Stars' theatrics are a bit too far out there

October 22, 2007|David Kieley, Globe Correspondent

A long blackout broken by blue searchlights, thumping entrance music mingling with enthusiastic applause: It was a suitably theatrical entrance for Montreal quintet Stars, which played Berklee Performance Center Friday night.

Frontman Torquil Campbell called the crowd to its feet, where it would remain through a set and an encore that focused on the band's latest indie epic, "In Our Bedroom After the War" and its predecessor, "Set Yourself on Fire."

Touring without the string accompanists who contribute to its recordings, Stars - with its core lineup of guitars, drums, and keyboard - did an impressive job translating its atmospheric sound to the stage, especially with up-tempo songs like the danceable "What I'm Trying to Say" and opener "Take Me to the Riot."

The trouble is that Stars, both musically and lyrically, walks a fine line between the passionate and the schmaltzy - a line that Campbell, also an experienced actor, can't seem to help but cross. His overearnest mugging, staggering, and frequent gazes skyward clearly helped some fans get into the music, but such outsize emotion wears thin through so many songs about love and war.

That was never more apparent than on the horrendous title track from "Bedroom," as a possessed-looking Campbell warbled, "Listen, the birds sing/ Listen, the bells ring . . . The war is over and we are beginning" as though the Berklee kids needed a course in musical theater.

Co-vocalist Amy Millan reined things back into the realm of believability; countering Campbell in their many duets and taking the lead on "My Favorite Book," she presented nuance and sincerity through an otherwise blustery show.

Stars knows how to show its fans a good time, but it could do its music more justice by easing up on the shtick.

Opener New Buffalo played a short set that, despite veering a little too far into piano-recital cuteness, served as an endearing introduction to her thoughtful work.