It is said that the subject matter and principles of Starset are authentic. Back from 1899 when Nikola Tesla detected cosmic signals he believed to be communications from aliens. The concepts are also as new as the discovery of Planet Kepler 186, a “Twin Earth” light years away that could one day become a home for a spacefaring human race. With that scientific belief system, it’s no wonder that on September 21st 2024, they chose The Astro as the venue to host Immersion: The Final Chapter Tour. The Astro is located in the heart of the Omaha metro area in La Vista’s City Centre. Able to support 2,400 indoor patrons and 5,500 outdoor guests, the Astro became Nebraska’s first indoor/outdoor multipurpose events center. The Astro strives to bring people together through music with a diverse lineup of local, national, and international acts and artists.
On September 21st, Starset would perform their concert, or as they call them, “Demonstrations” in front of a jam-packed indoor setting. These demonstrations are so much more than just some band members playing instruments and singing. They are stories being told via sight and sound. The production value is beyond normal expectations. In the opening video, a woman’s voice is heard welcoming us to the show on behalf of “New East”. Before a note is played, the audience is brought into their world. Another video begins. It appears to be a State of the Union address for the New East in which the message is hunger has been eliminated, the conviction rate is at 100% with no innocent people being wrongly convicted and radiation levels are at an all-time low. The video goes on to say that there are still those who wish to destroy the New East and that there are reports of possible terrorist activity this very evening and to be very diligent. As what sounds like the New East National Anthem is played, members of the band take their spots on stage. In front of the stage are eight LED fans that create digital/laser-like images. They are used to help tell the stories for each song.
Don’t let the name of the tour fool you. This band is not done touring. The Final Chapter refers to the last 10 years in which five albums were released. This show itself was presented on a double-decker stage and the band members were garbed in Dune-like futuristic steampunk outfits. All of this added to the incredible cinematic spectacle that this was. The set was extensive and covered everything over the last decade. When they came out for their encore, the LED fans were gone, and they were dressed in everyman clothing. The event was phenomenal and if you were there, or if you have seen this event then you now have a memory that has been burned into your brain, where it will lie forever.
Starset Band Members:
Dustin Bates – Lead Vocals
Brock Richards – Lead Guitar
Adam Gilbert – Drums
Ron Dechant – Bass, Keyboards
Zuzana Engererova – Cello
Siobhan Richards – Violin
Cory Juba – Keyboards, Guitar
Starset Setlist:
1. Unbecoming
2. Carnivore
3. Manifest
4. Perfect Machine
5. Frequency
6. Trials
7. It Has Begun
8. Waiting On the Sky to Change
9. Devolution
10. Infected
11. Telekinetic
12. Brave New World
13. Faultline
14. Monster
15. Degenerate
16. Echo
17. Die For You
18. Halo
19. My Demons
20. Tok Sik
Follow Starset Online:
Wasn’t good enough to be on stage as a performer, so the next best thing was to photograph the people who are. Shooting my R6’s is nearly as great as holding my Strat. Getting up close to an artist and feeding off the crowd is exhilarating. Concert photography allows me the opportunity to capture a once in a lifetime live moment and then share it socially.
