SPARKS

waterloosunset · Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 11:42 pm Post subject: Sparks live on WXPN Philadelphia

I well might be hallucinating, but Sparks just played a short set at this: https://xpn.org/2025/05/07/non-comm-2025-day2/

A Twitter friend found out about this from her Facebook friend in Philadelphia. It was live video from a sound stage at the public radio station in Philadelphia.

SET SPOILER!!
I was in such shock that I didn't write down the setlist, but this is most of it, not quite in order: So May We Start, Do Things My Own Way, Goofing Off (hurray), Academy Award Performance (my fave from that album), Running Up the Tab at the Hotel for the Fab, Drowned in a Sea of Tears, Lord Have Mercy, Number 1 Song in Heaven, and This Town. It broke up a few times on my computer so I moved to my husband's iPad, which was better. I should have filmed it from the iPad with my phone, but I didn't think to do that until they were taking their bows. I was worried that Russell wouldn't be able to hit the high notes, but he did.

And now it's gone.
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Toughest Girl In Town · Sparks Guru Joined: 15 Feb 2022 Posts: 5312

Why did they keep it as a secret???

Now we can only hope there will be some kind of replay somewhere... fingers crossed!

Henry McHenry · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 6:18 am Post subject:

I guess it was published to early by mistake
but what about the Fab Song?
what is your Impression about it?
and Lord have Mercy…

Henry McHenry · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 7:25 am Post subject:

this is strange, as there are photos of this Gig with
audiance … who was there?

Toughest Girl In Town · Sparks Guru Joined: 15 Feb 2022 Posts: 5312

Henry McHenry · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 8:14 am Post subject:

🙄 yes, would have been nice if there would have been some Info
in advance here or on Facebook

Henry McHenry · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 12:11 pm Post subject:

Sparks
WXPN’s Eric Schuman was bursting with excitement as he welcomed the band Sparks onstage to close out night two of NON-COMM, and with good reason. The prolific synthpop icons have released albums in six distinct decades; their latest, Mad!, is their 28th record. The band’s core duo of brothers Ron and Russell Mael played World Cafe Live with a robust array of backing musicians juggling guitar, bass, and keyboards. They hit the new record’s highlights, like “Do Things My Own Way” and “Lord Have Mercy.” But as the room filled up, Sparks dug into their vast catalog for selections they deemed “ancient” (1977’s “Goofing Off,” the closing punch of “No. 1 In Heaven” and “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us”) that got the crowd going. That energy was reciprocal, too, as a spry Russell leapt and dance, and worked the fans and new faces lining the front row.

Crabby · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 2:36 pm Post subject:

There's a 27 second long clip on YouTube of Ron doing the "dance"...if you Google Sparks Live and then Short Videos it pops up....sorry l have no clue how to put a link here....l came across it quite by accident!

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 3:20 pm Post subject:

Crabby · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 4:03 pm Post subject:

OK....l checked again...by Googling

Sparks YouTube Live. and then select Short Videos
.it's the first one that came up...you can just about see "Non Comm" in the background...
I'm ashamed to say it's probably not worth the effort but I'd imagine there'd be more appearing over the next few days.....

Crabby · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 4:09 pm Post subject:

It actually says World Cafe in the background...😂
All this for 27 seconds........

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 4:58 pm Post subject:

Crabby · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 5:01 pm Post subject:

Yes! 😂

KaelMael · Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 5:52 pm Post subject:

Is this it? Looks great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY7mwVDDs-U
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Crabby · Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 1:00 am Post subject:

The very one!! 😊

Crabby · Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 4:17 am Post subject:

There's another clip that has been posted on the Sparks Fan Group page...that's the public FB group....l can't make out what the song is so lm assuming it's a new one......

(I really must learn how to use this Internet they have nowadays!)

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 4:27 am Post subject:

Henry McHenry · Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 7:59 am Post subject:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJYG_KhqFKx/?igsh=MWhqZnh6NmZkMzdvNA%3D%3D

and here is short clip of a new song: Lord Have Mercy

I think it`s fine ... slow, but maybe a classic!

Henry McHenry · Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 8:39 am Post subject:

https://www.instagram.com/allison.distefano/reel/DJYGXIVNaBZ/

Drowned In The Sea Of Tears (very short part)

Henry McHenry · Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 9:10 am Post subject:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJYHL21R3G3/?img_index=2

here is some more of the gig