Presented by Good News Productions

Werk 21, Zurich City,  Switzerland – 11.07.2026

The city of Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia is a mecca for Black music. It’s also home to the Coca-Cola Museum, where you can learn more about the history of this beverage and try different flavors from various countries. That’s the place where the rock band Starbenders was formed in 2013. I was on vacation in Andalusia in southern Spain as I discovered them by accident and really liked their sound. That’s why I searched online for opportunities to see them perform live in my home country. A concert was announced in the city of Zurich, in the canton of the same name as part of “The Beast Goes On” tour. No doubt this event was my top priority, so I bought tickets in advance. A few days before the show, the band Batter-

ies and Sweets was added to the lineup as Swiss support. A hot summer day lay ahead of us, as the heat had Switzerland firmly in its grip for quite some time. That didn’t stop me from attending this concert with my colleague Marco at the cellar Werk 21 in the Dynamo Youth Cultural Center. Good music deserves support. At first, I was a little worried because few people showed up. Fortunately, the situation changed quickly.  Doors opened at 7 p.m., and an hour later, Batteries and Sweets kicked off the evening with their music. I hadn’t heard of this band before - whose roots stretch from Kyiv, Ukraine, to Bern and Thun. Bassist Nastia, wearing a black top and a long leopard-print skirt, was the first to take the stage. Then came singer and guitarist Levin, guitarist Mateo, and drummer Ruben, who took their places. “Me And My Dog,” from their set, opened the show. You could feel their excitement to play live right from the start. Levin sang with feeling while playing flawlessly. “I’d love to hear you sing along,” Levin said, and the audience began to sing. This made him smile. They played “Grandma Got a Tinder Date,” a song about a grandma who meets a man through that dating app. Nastia flashed a big smile and looked overjoyed. She teamed up with Mateo for some guitar duels from time to time. Levin talked about streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music, etc. in  “Sick of My Playlist, and how they help spread music but musicians earn very little. That’s why it would be cool to stop by the merchandise stand after the show. Levin dedicated the song “Your Mom” to the best friend who came to the concert. He also announced that Nastia is the most beautiful bassist in the world. She accepted this compliment with great joy and a smile. “God’s Favorite Song” was dedicated to Starbenders, and the audience went wild. “What I’ve Learned” was a more serious song. Levin reflected on his failed suicide attempt last year and how he sat wit his father at the table. His father told him that love is the best thing you can give to people who are carrying a lot of pain - to show them how much you care about and they matter. He added it helped him and was the reason he was still here. “Favourite Bar,” the final song, had a more upbeat vibe and wrapped up the set. Levin, Nastia, Mateo, and Ruben were given a warm send-off with lots of applause.  Forty minutes were enough to make a good impression. They delivered some authentic skate punk and alternative rock. Setlist Batteries and Sweets Me And My Dog Grandma Got A Tinder date Gin Tonic On Ice 1998 Sick of my playlist Your mom God’s Favourite Song What I’ve learned Favourite Bar There was a short break while the opening act’s drum kit was taken down. Then it was time for the headliner, Starbenders. The lights went out and the “Carmina Burana” intro began to play. Singer and guitarist Kimi Shelter, guitarist Kriss Tokaji, bassist Aaron Lecesne, and drummer Qi Wei took the stage at 9 p.m. I was as thrilled to bits for their performance. “Blood Moon” kicked things off. Kimi said with a smile, “It’s great to be back in Zurich.” after “If You Need It.”  The band played in 2023 as the opening act for Palaye Royale at Club Komplex 457 in Zurich. I nocited that Kimi incorporated a lot of theatricality into the show. It felt natural, thought-out, and suited the atmosphere. She handed her black guitar to a roadie and focused on the microphone after “The Beast Goes On.”She grabbed the microphone stand with the determination and elegance of  David Coverdale and poured a lot of emotion into her performance. She hit every note with absolute precision while still coming across as approachable. Bassist Aaron with a glam rock look, was fully immersed in the sound and added the groove. He also coordinated with drummer Qi to keep the rhythm steady. She stomped firmly on the pedals, and provided a contrast with her dark gothic/dark rock look to her colleague on bass. The shirtless guitarist Kriss turned on ’80s Twisted Sister charm. “Hey, I want to hear you guys sing the chorus” announced Kimi before “We’re Not OK.” First, there were warm-up exercises, and the audience did their best and joined. She liked it and the song was played. Kriss kicked ass with a guitar solo. Next was “Looking For Veins (Jam 1),” a short jam session in which Kimi sought out Aaron, and the two moved closer together to passionately play their six-string guitars while looking as cool as rock stars. It fit like a glove and was well-received. Guitarist Kriss provided occasional vocal parts and backed up Kimi. After “Cold Silver,” there was a second jam called “A Reptile Disfunction.” Kimi left the stage, and Aaron engaged in a guitar duel with Kriss. The focus was on the current album “The Beast Goes On” released in February 2026. However, songs from the previous album “Take Back The Night” were also incorporated into the set. The glam punk rock sound - with influences from new wave, post-punk, ’80s hard rock, and a touch of Stevie Nicks and Måneskin – went down well with the audience. Each song was met with enthusiastic applause, and the vibe was really good. The chemistry between the band members was great, and everyone had their own role in the show. Time went by quickly, and a slight sense of disappointment set in when Kimi announced “Saturday” as last song. Kimi explained that a “Whimsy Pit” would be next before the song began. This is a pit where twirling, dancing, jumping in circles, discovering your inner Stevie Nicks, and joyful chaos are always welcome. For this reason, Kimi left the stage, walked into the audience, a circle formed around her, and this beautiful moment topped off a fantastic performance. Kimi, Aaron, Kriss, and Qi took a bow and were sent off with standing ovation. They earned it. A 75-minute spectacle, flawlessly and highly professionally performed from start to finish. It was a pleasure to see this four-piece from the Southern States live. Setlist Starbenders Blood Moon If You Need It The Beast Goes On Tokyo Summon My Heart We’re not OK Looking For Veins (Jam 1) Seven White Horses Cover Me Chantilly Boy Cold Silver A Reptile Disfunction (Jam 2) Sex Nothing Ever Changes Saturday Conclusion: It was worth checking out these performances. Both bands put on amazing shows. The club was packed to the rafters, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Those who weren‘t there missed out. In addition, it was pleasantly comfortable inside the venue. Many thanks to Goods News Productions for hosting the event at Werk 21. Live report by Dominic Latscha