Original Pairs Embrace Chaos and Catharsis on “Star Guitar”

Toronto-based rock and roll revivalists Original Pairs return with a blistering new single, “Star Guitar”—a raw, retro-fueled anthem that celebrates the scrappy spirit of local music scenes and the defiant will to keep playing, even as the world crumbles around you. With caveman riffs, glam swagger, and garage grit, the track feels like an unfiltered punch to the gut—and a bittersweet salute to every crumbling stage and forgotten barroom dreamer.

At its core, “Star Guitar” is a eulogy to The Dakota Tavern, one of Toronto’s most beloved grassroots venues, where Original Pairs played many formative shows. It’s a space that once buzzed with the energy of new acts and hometown heroes, but in recent years began showing signs of wear—signs the band couldn’t ignore.

“They stopped giving bands beer, the doorman disappeared, the sound tech ghosted – we knew it was over,” says guitarist and vocalist Andrew Frontini. “But we plugged in anyway. Because the show must go on.”

That quote captures the essence of the song—part lament, part declaration, and all heart. “Star Guitar” doesn’t wallow in nostalgia. Instead, it kicks the dust off old amps, turns up the distortion, and throws one last party before the lights go out. It’s a fist-in-the-air, feedback-drenched tribute to what once was—and a statement of intent for what’s still possible.

The track was recorded live off the floor at Lincoln County Social Club, a fittingly no-frills setting that matches the band’s ethos. On a day when they were tracking four songs in one go, “Star Guitar” emerged in a haze of fatigue and frayed nerves. To bridge two takes, the band left four silent beats—a cue to regroup. But in a perfectly imperfect twist of fate, keyboardist Jon Loewen forgot the pause and kept playing. That unplanned moment became part of the final recording.

The track’s unpolished energy is only heightened by Loewen’s one-take synth solo, performed on John Dinsmore’s vintage Moog. That warped, analog flourish gives the song a nostalgic, spaced-out feel that nods to psych and glam without ever abandoning its garage rock roots.

“It’s a song for wannabe guitar gods and barroom believers. It’s dumb-smart, loud-proud and it feels like the end of something important.” – Andrew Frontini

Since forming in 2008, Original Pairs have been quietly laying the foundation for one of Toronto’s most consistent, underrated rock legacies. Founded by Frontini and drummer Lisa Logan, the band grew from the ashes of several influential local acts. Frontini himself played in The Slinks (Gord Downie’s first band), Quadruped, and Sean Penitentiary with Hugh Dillon. Over the years, Original Pairs became known for their commitment to visceral, story-rich rock and roll—blending glam, rockabilly, psych, and garage with just the right mix of intellect and abandon.

With Lynda Kraar now on bass and Loewen on keys, the current four-piece lineup leans hard into their collective influences while maintaining a unique sonic identity. They’re not retro for the sake of it—they’re chroniclers of scenes and spirits, of breakups and breakdowns, of beautiful messes that refuse to be forgotten.

Whether they’re conjuring the ghosts of shuttered venues or sketching out characters who live on the edge of ruin, Original Pairs bring depth and defiance to everything they do. “Star Guitar” may be a nod to the past, but it hits with a present-tense urgency. It feels like a record salvaged from a fire—scarred, smoldering, and absolutely alive.

For fans of raw, narrative-driven rock, “Star Guitar” offers a reminder: not all revolutions are loud. Some are quiet and stubborn. Some just plug in and play through the silence. And that might be the most rock and roll thing of all.