For its new video, the Los Angeles band Starcrawler strung together shots from their adventures during a recent sold out tour of Japan, and the result might help explain why rock ‘n’ roll fans have been giddy about their rise.
Directed by lead singer Arrow de Wilde, the clip focuses on two particularly raucous shows. De Wilde, whose gangly frame recalls the Cramps’ Lux Interior in his prime, is a whirlwind of energy onstage, so much so that her dancing can sometimes seem like a physical reaction to the sound waves crashing through her body.
The video also features bandmates guitarist Henri Cash, drummer Austin Smith, bassist Tim Franco and what seem like a whole lot of bruised arms and legs. But as with any visual Starcrawler endeavor, de Wilde steals the show. She shakes and shimmies, bangs and stomps as head-banging fans rock along.
The song is taken from Starcrawler’s self-titled debut album, which seems hellbent on earning fans on every continent. As with the rest of its songs, “Love’s Gone Again” has little time for pleasantries or self-absorbed naval gazing. Instead, de Wilde sings about “a boy, a little boy/ He was created to destroy.”
Just don’t call them a nostalgia band! Arrow De WIlde and the boys from LA buzz band, ‘Starcrawler’ to talk about the young group’s musical influences, putting out an analog recorded album with producer Ryan Adams, their crazy fans and much more!
Starcrawler are all manic yelps and big-ass, unapologetic riffs; they have a song called “Pussy Tower”; and frontperson Arrow De Wilde, clad in a corset, she moves like she’s drunk off of bat blood and with Cherie Currie’s spit. Any given moment you might see her doing back bends, rolling on the stage, grinding on a tree, and smearing fake blood on her face, before spitting it onto the crowd to alternating disgust and delight. In less capable hands, it would be corny, but Starcrawler just makes it a hell of a lot of fun—less an ode to forebears like Ozzy, than a revitalization that puts some lifeblood back into long-anemic guitar music.
Starcrawler’s debut single “Ants” b/w “Used To Know” is out now on Rough Trade Records on 7″vinyl
Starcrawler!! Need we say anymore?? , Got a feelin these LA punks are going to feel right at home in the Pit!
Starcrawler are a Los Angeles rock band who formed two years ago when lead vocalist Arrow de Wilde first met drummer Austin Smith. Shortly thereafter, she found guitarist Henri Cash at her Echo Park high school and LA native Tim Franco (bass). They play with squalling riffs and thundering beats, and their incendiary performances, fronted by de Wilde’s otherworldly magnetism, recalls nothing as much as a youthful amalgam of the Cramps, the Yeah Yeahs Yeahs, and Alice Cooper.
They released their debut single “Ants” in 2017 and London DJ Matt Wilkinson quickly discovered the track and played it on his Beats One show, after which the track made its way to Zane Lowe and Sir Elton John, both of which spun the track repeatedly. The band made several trips to the UK and Europe over the remainder of the year and opened for bands such as the Foo Fighters and Black Lips in the USA. Starcrawler released their debut album on January 19th, 2018 recorded with Ryan Adams in his Pax AM studio in Hollywood. It features their present single “I Love LA” and is out everywhere on Rough Trade / Beggars.
Spend 13 minutes with Starcrawler and you will NEVER BE THE SAME.
The young punks of Starcrawler have been lighting up L.A. with their famously fun and ferocious live shows, and now they’re catching ears across the country with their self-titled debut album, produced by Ryan Adams.
Songs performed Love’s Gone Again, I Love LA ,Used to Know, Ants
Ranging from 17 to 22, this quartet kicks out a scuzzy brand of glam-rock and 80s LA hair metal. Arrow de Wilde and Henri Cash write the tunes and alternate on the vocals as Austin Smith and Tim Franco handle the engine room. They wear their influences on their sleeves, they’re practically an encyclopedia of 70s music and they crush it. They’re fun, brash and most importantly; massively talented.
Whether paying homage to The Runaways on “I Love LA” or working on some heavy sludgy jams like Chicken Woman and the closer What I Want, they build each tune on a wicked riff by Cash as Franco & Smith keep the train on the rails. It’d be easy to label these kids as a novelty act but you’d be sadly mistaken. These kids rip it hard.
It puts a smile on this old fucker’s face that kids are still cranking out music like this. They are touring around now and will be at SXSW in Austin Texas this spring where they are an absolute must-see. You never know you might even get bitten.
Having made a name for themselves with squalling riffs, thundering beats and their incendiary live shows oozing Arrow de Wilde’s otherworldly magnetism, Starcrawler are truly captivating. Recorded by Ryan Adams on analog tape at his Pax-Am studio, the 10-song album proves that yes, this foursome are making rock and roll exciting again!
Formed in 2015 when 18-year-old lead vocalist de Wilde first met guitarist Henri Cash at their Echo Park high school. Cash has played guitar since his hands were big enough. Today, he could rival his idol Jack White. He’s often so lost in adrenaline he doesn’t know his fingers are bleeding. At the Echo last year, he broke his nose onstage and didn’t realize it until he saw his disfigured face at a photo shoot the next day.
