Pop star Ryan Star to play with LI friends

Ryan Star has the kind of magnetism that lets him... — Ryan Star has the kind of magnetism that lets him open at Irving Plaza with the piano ballad "We Might Fall," while still reeling his fans in. (Aug. 3, 2010) Credit: Yana Paskova

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comJanuary 16, 2011

Ryan Star laughs at the idea that he's leading a Long Island takeover with his Webster Hall show Tuesday night.

"This isn't a reunion of Long Island acts," the Dix Hills native said. "This is a reunion of my high school."

Star is looking to kick off 2011 with a bang, building on the momentum from a year of touring and his breakthrough hit "Breathe," which ended up as one of the Top 50 hits of 2010, according to Mediabase. His follow-up, "Start a Fire," is still climbing the pop charts, buoyed recently by a surprise appearance from Steven Van Zandt, who jumped onstage at WPLJ's holiday show to play guitar and sing on the new single.

"That was such an amazing thing," Star said. "It was great to be playing with such a legend on one of my songs."

He's ready to get back on the road to promote his major-label solo debut, "11:59," again, though he's also starting to get some ideas for new songs. But first Star said he's focused on his first New York-area show since "11:59" was released in August and his biggest headlining show yet. He even hand-picked the openers.

"I've been a bridesmaid for so long," said Star, who has opened for Train, David Cook and Rob Thomas in the past year. "When it came time to do my show, I wanted to have people that I was close with and who I believed in. . . . I wanted this show to feel like home. I wanted it to feel like it was an extension of the LIE."

Here's a look at who he's bringing along: