR celebrated the launch of their new album 'SILENCE IS EASY' with a storming instore show at HMV's flagship store in central LONDON last night (September 15).
The Chorley four-piece delighted several hundred fans who packed into the Oxford Street shop with a seven-song set drawn mostly from the new record.
"There's been a lot of great new bands who have come through since our debut album 'Love Is Here'," frontman James Walsh said from the stage. "Thanks for sticking with us."
[Setlist]
Music Was Saved
Alcoholic
Born Again
Four To The Floor
Telling Them
Silence Is Easy
Good Souls
Following the show, the band held a signing for fans. Such was the demand to meet the band, that the shop was forced to stay open until close to midnight.
"Silence Is Easy" out today in Japan!
3 Sep 2003
New album "Silence Is Easy" has released here in Japan today!
Starsailor's launched Brand new website. Some news from official site : band will be appearing at HMV's London, Oxford Circus on Monday 15 Sept to play a 25 minute instore gig and sign copies of new album.
And more, band willbe playing competition-only-special gig in Scotland on 17 Sept.
One Big Weekend
29 Aug 2003 [NME]
TRAVIS, STARSAILOR, THE THRILLS and THE DARKNESS have all been confirmed for this year's second RADIO 1 ONE BIG WEEKEND, taking place on September 13-14 in CARDIFF' COPPERS FIELD.
Performing on the Sunday (14), the bands will be playing live alongside Pink , Dido and Kosheen. Saturday's (13) dance line-up features Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers, Erick Morillo and Seb Fontaine.
The event, which will attract 20,000 music fans over the weekend, will be completely free to attend. Radio 1 will be hosting a special ticket giveaway on September 5 at the Millennium Walkway by Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, giving everyone a chance to get their hands on a pass to the event.
The ticket office will open at 9am for the free tickets to Sunday's live music line-up and re-open at 6pm to giveaway tickets for Saturday's dance event. The offices will close once all of the tickets have been allocated.
Starsailor return with storming London gig
12 Aug 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR made a triumphant return to LONDON last night (August 11), playing an exclusive gig at ULU which included THE CHARLATANS' MARK COLLINS on guest guitar.
The gig included highlights from the band's forthcoming album 'Silence Is Easy', including their current single of the same name and future single 'Four To The Floor'.
The setlist ran as follows:
Music Was Saved
Alcoholic
Poor Misguided Fool
Fidelity
Lullaby
Telling Them
Four To The Floor
Born Again
Tie Up My Hands
Silence Is Easy
Some Of Us
Good Souls
Starsailor are currently gearing up to support The Rolling Stones at Twickenham Rugby Stadium (August 23-24), before embarking on a full UK tour in September.
Silence Is Easy - Japan
8 Aug 2003
Silence Is Easy （Japan）Release : 3 Sep 2003
Catalog No : TOCP-66211
[Tracklisting]
- Music Was Saved
- Fidelity
- Some Of Us
- Slience Is Easy
- Telling Them
- Shark Food
- Bring My Love
- White Dove
- Four To The Floor
- Born Again
- Restless Heart
New single and album details announced
1 Aug 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR will release 'SILENCE IS EASY' on September 1, the first single to be taken from the band's second album, also called 'SILENCE IS EASY'.
Produced by the legendary Phil Spector - currently set to stand trial in relation to the death of actress Lana Clarkson - the single was recorded in London's Metropolis Studios last summer.
"We wanted to make the sound as big and wide screen and as open as possible," said singer James Walsh. "While everyone was trying to make themselves sound as small and bluesy as possible Spector was great at doing that."
'Silence Is Easy' will be released on CD, DVD, and numbered limited edition vinyl. The CD will feature the B-sides 'Could You Be Mine' and 'She Understands', while the 7" will include 'She Understands'.
The video for 'Silence Is Easy' will be available on the DVD along with the audio for 'Could You Be Mine' and a live version of 'Good Souls'. The disc also features a making-of-the-video presentation.
Starsailor will be supporting Rolling Stones at Twickenham rugby stadium on August 23-24, before embarking on a full UK tour.
'Return To ULU' Free Ticket Giveaway
30 July 2003 [Official site]
Starsailor are returning to the 700 capacity University of London Union venue for a very special gig on Monday August 11th. This is in preparation for their upcoming Stones supports and UK headline tour.
Tickets will only be available through this site, NME and XFM - there will be no tickets for sale. Support will be provided by The Soulsavers (DJ set).
For more info. visit Official site.
New single and album details announced
24 June 2003 [Official site]
Starsailor will release their brand new single 'Silence Is Easy' on September 1st. An album also titled 'Silence Is Easy' will follow on September 15.
We can exclusively reveal the album tracklisting is as follows: Music Was Saved, Fidelity, Some Of Us, Silence Is Easy, Telling Them, Shark Food, Bring My Love, White Dove, Four To The Floor, Born Again and Restless Heart.
More details on the single to follow shortly.
Starsailor speak out over Spector
24 June 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR frontman JAMES WALSH says it would be a "great honour" if they were the last band to have worked with troubled producer PHIL SPECTOR but that it would feel "strange".
The band coaxed the legend into the studio to help them out on their second album 'Silence Is Easy', and he produced two tracks shortly before being arrested on a murder charge. And while Walsh admits Spector's methods were unorthodox, he was not prepared for the shock news that he had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Walsh said: "It feels strange really. The time we spent with him, he was eccentric but by no means was there any indication that he could be capable of anything that serious.
It would obviously be a great honour if we were to be the last band. But also it would mean the loss of someone so good who had given so much to music."
When asked how strange Spector was to work with, Walsh replied: "I think it was an amazing experience first and foremost. To see, for example, the way he could make a string quartet sound like an orchestra.
