Sweat dripping down his face, Stellastarr*’s lead vocalist and guitarist, Shawn Christensen, grinned slyly at the audience before the music exploded into a frenzy of guitars and feedback. Stellastarr*, known by most as a new-wave revival band, bared its fangs at a sold-out concert at the Middle East Club on Friday night.

On a bare stage, Christensen reeled, jumped and stomped across every inch, often teetering dangerously at the edge. Amanda Tannen drove most of the songs with her rhythmic and forceful bass playing, while simultaneously adding a sugary sweet harmony along with Christensen’s rough vocals.

Stellastarr* showed off its punk roots, with every song louder and more abrasive than seen on its albums. The normally romantic “A Million Reasons” became a desperate plea for love, ending with Christensen lying on his back, cradling the microphone.

The band capitalized on the space, which showcased the complexity of its entrancing riffs and harmonies as with the epic “In the Walls.”

Stellastarr* introduced three new songs, including the MySpace-debuted “Warchild.” Fan-favorite “My Coco” was the last song of the night and the audience danced and sang along with Christensen as he poured every ounce of his energy into his performance.

Museflash: The band capitalized on the club’s limited space and perfect acoustics, which showcased the complexity of its entrancing riffs and harmonies as with the epic “In the Walls.”