Shortly thereafter they were joined by the rhythm section of Austin Smith (drums) and Tim Franco (bass). Smith, the eldest, carries the air of a Venice skater but grew up in Hollywood. His rhythmic partner, Franco, is the quiet one. “I thought Tim looked like a prick [at first],” Cash says. “But he’s the nicest guy.” If ever there were an attack on Starcrawler, de Wilde assures that the rhythm section would defend them. “They’ve got the guns,” she says.
Ryan Adams has been tweeting up a storm about them saying things like “This Starcrawler record is gonna peel the paint off your brain!” and “Starcrawler are so fucking insanely good. Soon they will rule this galaxy.” After signing to Rough Trade Records earlier this year, they quickly released their debut single Ants, which caught the ear of Elton John who played the track on his Beats 1 radio show. Soon after, they were on the cover of LA Weekly – their hometown paper. The headline was “With Fake Blood and Frenetic Songs, Starcrawler make rock feel dangerous again”. In the article, Arrow describes that “bands are boring nowadays” and that “there’s no mystery”. That helps explain a little bit of why their shows have become the stuff of legend.
This will be the bands Second limited 7″ on Rough Trade. Starcrawler taken from their newly released RyanAdams– produced debut album. Starcrawler hail from Los Angeles and were formed a year ago . Shortly thereafter, the streets of Hollywood brought them the rhythm section of Austin Smith (drums) and Tim Franco (bass). Starcrawler are the future of the rock n’ roll legacy of bands like Kiss, X, Sonic Youth and The Stooges.
When the band launch into their song “Pussy Tower.” (“It’s about giving head, whatever,” shrugged Starcrawler’s frontperson Arrow de Wilde, Once the song gets underway, de Wilde disappears from view, then re-emerges and spews blood over the audience. Some scream, others laugh. It’s some party trick.
Starcrawler have been gigging around L.A. for a year, often with fellow glam-punk revivalists The Lemon Twigs. Chances are you’ll hear about their fluid-secreting rock & roll before you see it.
When it comes to the music, Starcrawler are so conscientious that, in a bid to “look pro,” they recorded their first single, “Ants,” and its B-side, “Used to Know,” before even playing a gig. “Ants” is a literal anthem about the summer ant infestation that plagues Cash’s house annually. It’s fast, furious and was written as quickly as it plays out. “Ants” was played on Beats 1 radio by Elton John. “It’s funny ’cause people were like, ‘Elton John’s playing your song,'” .
Starcrawler have found a kindred guide in singer-songwriter producer Ryan Adams, who recorded their forthcoming debut LP on analog tape at his Pax-Am Studio in Hollywood. Adams discovered the band while following de Wilde’s mom Autumn on Instagram; like many rock musicians, Adams has been photographed by the elder de Wilde. When mom passed the message along to Arrow, her response was like someone hearing of a long-lost uncle: “Ryan Adams? I hadn’t heard that name in years.”
Starcrawler are definately the future of the rock n’ roll legacy of bands like Kiss, X, Sonic Youth and The Stooges.
Taken from the band’s debut album ‘Starcrawler’, out now on Rough Trade Records:
Los Angeles’s most thrilling new band and recent Rough Trade signing Starcrawler have unleashed a video for their next single “Let Her Be”. Buy/stream the track and, if you dare, watch the clip which features a possessed frontwoman Arrow de Wilde and some demonic guitar solos from Henri Cash.
“Let Her Be” is the first track to be heard from the LA four-piece’s debut album. Produced by Ryan Adams who describes the band as “the future of the Rock ‘n’ Roll legacy of bands like KISS, X, Sonic Youth and the Stooges,” it is due for release in early 2018 (full details coming soon!).
“Let Her Be” video director J. Casey Modderno who describes the vision he had for it: “One of the first things I noticed about Starcrawler was the almost demonic energy that Arrow has on stage – crabwalking, spitting blood…. so we just decided to run with that concept which we already saw in their live show, that when Starcrawler performs, Arrow becomes possessed by literal demons. “Let her Be” is also a sort of tug of war, or call and response, Henri gets the first verse, and Arrow gets the second – so we wanted to incorporate that into the video too, that Arrow is somehow trying to get at Henri, draw him into this possession circle with her… she finally does and everything turns metal as Hell while Henri rips a completely evil solo.”
With a front woman who Classic Rock describe as “what would have happened if Ozzy Osbourne and Patti Smith had got together in 1975 and had a kid,’ and tunes which Shirley Manson says “you’ll be singing all day,“Starcrawler’s visceral and immensely fun live show is not to be missed! The band will be bringing it to America’s East Coast for the first time ever to play a handful of dates before returning to Europe:
The Fat Angel Sings 