Sparks at the Bristol Beacon on Thursday 18th June 2026. Every bit as wonderful, joyous and life-affirming as the photo suggests.
Mrs. K was due to be there with me, but unfortunately family stuff (and there's a lot of that lately) prevented her from coming along. Consolation came in the form of Mike and Paul, who already had tickets and as we were all 'standing/stalls'. we got to experience the show together, close to the front.
Support was provided by Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer, who used to be in Brit rap group Collapsed Lung but has since branched out into "chap hop", describing his music as "Noel Coward and Afrika Bambaataa enjoying a sweet sherry together".
Mr. B deserves a post in his own right. Suffice to say that, although we missed the first couple of songs (bloody traffic!), he was hugely entertaining, was a perfect choice for Sparks and got the audience suitably warmed up. Finishing with a cover of Sparks' own Suburban Homeboy was a nice touch.
We weren't kept waiting too long before Sparks took to the stage. When I saw them for the first time in 2012, it was just Ron and Russell onstage. This time, it was the full band experience, currently Evan Weiss on guitar, Max Whipple on bass and Stevie Nistor on drums.
"So may we start?" Russell asked, before launching into the introductory song from their 2021 film Annette.
Russell reminds us several times that there are currently 28 Sparks albums and, far from being daunted by this prospect, the band clealry relish some deep dives into the archives, as well as the hits, albeit generally just one pick per album.
An early example is 1974's second album Propaganda, opting not for the singles Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth or Something For The Girl With Everything but Reinforcements ("I could use a strong rear guard"). A real treat.
Considering that not a single Sparks album between 1980 and 2005 managed to crack the UK Top 100 albums, it's perhaps surprising that both Angst In My Pants (1982) and Music You Can Dance To (1986) both air two songs in this show. The latter has a rousing version of the title track as well as Let's Get Funky, Russell's vocals on the original replaced by a deadpan spoken word from Ron.
Angst In My Pants was represented by Sherlock Holmes and Mickey Mouse, both enjoyable if clearly less well known by the audience, judging by the slightly more muted response. When they played A Walk Down Memory Lane from 1988's Interior Design later, I'll admit that even I was bemused as it's one of a few Sparks albums that I don't own!
The 1990s were encapsulated by just one song, but when that song is When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way', a UK Top 40 hit - twice! - then that's okay. It was a fantastic version, upped the ante from the previous Music You Can Dance To, and propelled the audience into The Number One Song In Heaven and (inevitably) This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us.
Resplendent in polka dot suit, pink jumper and trainers and alternating black and white fingernails, I did wonder how Russell kept it going in the increasingly hot venue. I don't think I spotted him take a single water break!
Another obscurity from the vintage vaults next, with Whippings And Apologies from 1972's second album A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing ("different times", acknowledged Russell), I was struck by how fashions and music had changed dramatically over the decades, but the songs were all unmistakably The Mael Brothers.
Yet suddenly, here we were, coming to the end of the set with My Devotion, the fourth and final pick from MAD!
The band left the stage to rapturous applause. Ron was emotional. Russell was emotional. We were all emotional, more so as the brothers left the stage, our cheering and clapping ringing in their ears.
Thankfully, after a few minutes, they were all back for an encore.
I've read that previous shows have dusted off and updated Please Don't Fuck Up My World, the finale of 2020 album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip. They went further back this time, to 2006 and Hello Young Lovers.
It's often overlooked that Sparks can deliver political commentary as deftly as social commentary and there was huge cheer when they played (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country.
Two more songs to go, both from the 21st century, both #7 albums in the UK (2017's Hippopotamus making three in a row), and both opening songs on their respective records.
First, the title song of 2023's The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. Sadly, no surprise appearance from Cate Blanchett, but frankly she wasn't needed, we were more than entertained.
And, last but not least, and originally opening the aforementioned A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip was All That which, in this context, was the perfect, anthem to bring the show to an end.
Imagine if you can that room full of people, all in a heightened emotional state. The last 90 minutes or so had been a rollercoaster of joy and nostalgia, optimism and energy, and a commitment from all of us, on stage, in the stalls and the balconies, to keep this oh so special relationship going for as long as Ron and Russell have the energy, the passion, and the drive to keep going.
And, on the strength of this unforgettable show in Bristol, there's no sign of slowing down any time soon.
An inspiration.
In time honoured tradition (well, since I started this blog in 2020 at least), I've recreated the Sparks setlist from the Bristol Beacon as an 89 minute Dubhed selection. I've woven in a handful of 70s, 80s and 90s 12" mixes and, for the closing song, swapped the studio recording of All That for a version that Sparks performed online in isolation during the COVID lockdown.
Some of the time travelling sequencing sounds a little more jarring than it did on the night, due to the different producers, techniques and times, but captures the wild eclecticism of the show.
1) So May We Start (Video Introduction ft. Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard & Simon Helberg) (2021)
2) Do Things My Own Way (Album Version) (2025)
3) Reinforcements (Album Version) (1974)
4) Sherlock Holmes (Album Version) (1982)
5) Beat The Clock (Long Version) (1979)
6) Mickey Mouse (Album Version) (1982)
7) Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab (2025)
8) Let's Get Funky (Album Version) (1986)
9) Porcupine (2025)
10) A Walk Down Memory Lane (Album Version) (1988)
11) JanSport Backpack (Album Version) (2025)
12) Music That You Can Dance To (U.K. Extended Club Version) (1986)
13) When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way' (The Rapino Brothers Extended Sola Mix) (1994)
14) The Number One Song In Heaven (Short Version) (7") (1979)
15) This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us (Album Version) (1974)
16) Whippings And Apologies (Album Version) (1972)
17) My Devotion (Album Version) (2025)
18) (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country (Album Version) (2006)
19) The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (Album Version) (2023)
20) All That (Live In Isolation, 11 June 2020)
1972: A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing: 16
1974: Kimono My House: 15
1974: Propaganda: 3
1979: Beat The Clock EP: 5
1979: The Number One Song In Heaven EP: 14
1982: Angst In My Pants: 4, 6
1986: Music That You Can Dance To: 8
1986: Music That You Can Dance To EP: 12
1988: Interior Design: 10
1994: When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way' EP: 13
2006: Hello Young Lovers: 18
2020: Live In Isolation (bootleg MP3): 20
2021: Annette OST: 1
2023: The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte: 19
2025: MAD!: 2, 7, 11, 17
2025: MADDER! EP: 9
I didn't take any photos on the night so once again I am greatly appreciative of those that did, as follows:
1) Band photo from Sparks' own FB page.
2) & 3) courtesy of Mike, standing next to me in the stalls!
4) Laurie via BlueSky
5) Philip Bowsher on FB
6) Alison Eales, Nerves Of Steel via BlueSky
7) Fred Flintstones on FB
8) John Lyons via BlueSky
Sadly, Mike and Paul had to leave before the Sparks band photo at the top of this post was taken. I'm in there, roughly in the vicinity of Russell's left hand.
Fred Flintstones helpfully took a sweeping shot of the audience around the same time. In the spirit of "Where's Wally?", see if you can spot this wally. I was wearing a Sparks' T-shirt, which is unfortunately completely obscured by the crowd in this photo.
No prizes for guessing correctly, other than a crushing sense of underwhelm. The complete opposite of how I felt on the night in other words!
