SPARKS LIVE AT THE KEY CLUB
Photo of Ron Mael by Rob Morgan
(I'll take credit for the light!)
Here is what Jo Solders had to say about the recent L.A. concert
(December 1998)I hope she doesn't mind me posting her comments.
Oh well, sue me! (Just joking about the sue me bit...)Take it away Jo!:
Well, I survived the most wonderful day of my life. I just got home an
hour ago from a whirlwind weekend of Sparks madness. You all read
Sandy's post about our meeting up and doing the Sparks caravan
down to LA for the show so I'll jump to the O-Rama and my take on
it.Oh first off, thanks to Carl for all the great work and organization on
this. I'm so glad the show was sold out, that's a good thing. I didn't
get to say much to you since you were busy, busy, busy but I got a
snowdome and got to see who you were at least. I appreciate all you
did."I Want to Start from before the beginning" This was my 2nd O-Rama
(Chicago was my first exposure to Sparks fans) which was fortunate or
else I would have been more overwhelmed than I was. It was great
meeting Monte, Timothy Sewell, Iain, Chris Jacks, Jay Bond, Carl
Oglio, a couple of Robs, Pauline and others I didn't talk to much (the
German guys I saw and smiled at) but whose names I recognized. It
was good to meet the person behind the e-mail address. It was also
great to meet up with old pals - Madeline and Frank (thanks for the
great work on setting this up), Richard and John from the UK . Chris,
Sandy and I fit right into The Scene and spent the next 4 hours talking
to Sparks fanatics who were busy snatching up Plagiarism underwear,
snowdomes, trading records, taking pictures, eating burgers and
drinking beer and generally have a GRAND time. Frank was busy
documenting us all on his digital camera for that upcoming cinema
verite piece about the lives of Sparks fans. I'm ready for my close up
Mr. DeMille.The action wound down at the Red Rock Eatery eventually as we
moved over to the Key Club for the two hour wait until the doors
opened. We all swooped down to the front of the stage, pitched our
tents and anxiously awaited our heroes. Now I am a truly lucky person
as I got to see them last year in the UK, after not seeing them for 14
years before that, but I was even more excited for this concert. Maybe
because it was the Maels hometime or maybe because of the great
people around me. Electricity and insanity was in the air - oh this was
going to be a good time. I was pumped up and ready to Get Crazy
with the appearance of Ron and Russell. However, I was floored by
what I heard next.Richard Gardner came up to me and said "Morrissey is here" which I
didn't believe at first but then the tone of his voice and look in his face
told me differently. I thought he could be there since he was a Sparks
fan back in 1974 and spends a lot of time in LA and likes to go out to
shows, but could this be true? Now I'm starting to hypervenilate when
Madeline drags me out of my spot and said "do you want to meet
Moz?" Well, you don't have to tell me twice plus (plus I was numb
now) so downstairs we went to the VIP area. Not a lot of people down
there (many of us were at the front) but there HE was - HIS
MOZNESS - sitting basically alone. He was chatting with John
(another fellow Brit) at the next table so after getting my wits about
me, I walked over to him and put out my hand saying "Hello
Morrissey" and proceeded to sit down next to him. By now, it's not
me, I was taken over by alients. I was so calm and collected and
articulate and started to converse with him like he was an old pal of
mine. Maybe all that Sparks-O-Rama conversing I had done earlier
had me on a roll. I don't know but I was not a total geek as I had
feared if this day would ever come. We proceeded to have a nice
conversation for the next ten minutes (we talked about the several
shows I saw last year on his tour, Salt Lake City, Sparks, NY Dolls,
Colorado (another story there), opening bands, Kimono My House,
Ramones) until Richard Blade interruped to make sure Morrissey was
the "real Morrissey" and that he got in okay. Of course, Morrissey
said "I'm not the real Morrissey." Moz said something about Ron and
Russell putting him on the list etc. etc. Now I'm thinking to myself
"here I am sitting next to Morrissey while he and Richard Blade are
talking about Ron and Russell this and that, and I'm thinking this is
SO WEIRD. My two favorites in the whole world right here in the
same place! Anyway, Richard Blade said he was going to introduce
Sparks in 15 minutes and was trying to remember if it was 12 or 14
years since they last played in the US. The words just flew out of my
mouth "oh, it's been 12." And everyone nods with that. (I'm trying
not to crack up at this point.) Moz said he might try to fight his way
upfront but Richard offered him a spot at his table upstairs instead.
Good thing because the Sparks maniacs would have been hard pressed
to give up their spots. It would have been too distracting for me. All
the while, Richard Blade would look at Moz, then me, then Moz, then
me, probably wondering if was anyone (I wasn't, I'm just me). I smiled
at him and acted as if this was an everday occurence for me. As
Richard (yeah my good friends, Richard and Moz) was about to leave,
I reminded him of the Sparks after show signing at Tower Records.
