WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Visions Season 1, Episode 2, “Tatooine Rhapsody,” now streaming on Disney+.
Star Wars: Visions' second episode, “Tatooine Rhapsody,” features the galaxy’s hottest up-and-coming emo/pop-punk band Star Waver. Bringing along musical stylings reminiscent of bands like My Chemical Romance, Mayday Parade and The Wonder Years, they’re just like any other band trying to make it in a galaxy far, far away, just like the cantina band Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes from A New Hope.
However, Star Waver’s frequent run-ins with bounty hunters like Boba Fett mean they’re packing some serious firepower under those instruments. As such, they’re a younger, hipper and more dangerous than Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes -- not to mention their song will likely go down in Star Wars music history.
Star Waver's members sure know how to defend themselves from the galaxy’s deadliest bounty hunters. Weapons are built into each of their musical instruments to defend themselves from any rabid fans or bounty hunters on their tail. Frontman Jay is an escaped Jedi youngling who modified his lightsaber into a microphone. Bassist Gee the Hutt has rumble bass that doubles as a flamethrower. Guitarist Kurti has electrified dual guitars that function like a taser in a pinch, and drummer Lan -- who has three torsos -- uses his drumsticks like mallets or hammers on bad guys. They’re able to out-maneuver Boba Fett and his crew with ease three times, according to the episode, even if it means not getting to finish their set. They clearly know how to defend themselves, an essential life skill when living in the Outer Rim.
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, the most iconic band in the Star Wars galaxy, also probably know how to throw down. They ply their musical trade in a cantina in Mos Eisley, a den of scum and villainy. Their unassuming appearance and light-hearted, jazz-inspired tunes might be hiding some serious firepower, but Star Waver would beat the Modal Nodes in a fight any day. Their quick thinking in fights and modded instruments make them more likely to survive a skirmish, and their multiple escapes from Boba and his crew prove it.
But in terms of who has the better song, it’s hard to say. The iconic "Cantina Song," and the band who plays it, are one of the most memorable parts of A New Hope. The catchy, jazz-inspired tune is the source of many a Star Wars meme and is well-known among fans. It’s arguably the more classic and iconic Star Wars tune, ranking up with "The Imperial March" and the opening crawl. Starwaver’s emo and pop-punk stylings are a first for the Star Wars universe, though. Most of the music heard playing in cantinas or clubs sounds a lot more like the music played by the Modal Nodes, but perhaps that’s why Star Waver is becoming so popular in the Outer Rim: they have a fresh, modern style that fires up the audience, saves Gee from execution and gets them sponsorship from Jabba the Hutt.
Star Waver’s musical mold-breaking and empowering lyrics are taking Star War's iconic music to a whole other level, meaning their uplifting song, “You Are Okay,” will go down in Star Wars' music history. Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes can even be seen watching their big performance at the pod racing arena. The band’s versatile nature, going from singing songs to fighting bounty hunters, makes them an awesome addition to the ever-expanding Star Wars universe. But, of course, neither of these bands have anything on the Max Rebo Band, starring one Sy Snootles.
You can catch Star Waver’s emo stylings in “Tatooine Rhapsody” and every episode of Star Wars: Visions, streaming on Disney+.
