A few weeks ago I moved from Roswell to Cabbagetown. Now that I live closer to the heart of the city, I have been hitting shows harder than ever. In a recent eight-day stretch I went to eight different shows ranging from locals the MLTYS and Genki Genki Panic to seasoned rockers the Atomic Bitchwax and legendary prog-metal wizards Dream Theater. I ended this live show bender with a solid show at Smith’s Olde Bar featuring rising stars the Unlikely Candidates with support from one of my favorite local bands, Stardust Sonata.

Stardust Sonata has only been around since the winter of 2020. The four-piece came out of the gate swinging with two excellent singles—“Up All Night” and “Life On the Ground.” Both of these tracks ended up stuck in my headphones for weeks. After watching the band play their second set ever as part of the Bad Guru album release, I have not missed out on a single show. Every performance I’ve seen blows the previous one out of the water. The band seems destined for a meteoric rise.

Opening with their latest single “Terrible Waitress,” Stardust Sonata served up their appetizing blend of vintage rock and modern indie—a combo which the enthusiastic crowd eagerly devoured. Each song in their set beckoned more and more bright screens to pop up as people inched closer to the stage. This was wild to see for an opener, let alone one that has only played a handful of shows as a band. By the time the group launched into “Lose My Faith,” they were firing on all cylinders. Stardust Sonata kept the momentum churning, closing out their set with blistering renditions of “Life On the Ground” and “Up All Night.” I’m sure many folks at Smith’s started the night not knowing who these guys were but ended up becoming fans. It’s exactly how I got hooked on these emerging rockers.

Check out some photos from the show below, courtesy of photographer Stephanie Heath of Smiling Eyes Media.

Stardust Sonata will perform on Sun., Apr. 17 at Smith’s Olde Bar alongside Babbler, Mellowpool, and the Atlanta Bareback Boys. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 DOS. 18+ to enter.

More Info
Web: stardustsonata.com
Facebook: @stardustsonata
Instagram: @stardustsonata
SoundCloud: @stardustsonata
Twitter: @stardustsonata_