"His hours were very unconventional. He started at six at night and finished at four in the morning. That was quite hard work. He didn't want to use anything modern, any pro-tools or anything like that. Whatever you recorded, stuck. You couldn't really go back over anything and say ‘That could sound better or that could sound better’. In the end, two of the songs he did are on the album - 'Silence Is Easy' and 'White Dove'. That style suited those two songs better than the other ones."
'Silence Is Easy' is released on September 15. It was produced by the band and Danton Supple, except 'Silence Is Easy' and 'White Dove' which were produced by Phil Spector, and 'Shark Food' which was produced by John Leckie. A single of the same name appears on September 1. The band then head off on a UK tour around the same time.
Starsailor announce UK tour
20 June 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR have announced details of a UK tour.
The dates in September coincide with the release of their second album proper, which is due the same month.
The tour calls at:
Glasgow Academy (September 19)
Manchester Apollo (20)
Birmingham Academy (22)
Leeds University (23)
Nottingham Rock City (24)
Cambridge Corn Exchange (26)
Cardiff University (27)
Bristol Academy (28)
Southampton Guildhall (30)
Norwich UEA (October 1)
London Brixton Academy (3)
Summer Sonic 2003
27 Mar 2003 [Starsailor Is Here]
Starsailor has conformed that they will play at 'Summer Sonic' in Japan.
This Japanese rock festival will take place in Tokyo and Osaka - like V festival, all bands will swap one another's venue.
Promoter Creativeman has announced festival line-ups. Starsailor will play in Tokyo (2nd Aug) and Osaka (3rd Aug).
2nd & 3rd August
Tokyo : Chiba Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe
Osaka : WTC Open Air Stadium & INTEX
http://www.summersonic.com/
http://www.creativeman.co.jp/
Live
18 Mar 2003 [Official Site]
Starsailor will perform at this years Isle of Wight festival on Saturday 14th June.
And more, later in the year Starsailor will play as special guests to The Rolling Stones on a number of shows in Europe and the UK - the shows confirmed are:
19th & 20th August - Amsterdam Arena
23rd & 24th August - Twickenham Stadium
For more info, visit official site.
Starsailor call Will Young a 'genius' as NME Awards Shows kick off
5 Feb 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR kicked off the NME AWARDS SHOWS at LONDON ASTORIA last night (February 4), with frontman JAMES WALSH hailing WILL YOUNG a genius!
Speaking from the stage, Walsh said: "Sorry Gareth Gates, forgot to put you on the list. But Will Young - welcome! You're a fucking genius!"
The band played four new songs, one of which - 'Four To The Floor' - was dedicated to his girlfriend Lisa and their baby Niamh. The other new tracks were 'Music Was Saved', 'Silence Is Easy' and 'Telling Them', which will appear on their forthcoming second album, which is slated for release in May.
Starsailor support The Stones!
27 Jan 2003 [NME]
THE ROLLING STONES have announced a second show at TWICKENHAM STADIUM in LONDON and STARSAILOR will be their 'special guests' on both nights.
The veteran group recently announced a trio of UK dates in venues of varying sizes for August, their first home tour in four years as part of the European leg of 'The Lick' tour. The dates include an intimate gig at the London Astoria (August 27).
Now, NME.COM can reveal that the Stones will play a second show at Twickenham Stadium on August 24, the night after their previously announced, sold out show at the venue.
Tickets go on sale on Friday (January 31), and for availability call the NME Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663.
Starsailor reveal all about new album
8 Jan 2003 [NME]
STARSAILOR are winding up work on their second album in ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS, where they have been recording with legendary producer PHIL SPECTOR.
NME joined the band during their ninth and final week in Abbey Road, a little after Spector's work had been completed.
"The greatest thing we've done so far was work with Phil," frontman James Walsh said. "I think we took a lot away from that. It was like two worlds colliding. He's not done much for a long time. He's learned a lot from us about how studios work these days and we learnt from him about older techniques."
"He was amazing, had some mad ideas," added bassist James Stelfox.
It is not clear yet which of the four tracks produced by Spector will make the album. Starsailor have recorded 15 songs in total and intend to whittle them down to a lean 10. "We've done what we set out to do with Phil," said Walsh.
The album is now being co-produced by Starsailor and engineer Danton Supple.
"We're more aware of what arrangements we want, of what we want to do on this record," said Walsh, "and Danton is there to realise our vision."
The album, the follow-up to the million-selling debut 'Love Is Here', was recorded in Abbey Road's Studio Two, the same room used by The Beatles. The rarefied air has seen Starsailor raise their game.
"One of the things we had about making the album was that rather than base it around three or four tracks was make 10 amazing songs and put them out," said Walsh.
"In simple terms, the difference between this album and the last is that on the last album we had a few great songs and a few alright ones and went into the studio cold saying these songs are alright, how can we make them really good. In comparison, this time we said these songs are really, really good, how can we make them fucking mindblowing."
Much of the album is informed by the recent birth of Walsh's baby daughter.
"We took a few weeks out completely during the summer," explained Stelfox. "We'd been on tour for two years, then James had Niamh and me and Ben got hammered, went on holidays. I spoke to Jim at home and he said he's written a load of new stuff on four-track. So we listened to them and thought, fucking hell - these are strong."
"There's a new found confidence with us," added Walsh. "We know exactly what we want to achieve with this album."
The band now move to a studio in north London owned by Flood - the producer best known for work withU2. After mixing is complete, the album should appear in May. Working titles include 'Music Is Saved', though nothing has been decided. Before the album, there'll be a single in March. It might be the massive sounding 'Four To The Floor', though 'Music Was Saved' is also a contender.
"We are delighted with it," said Walsh. "It's quite a step-up from before."