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Review Thu Nov 07 2013
Review: Sparks @ Lincoln Hall, 11/6
Sparks may not be the household name that they could have or should have been. Over the last forty years, the Mael brothers have been all over the map between big hits, critical praise, some missteps and a little bad luck all while churning out an eclectic selection of pop music to a cultish audience. Their electronic angle has kept them progressive and their clever wordplay has always been rightly admired.
In 2013, the Mael brothers are on the road on their own -- Ron on keys and Russell with the microphone. They're playing 20+ songs ranging from the early days to one written specifically for this tour. The set's stripped down without a band, but that comes with its own benefits. Ron's musicianship shines on the altered arrangements of longtime favorites. Big glossy productions have a warmth and even a delicateness that sometimes gets lost on recordings. With the minimalist approach, Russell's impressive vocal range stands out more than ever. At 65, he's barely lost any ability to hit his terrific falsetto. And he still bops around the stage like he's 20 years younger. (Even the reserved Ron got a little dancing in for "No. 1 Song in Heaven" near the end.)
For an older and forgiving crowd who seemed delighted that Sparks even play live anymore, the brothers had a freedom to dig deep and get a little experimental, especially with a medley from 2009's The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman. At times, though, the duo seemed on cruise control. They've been doing this show for months and the performance was lively, but always in check. However, the music at the forefront was still pretty flawless and refreshing.
Sparks are at Lincoln Hall again tonight. The show is $30, 21+ and starts at 8pm -- and last night they were on stage right at 8, ending just after 9:30. (So you can still get over to Metro for Kavinsky and Simian Mobile Disco in plenty of time.)