Starset brought their unique Acoustic Experience to Mission Brewing in downtown San Diego, California on March 15, 2025. Starset AE03 is a very special VIP demonstration of their immense creativity, musical talents, and fan engagement. This tour is bringing the band to small venues, more specifically, local craft microbreweries. These events take place in the late afternoon and last for a few hours.
Fans line up outside of the venue to be checked in and then brought inside. Mission Brewing is located in downtown San Diego, just a few blocks from the San Diego Padres Petco Park. The building has two levels. The crowd was led upstairs where the instruments were set up on one side of the building, with an extensive merch table set up on the other end. Some grabbed some local brews from downstairs and everyone settled in for an acoustic show. All 7 band members then climbed the stairs and took their positions. Adam Gilbert on a full drum set, Cory Juba on a piano keyboard, Ron DeChant on acoustic bass, Brock Richards on acoustic guitar, Siobhán Richards on violin, and Zuzana Engererova on cello. Lead vocalist and creative genius Dustin Bates welcomed everyone to the show, as Starset began playing alternative arrangements to some of their biggest hits, and fan favorites.
Throughout the 11-song set, Dustin would pull a raffle ticket from an astronaut helmet, and a lucky fan would step up to spin the wheel of prizes. Those ranged from wristbands and keychains to a pair of VIP tickets to a future performance. Dustin also took many questions from the crowd, which turned out to be quite entertaining. He and the band also taste-tested and evaluated 8 different craft beers provided by Mission Brewing. Towards the end of the set, the audience was polled to see which song would be played next. It was a tough choice between “Richochet” and “Die For You”, with the latter barely winning.
After the show was done, all of the band members mingled with the crowd for a good hour and a half, signing things, and sharing stories. There were no selfies taken, as the band had already lined everyone up for professional group photos against their Starset backdrop. Everyone there seemed to have a great time. Most people sang along throughout the show, and had an opportunity to spend time with their favorite band members, as new friendships were made along the way.
STARSET:
Dustin Bates: Lead Vocals
Ron DeChant: Bass, Backing Vocals
Brock Richards: Guitar, Backing Vocals
Adam Gilbert: Drums, Backing Vocals
Siobhán Richards: Violin
Zuzana Engererova: Cello
Coby Juba: Piano
STARSET AE03 San Diego Setlist:
1. Monster
2. Carnivore
3. Echo
4. Leaving This World Behind
5. Starlight
6. It Has Begun
7. Telescope
8. Trials
9. TokSik
10. Die For You
11. My Demons
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Johnnie Crow is a lifelong music lover. He has photographed artists from every genre at concerts, festivals and cruises all across North America.
