Immediately that we take our seats the stage set emphasises precisely what we’re going to get on Sparks’ Two Hands One Voice tour, as it consists of one keyboard and one microphone stand, each illuminated by a solitary spotlight.
Ron Mael takes the stage and plays an overture consisting of snippets of some of Sparks’ finer moments (the intro to This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us elicits a particularly loud cheer). Ron’s brother Russell joins him dressed in a black shirt, sports jacket, three-quarter length trousers, striped socks and black shoes, looking for all the world like a 1930s all-American college boy.
The first song, Metaphor from Hello Young Lovers proves from the start that Sparks don’t miss having a full band on stage with them. Indeed, the lack of a band highlights the quality of the songs, and allows the lyrics in particular greater prominence than they may otherwise have had.
The set list appears to have been carefully chosen from across the band’s catalogue. The hits are there, and their more successful albums from recent years (Li’l Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers) are represented by a couple of songs apiece. There is a selection of excerpts from The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman (together with the announcement that that particular work is to become a stage show and a feature film). More surprisingly they include the 1975 US-only b-side The Wedding Of Jacqueline Kennedy To Russell Mael, complete with a mime of the marriage ceremony from Russell!
In many ways this particular choice underlines Sparks’ appeal. Their songs are intelligent both in terms of music and lyrics, but playfulness and humour is never very far away. In some ways the performance tonight was reminiscent of Weimar Republic era cabaret, both in terms of the sometimes quasi-operatic melodies, and in the presentation of the performance. As is customary, Ronald stayed behind his keyboards (apart from during encore Beat The Clock when he came out to dance enthusiastically, stripping to the waist in the process…..) whilst Russell inhabited the whole of the stage; dancing, pacing, skipping.
This was a bravely pared down performance that only enhanced the songs delivered. Thankfully it had none of the po-faced reverence of the 1990s MTV unplugged sessions. The Mael brothers appeared to enjoy the performance as much as the audience. My only complaint was that the gig couldn’t have been a couple of hours longer! Still, can’t have everything…..
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