DEAN BIRKHEIMER | Go Venue Magazine
It was October 2019 when Starcrawler last visited the Reverb Lounge. For that show, Poppy Jean Crawford was the opener. This time it would be Omaha’s own, EX LOVER. If you’re a fan of high-energy, chaotic rock ‘n’ roll, then the Reverb Lounge was the place to be on the evening of Sunday, October 5, 2025. The L.A.-based band delivered a ferocious set that left fans buzzing long after the last note was played….But first
Opening the evening, EX LOVER set the tone with their “bratty post punk para los que quieren bailar” (for those who like to dance) approach to music. Their style gives out a dark, Molchat Doma / Bomba Estéreo concept. Impelling bass-lines, synth beats and reverberating vocals screamed that they were all business. They definitely brought some fans along, as several in the crowd were dancing and singing along. EX LOVER’s message is obvious, Dance! The synth/keyboards were the only instrumentation, but that’s not to say that the mournful vocals were not an instrument in itself. Keep an eye out for this band and give them a look-see when you can. You can get a taste of them by checking out their new video for the song “Move”.
From the get-go, Starcrawler was a force of nature. Lead vocalist Arrow De Wilde, in her trademark mix of glam and gritty punk, was an absolute magnet for attention. The moment she stepped on stage, she had the audience in the palm of her hand. The set list was packed with fan favorites that had the crowd screaming. Songs like “I Love L.A.” and the Ramones cover, “Pet Cemetery” to name just a couple. Almost anything can happen at a Starcrawler show, and indeed, anything did happen. De Wilde, decided to jump into the crowd. There’s something almost mythic about watching a vocalist leave the stage to continue singing while fully immersed in the audience. A little later on, the most surprising moment came when Starcrawler brought two local teenagers on stage to jam with them. It wasn’t just a gimmick because these kids could play. With guitars in hand, they shredded alongside Cash, holding their own in the midst of Starcrawler’s sonic storm. This impromptu act perfectly captured the spirit of the show. The set closed with “Bet My Brains” and as Arrow made her way off-stage, Henri Cash, the band’s guitarist, took things to another level when he climbed a ladder that was placed into the crowd and as he stood precariously atop it, he continued to shred. As if that wasn’t enough, he climbed down and casually ventured out the front door and into the street, again, still playing his guitar. I expected the crowd to follow him, pied piper style, but they remained inside, eagerly anticipating his return. This wasn’t a stunt for the sake of attention, it was just the way Starcrawler does things. Unpredictable, and raw. By the time they closed the show, the room was full of sweat and exhilaration. Starcrawler didn’t just put on a show, they gave their fans an experience, one that was every bit as wild and impulsive as a rock ‘n’ roll show should be.
Starcrawler
Ex Lover
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