On a cool evening of 1 June, I arrived precisely on time for the start of the concert by Queen's elder brothers — SPARKS, delighting their local fans with a second visit; the previous year they had visited this country for the first time, as part of the Hello Young Lovers tour, and gave two concerts at B2; this year the practice was repeated, with the notable difference that the two moscow concerts were the band's only shows of the year. Evening was falling outside — which scarcely mattered, because the mustachioed Mael brother had already begun energetically dancing to "Hi-Ho" (the Disney cartoon Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs — dwarfs, mines, birds, and other creatures). This set a tone that immediately lifted the mood. On Saturday (2 June) the opening was different but no less cheerful.
The opening numbers differed between evenings too: on Friday it was "Achoo" ('74 Propaganda), on Saturday "Happy Hunting Ground" ('75 Indiscreet). It must be said right away: the sound on Friday was not the best, while on Saturday it was simply superb; similarly the band on the first day were clearly warming up at the concert's opening, while on Saturday the musicians were firing on all cylinders from the very first note.
Both concerts then continued with "Something For The Girl With Everything" ('74 Propaganda). Then on the first day came "Here In Heaven" ('74 Kimono My House), while on the second the audience instead heard two tracks: "Bon Voyage" ('74 Propaganda) and "In The Future" ('75 Indiscreet). Even in terms of setlist, Saturday clearly had the edge over Friday. Russell, by the way, hadn't yet fully warmed up the high notes on Friday, unfortunately.
The main part of the set was identical between the two evenings. "Tryouts / Number One Song In Heaven" ('79 No.1 In Heaven) gave way to "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" ('74 Propaganda). The first of these is actually a medley of the opening and closing tracks from the band's first pop album, No.1 In Heaven. For "Mother Earth," most of the hall was already singing along — and on Friday there were even some pioneer-type kids standing behind me who were wailing in what was apparently the then-fashionable emo style, adding their own contribution to the menagerie.
On Friday Ron performed his "Ron Tap Dance," while on Saturday he offered a different number: the "Ron Laughing Man." What can one say about this most colourful member of SPARKS — a handsome man who by his mere appearance alone accounts for half the show. A truly free bonus: his performance greatly amused everyone; after he tapped his dance someone called out with weighty sarcasm: "WELL DONE!"
And now for the disco section — the next number on our programme: "Music That You Can Dance To" ('86 Music That You Can Dance To). Opinions divided here: some lapped it up with pleasure while others — myself included — would have preferred something more interesting. After this respite Russell announced that the next song was written by himself (the vast majority of SPARKS songs are written by Ron), and "Pineapple" from the album Indiscreet ('75) rang out.
The peak of both concerts was the staggering — well, pAranoid... pardon, wrong report — of course it was "Dick Around" ('06 Hello Young Lovers): the very thing everyone came for had now arrived. As the russian saying goes, "if only it would rain now!" — and following it came "Perfume" and "Waterproof," both from the same latest album. What more could one ask for?
After such a volley came the simply pleasant and uplifting "When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'" ('94 Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins). The girls jumped and rejoiced and clapped, the guys too — there's your rain, rested? Because next came the famous "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" ('74 Kimono My House) — at which absolutely everyone sang along. The Mael brothers rounded off this portion of the performance with "Amateur Hour" ('74 Kimono My House) — on Friday it passed somewhat unconvincingly, though of course everyone clapped etc.; on Saturday it was simply something extraordinary.
Next in the programme came the definitive encore. On Saturday the Mael brothers dressed in various costumes and performed "Aeroflot" ('00 Balls). This came out very cheerfully and entertainingly.
Then followed the more acoustic section of the concert: "Suburban Homeboy" ('02 Lil' Beethoven), "Change" ('86 Music That You Can Dance To), and the closing reprise of "Dick Around." The difference here was not only in the sound — on Friday these three pieces were performed by the brothers alone, while on Saturday no one left the stage during the encore.
Naturally both concerts were excellent — but those who missed the Saturday spectacle, let it be said plainly, missed an EVENT. For me, this concert will remain one of the very best of 2007 — in terms of sound, energy, humour, warmth, and positivity. Special mention once again must go to Ron — an extraordinarily charismatic individual.
As for the audience: a crowd largely "in the know," with many knowing the songs and singing along. Admittedly 1,500 rubles is not cheap — but believe me, SPARKS concerts are worth that money. Next time — and they promised to return after the new album, the recording of which, according to Ron, they would be starting soon — be sure to go.
Band lineup: Russell Mael — vocals; Ron Mael — keyboards; Josh Klinghoffer — guitar; Steve McDonald — bass; Steve Nistor — drums
Setlists:
Friday: Achoo Something For The Girl Here In Heaven Tryouts / Number One Song In Heaven Mother Earth — Ron Tap Dance — Music That You Can Dance To Pineapple Dick Around Perfume Waterproof My Way This Town Amateur Hour
Suburban Homeboy Change Dick Around
Saturday: Happy Hunting Ground Something For The Girl Bon Voyage In The Future Tryouts / Number One Song In Heaven Mother Earth — Ron Laughing Man — Music That You Can Dance To Pineapple Dick Around Perfume Waterproof My Way This Town Amateur Hour
Aeroflot Suburban Homeboy Change Dick Around
Report by Anton "666" Kitayev
Special thanks to the Apelsin club and personally to Ilya Zinin for the accreditation provided
Photo report (photos by Alan)
