SPARKS

Kermit · Guest

I really can't add anything that hasn't already been said. Brilliant shows. Both nights utterly flawless perfomances. Ron & Russ just genius!
If only Neil Tennant was there to receive that cat swiping remark from Russell. Meeeow!!! And yes, all Sparks fans know who are the true innovators of the electronic duo!!! Ouch!!
Stunning shows! Thank you Sparks for the most amazing volume of outstanding work and electrifying music the world of intelligent ears has ever known. Looking forward to the DVD to relive it all and it does all seem to be the end of an era but the next chapter is certainly gonna be "A Big Surprise" for everyone and that's for sure!

powpowpow · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

powpowpow · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject:

MarkRae · Groupie Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 199 Location: London

Alex Robertson · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:32 am Post subject:

Mind you... assuming it was a dig at Neil Tennant,,,,in interviews Andy McCluskey claims to be the innovator of the singer/keyboard player electronic duo and influence for many groups which followed.

MarkRae · Groupie Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 199 Location: London

leslie hanagan · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:54 am Post subject:

On Friday night we had to deal with a rather unpleasant 'gentleman' in a Everton shirt who pushed his way to the front of the queue. What a pr*t!
No Steve McDonald dancing class this time, although Marcus was throwing a few shapes.

BigManRestless · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:50 am Post subject:

Rage Kitty · Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 9

Hello.
I'm a newbie here
I went to both London Forum gigs with my mate Gemsy (she's also joined here) and has an amazing time
I was even complimented on my dancing/swaying/jiggling/pogoing

I was down the front near Ron so if some blonde bint got in your way because she was too bouncy I apologise wholeheartedly

Like I said it was an amazing gig and I'm a total Sparks convert now

Spyke · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

Another great gig - one of their best that I've been to for the atmosphere as well as the performances. I was standing/bopping close to the idiots, but even they didn't spoil it! Number One In Heaven has never sounded so energetic and fresh.

By the way, has anyone seen any reviews in the papers? I haven't.
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Deano · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject:

Spyke i agree No1 was very vibrant.What a show it was.Straight from the first song "Good Morning"-the atmosphere went up a notch on the previous night-even though there were a fair few less people there.It was easy to see Russell was enjoying it even more than the first night.He kept pointing both of his hands at the crowd,as if to say you are brilliant and i love you all.Hope one particular fan front right side,had a blast.Bet you did mate.One of the best Sparks nights for me.We will even forgive Mr E Speed with the Ted haircut.

piley · Junior Groupie Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 48

Not sure about the 'brave' bit, but it may have been me who stood up to the quiff tosser down the front??!! I was seething at his abuse of proper fans.... He knocked countless people over, pushed and shoved everyone around (including me several times) and was generally nasty and abusive when anyone politely asked him to be careful. A truly horrible, ignorant, @rse... who was even worse once his bald headed mate (was he his mate, or just another idiot?) It takes a hell of a lot to wind me up, but in all the confusion I ended up, erm, ACCIDENTLY, kicking quiff boy.... very hard... whoops! Sorry mate, I mistook your crappy check jacked for a football :-)

Am busy working on a review for my site, and I have been lucky enough to once more be allowed to have a few photos from professional photographer Tony Bartolo (Tony was the only guy who took photos at every night of 21x21)... who was camped out at the front of the stage both nights.

Will let you know when it's all up.

Best wishes all (good to chat to a few like-minded fans on the night too... Sparks have some fab fans eh?... apart from the idiots quiff boy and baldy)

Piley

www.piley.blogspot.com

systemr2000 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject:

Saturday saw my first Sparks gig at long last, and oh boy was I planning to dance and clap throughout the entire performance - regardless of most around me who weren't! During Let The Monkey Drive our part of the crowd briefly had to put up with one of the eejits/intruders, but he was quickly escorted out by eagle-eyed personnel. Surprised that Intro Reprise wasn't performed(!) Seriously, I could not fault the band on their sound, so dynamic, while the dancers were used well for Intro, Pregnant, Renaissance and Director. The album burning was still well-received, carried over from its ceremonial 21x21 debut. Then before we knew it it was time for No. 1 In Heaven - awesome. Merchandise was plentiful, though sadly the aforementioned album was not for sale. The cameramen down by the stage were capturing all the action and sweeping across to catch up with Russell. Ron never got tiring to watch, either!

Very pleased about the encore songs...
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systemr2000 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:

E-Clect-Eddy · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject:

Rage Kitty · Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 9

powpowpow · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Heaven Sent

lilywearsmoschino · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

There were 2 guys in front of us who chatted through the ENTIRE show - unbelievable - but at least they weren't falling about or kicking people!
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hyburn · Fan-in-Training Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 32

I just got back home from London tonight and my legs are still sore from all the standing, dancing, pogo-ing even (at my age!!!) to my absolute all time fave band SPARKS. At 5' 3" I didn't even try to get to the front but I had a great vantage point both nights and a rail to lean on when my energy flagged.

I agree they were FANTASTIC and the guys in the band have really gelled well with Ron n Russ. They have nailed the SPARKS sound. Steve Nistor is particulary good - as is Jim Wilson and Marcus Blake - hell they're all great.

I pushed the boat out and went to see them in LA in Feb and I have to say the London gigs were WAY MUCH BETTER. In my opinion the crowd was so much more appreciative and responsive and I personally think that feeds thro to the band and their performance too. I was really surprised at the lack of reaction from the audience in LA until near the end. I seemed to be the only one singing along in my row which I felt didn't go down too well with the guy sitting next to me who was drawing me daggers. It was all seated which probably didn't help but it just didn't feel like a SPARKS gig to me and I have been to a fair few in the last wee while - not as many as I would have liked but more than I could probably afford in terms of time or money.

For me SPARKS concerts are high octane energy fests and God knows how Ron and Russ do it but they do. I am convinced there are some pictures of them in an attic somewhere ageing ...

Note Russ changed the line 'there's them who have and there are the others who have not' to 'there's those who have ...' in Hasta Manana Monsieur - so now he's into grammar??? Is there no end to his talent???

Was great to meet Sparks fans at the gigs and in the pub afterwards on the Saturday. I was just remarking to my other half how nice SPARKS fans are and thankfully didn't experience any of the aggro that some did. There was a wee bit of that at Hydro Connect and it can be very annoying to say the least.

Thanks again to SPARKS for making my 50th year on the planet so interesting, for taking me to new places literally and metaphorically and for making me feel young again - until the dodgy knee joints, crook left shoulder and aching leg muscles remind me that I'm not.

The Decline and Fall of Me ... there's a SPARKS song for every occasion.
MiniPop

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Second prize goes to Tracy Wise
For her seashells painted all through

systemr2000 · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:12 am Post subject: