SPARKS

Charlie Bucket · Certified Fan Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 54

I'll shamefully admit that my expectations were low for tonight, this did after all have to follow my favourite album since I was 5 years old, but as the saying goes..."A pessimist is never disapointed" and I was certainly not disapointed by tonights performance. The new life breathed into the songs by the band was phenomenal and a great time seemed to be had by all. If ever the idea of a Plagiarism 2 is brought to the table tonight certainly offered a few contenders for consideration. Excellent work by almost all involved, the sound wasnt too bad from where I was but could've been better, Im afraid it might take something like the FOH guy and the monitor guy to switch places for a night for the band to really hear the extent of his capabilities but the vibe of the shows seem to make any glitches seem inconsequential, especially as my singing voice sounds a million times worse, the people around me are probably getting a really bad sound!! :)

Billy Stevens · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject:

Can i just say that I haven't got a problem with the album!( I like it, Iv'e got it!) But online ( and this cuts me out of any real criticism) they just didn't seem interested! I am sure it wasn't the same in the academy and maybe I am just bitter because I wasn't there! Roll on june 7th. When I shall make my return in vengeance! But again I must say they didn't look up for it at all tonight!
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Don't let it get me!

fatherjack · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject:

Hello young lovers!
I am back after many months of soulsearching, particularly as I named my youngest boy Ron Russell and I was not happy about some of the responses.........
Nerenernernerner. He is the most handsome 4-year old you would ever want!
My lovely Wife bought me the golden ticket for Christmas, she has sacrificed going to see some of her favourite albums (No.1+Terminal Jive onwards) so that her hubby can be there for them all (babysitters cost a LOT!).

NOW!
21 nights..... I have been to all of them (I live the other side of London but what is the point in moaning when...).
I have met 3 people from the US (one was his first time outside there HELLO PHILADELPHIA).
2 from Norway,
4 from France
2 from Scotland
2 from Luton (UK) in a pub elsewhere that night.
Ian Hampton. (A gentleman)
Joe Elliott (Def Leppard). A fan of Kimono & Propaganda.

I saw Jonathan Ross but he was sharklike getting to & from the bar..but at least he did turn up after saying he would do so.

But thus far, my total and complete admiration goes to the guy from Japan.....He is here with his golden ticket as I am but he has come all the way over here to watch all 21!

All together now.

WE ARE NOT WORTHY!
WE ARE NOT WORTHY!
etc.
etc.

Regardless of what the london tube & buses have thrown at me, I felt so humbled.....

(Will find out his name one day, have spoken twice to him-his english is on par with my japanese..).

1.Sparks/Halfnelson. Sooooo good.(High point-Simple Ballet).

2.Woofer.Russell's voice was coming into show (I was worried that it would go.....)(High point- Le Louvre).

3.Kimono.Very,very packed.Not good if you are 5'2" (short in metric) but tearful hearing Equator.(High point-see previous comment).

4.Propaganda. If the full force of hearing this album live came out on your PC then the live shows relaesed on DVD (inevitable) (hopefully..) will be unbelieveable!(High point "Hello soldiersoldierboy.etc.).

5.Indiscreet. Once again, I saw it live before but it was like a different album..ROCK! (High point-Happy Hunting Ground).

6.Big Beat. (My opinion). The Best Night So far... not my favourite album (It's Kimono) but they blew us away!(All high points....).

7.Introducing. So good! harmonies,no slushy stuff as they ROCKED the songs. (High point has to be Goofing Off as Russell loved doing it and said so (don't let this influence your votes.......).

8.No. in Heaven. Venue too full. (still only 5'2") apparently it sounded good on the PC but a lot of the sound from the stage was drowned out by "biggerblokes" singing & moshing.(Ta for spilling your cider over me, at £3.50 a pint, I am still licking my shirt!)(Humour).

9.Terminal Jive. Not one of my favourites BUT!!! put proper guitars/drums/bass it becomes a different monster! I realise that Rock'n'Roll People in a Disco world was Ron's backlash at being slated for going down a different route but it sounded so much better "rocked-up". (High point has to be Singing in the shower......sad but beautifully done).

Tomorrow is Whomp that Sucker. REALLY looking forward to that (maybe not so Saturday 31st or 3/4th June-work it out..).

The band truly rock!

If they don't I will tell them during Interior Design......

(Not many people that night I reckon...).

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I would rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

Billy Stevens · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject:

Charlie Bucket, you have hit the nail on the head, I can't sing and dance about at, work!

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Don't let it get me!

Billy Stevens · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

Father Jack (Feck Off, Drink!) you look like me!
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Don't let it get me!

kev hook · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject:

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

Charlie Bucket · Certified Fan Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 54

powpowpow · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject:

i think this was the best night so far.. not a huge fan of tj but i like it well enough. r&r seemed totally happy, at least from where i was standing (second row-ish), and looked like they were having fun with it, a lot more relaxed than on previous nights i think. no1 was beyond excellent, but i got the impression they were all concentrating so intensely. i've felt for a few days that they've been plowing through the albums a bit, and this came across as less of a challenge to pull off, despite russell's constant 'this is the end of the 70s' banter.

and i thought the sound was almost spot on for once.. the smaller albums are definitely going to be the winners for me.. they've all been like little private parties where yeah, it's terminal jive, but everyone's singing and dancing and there for a reason and it's all a bit more united. rather than at the sold out shows where you just get drunk people getting pissed off with each other and heckling ron.

john thomas was a picture of pure delight, the grin on his face for the entire night, wow. made the evening completely.

and yeah rolf, your batman tshirt was superb
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medic! medic! medic! medic!

Robin Davies · Certified Fan Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 64

Noisy Boy · Power Groupie Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 292

rainbow · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:02 am Post subject:

Not one of my favourites, but two highlights: Young Girls and Stereo.
Russell sang it beautifully, live the songs sounded al lot better then I remember from the album. Looking forward to woofer, but at fist a day at the office is waiting. I'm glad I'll be back in time to do the lifestreaming!
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Stop, there's gotta be a million girls like her, though
I can't think of one

kev hook · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:19 am Post subject:

Ennui · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:39 am Post subject:

E-Clect-Eddy · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:00 am Post subject:

Deano · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

Ron wearing a beret is cool of course-did'nt go for the onions though...When I'm With You was their biggest hit in any Country SO FAR with sales of near a million if i remember.One of my best mates girlfriend's-stunning French girl came round to our house around 5 years ago and was staring at a framed photo of Ron & Russell on the wall.After about 10 seconds she yelped out-Singing in the Shower-talk about made my day.. Morrissey if released? will be the one to springboard them back into the multi sales status.Sorry a little off subject here.

themightybishop · Certified Fan Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 73

i loved it. it's a shame for the musos who are picking up on the problems with the sound. but i am a dull and simple man etc. the beat was great, the tunes great and plenty of room to jig about.
scroobius was great too.

RODDON · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

OK OK OK!!! I withdraw the beret comment. I know the history - I have followed Sparks since day one after all. All I meant was that I didn't think that it suited him. All the rest that I wrote still stands though.

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The mountains may crumble............

kev hook · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Lovely hat.

Would have been nice if the onions had put in an appearance though

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You've Got Mael · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:10 am Post subject: Terminal Jive

I thought it was wonderful! The sound was fine from where I was. The band was in fine form. Ron's faux French accent was hilarious, as was the cigarette dangling from his mouth when he walked onstage. Jim Wilson, Marcus Blake and Steve Nistor popped into the Edward VI for about an hour after the show. I was having so much fun that I missed the last tube and had to get a taxi to my hotel! Whomp tonight!
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Interviewer: Does your long hair make you a girl?
Frank Zappa: Does your wooden leg make you a table?