Review: Greg Phillips. Photos: Ravyna Jassani & Bevan Triebels
When LA-based brothers Russell and Ron Mael, aka Sparks, last toured Australia in 2023, it had been two decades between visits and consequently the welcome they received was almost reverential. Now, just a few years later and armed with new material, they’ve returned as part of Sydney’s Vivid Live, with side shows in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Coming off the European leg of their Mad! album world tour, but touring New Zealand under the moniker The Very Best Of, there was some confusion among Australian fans as to what the setlist might consist of. With popular Sparks tunes such as When I’m With You (a hit only in Australia), Something For The Girl With Everything, Amateur Hour, Angst In My Pants and Barbecutie absent, we were instead treated to a blend of old and new.
To a rousing cheer, older brother Ron walked on stage in his dark suit, seemingly four sizes too large for him, complete with a kangaroo brooch on the lapel, and sat at his keyboard station like he was about to begin a day of bookkeeping, while the contrasting Russell bounded on enthusiastically in a polka-dot outfit and pink shoes.
Beginning with the band’s customary invitation, So May We Start?, the anticipatory energy in the room was tangible. Wasting no time plugging the new record, they launched into Do Things My Own Way from Mad!, showcasing a dynamic band featuring Eli Pearl (guitar), Darren Weiss (drums) and Max Whipple (bass).
There’s a novelty factor to Sparks records that can make them an acquired taste. However, live on stage, stripped of the ribbons, bows and gift wrapping of studio production, what’s revealed is a collection of finely crafted pop songs propelled by a spirited and versatile group of musicians.
The perky Reinforcements from 1974’s Propaganda album had Russell marching purposefully from one end of the stage to the other. A dreamy Sherlock Holmes then demonstrated that Sparks know a thing or two about show dynamics. Russell explained that the next song, Beat The Clock, came out of a memorable period working with iconic disco producer Giorgio Moroder, marking the band’s first foray into “hit song” territory for the night after reaching the UK Top 10.
Running Up a Tab at the Hotel for the Fab, also from Mad!, uncovered a powerful rhythm section, featuring a thumping bottom end from Max Whipple’s Rickenbacker bass and driving beats from Darren Weiss’ kit. In one of the audience’s favourite moments of the show, Ron Mael left his seat to take the lead microphone on the quirky Let’s Get Funky, complete with an amusing finger-snapping sidestep.
Porcupine, with its German techno vibe, gave us the only offering from their Madder EP, the follow-up to the Mad! album. JanSport Backpack, the most talked-about tune from Mad! (see our pre-tour interview with Ron Mael), was up next and, judging by the crowd reaction, may well find its way into future “best of” sets.
Music That You Can Dance To upped the dance ante, making me realise these guys are far punchier live than I expected. Then the real hits began to roll out as the audience rose to its feet to sing along to When Do I Get to Sing “My Way”, followed by the disco classic The Number One Song in Heaven, featuring the legendary sudden swagger dance from the previously motionless Ron Mael. With the crowd now fully up and dancing, it was the perfect time to unleash the epic, operatic This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us, the song that started it all for Sparks. It was a scorching version too, spurred on by Eli Pearl’s savage licks.
In an authentic and touching speech, Russell thanked the Melbourne audience, reminding us that the band had released 28 albums and joking that they’d be “here for another seven or eight hours!” A rockin’ Whippings And Apologies, much heavier than the recorded version, extended the party vibe. The more subdued My Devotion, a tribute to the crowd, offered the band a breather before they briefly exited the stage, only to return a couple of minutes later.
Back at the microphone, Russell announced that the next song was rarely performed by the band but had been revived for this tour because of its relevance to the times. The band then ramped things up with the jaunty, country-flavoured (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country, with Russell urging the crowd to clap along. Prior to performing The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte, Russell apologised on Cate Blanchett’s behalf, suggesting they had invited her to the gig but she was away filming. Blanchett not only appeared in the song’s video clip but also joined Sparks on stage at Glastonbury. In one final amusing bit of banter, Russell introduced the band before asking the audience about bin chickens and cockatoos.
Sadly, as the cliché goes, all good things must come to an end, and the band farewelled an ecstatic Melbourne crowd with All That in one final poignant singalong moment. After the rest of the band had left the stage, Ron and Russell stood centre stage to accept the heartfelt ovation in one of the longest farewells I’ve seen. There’s an obvious connection between Sparks and Melbourne audiences that stretches back to the ABC TV Countdown days, and tonight that mutual affection was on full display. Good times with old friends.
Setlist
So May We Start
Do Things My Own Way – Mad
Reinforcements
Sherlock Holmes
Beat the Clock
Mickey Mouse
Running Up a Tab at the Hotel for the Fab – Mad
Let’s Get Funky (Ron version)
Porcupine -Madder
A Walk Down Memory Lane
JanSport Backpack – Mad
Music That You Can Dance To
When Do I Get to Sing “My Way”
The Number One Song in Heaven
This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us
Whippings and Apologies
My Devotion – Mad
Encore:
(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
All That