Again, it was the alien being inside not me speaking. With that Moz
and I - Mozzer and Jozzer - talked a few more minutes. I figured I'd
better get back upstairs for the show and leave Moz alone, so I shook
his hand again, thanked him and grandly turned and swept my velvet
jacket aside and left the room in a manner that would have made Joan
Crawford proud. When I got outside the door, I couldn't find the
door, found it, ran up the stairs and back into the very crowded club
to get back in my spot. I was running around in circles and ending up
in deadends but I eventually found my way back. By now, I must have
looked maniacal because people parted me for to pass without any
fuss. I couldn't believe I was so coherent in front of Morrissey but
now, back to the matter at hand - Sparks. I quickly ran back up into
my place at the front and I think I started shrieking from what just
happened and what was about to happen. What a sight I was I'm sure.
I was shaking so much.Sandy and a few others have mentioned the marvelous intro film
already as well as the set list so I won't repeat. All I can say is - Ron
Mael Rules All. Mecha-Ron. Only he can do what he does and get
away with it and we love him no matter what he does. After hi ho-ing
onto the stage, Ron hung up his coat and hat, and got to the business
of being the hardest working man in showbiz. Before Moz, there was
Ronald. There is no one in the world like Ron Mael. Was it just me, or
did Ron remind you of Mr. Rogers in the opening film? There's
something so special about Ron and Russell, it's magical to me to have
them before me on a stage.Even though they are now techno trio and not a guitar laden band as
they once were, I was just as inspired, awed and amazed with the show.
The songs are so classic and Ron and Russ are so original, anything
they do now doesn't matter to me. I'm getting quite used to the new
look Sparks (well it's been a few years now and I did get to see the UK
shows last year). I was not disappointed at having traveled from San
Francisco for this show or the UK last year to see Sparks. The moment
they hit the stage, I became just as manic as I had in the past singing
along to every song except the new one "Balls" and "Knock Off"
though this is my third hearing of that one. I like it a lot, the melody
haunts me.Russell looked great (spinning classes and good living I guess) and was
quite energetic - jumping and dancing and doing vocal acrobatics as
only Russell can do. Various times he would be right in front of me so
I was compelled to lightly touch his shoes and hoped he would sweat
on me (nope he didn't). Sandy and I would just start to laugh like 15
year old teenyboppers everytime he got so close to us. At this point, I
don't care anymore. This is Sparks after all.Ron had several "solo" spots - the positive thinking "I Am Ron Mael
and I am Okay, dammit" bit, tap dancing in Air Jordans (not an easy
feat), the famous Ron dance, and of course, Rex the Wonder Dog does
Marlon Brando. I told you he was the hardest working man in the biz.My favorite songs were "It's a Knock Off", "Falling In Love With
Myself Again" "This Town" oh hell, I liked 'em all, I wasn't
disappointed that they didn't play "Ladies" or "Pineapple" since their
catalogue is so large, they can't play 'em all. "Change" was really a
great song to end with. Just Ron and Russell all alone - hasn't it
always been this way. Quite moving and very much the story of Ron
and Russ - they keep changing and dragging us into the next
phase/decade as they go along. I for one, will gladly follow. It's
amazing how much we have gone through with these two guys over the
last two decades. "Fletcher Honorma meet Rex the Wonder Dog" The
special guest didn't materialize onstage, but we had guessed it might
have been Jane Wiedlin (it was as I later found out but it didn't work
out.) Maybe Weird Al could of helped out?Oh I can't forget Tammy. She's very cool and ultra friendly and does a
great job behind the Mael Brothers Extravaganza. It is not easy to do
that you know - help anchor down the whole thing with her drumming
and cool demeanor while Ron is dancing sideways and Russell is
singing "Do Re Mi" while a bunch of people are screaming "Mickey
Mouse", "Profile, Ron, Profile" or "We want Nastassia". Okay,
maybe that was only me.After the second encore, and almost two hours later, it was all over so
off we went to Tower Records for the signing. We were afraid that we
might not get our things signed, though, since it was after eleven and
we still hadn't budged an inch. It seems, the staff was overwhelmed by
the fans and the manager was screaming and yelling about not having
parameters set up BEFORE hand and now there were still too many
people waiting. We all got in anyway and the store had to stay open
longer than planned. By the time, we got in, we were told only two
items for signing (that was what I had anyway) and pictures had to be
done simultaneously with the signing or not at all. Move along, pal.Oh, going back, outside the store I got to meet the famous Ned
Raggett. His list helped bring us all together during the last 3 years so,
I for one, am eternally grateful. Someone said they printed out his
picture and had it in the hotel room. We are a demented bunch, Ned. I
was touched that he asked for me by name and made sure he found his
was to meet the listers. I'm glad that Russ mentioned how much they
appreciated the internet people for their support. Ned, that one was for
you.It was finally my turn.. I said hello again and they remembered me
from last year (I got to talk to them after each show) and all the years
of me bombarding the fan club as a teenager. I told them it was a
GREAT show and they were gods since they could inspire both Weird
Al Yankovic and Morrissey out to see their show. With that Russell,
said "oh yeah Morrissey is your OTHER guy" as he looks over at Ron
and laughs. I totally started to blush now - yes I'm two-timing Ron -
there I've said it. Ron then said that he REALLY wanted Morrissey to
be on Plagiarism. "What song did you want to do with him" I asked.
"ANYTHING" Ron replied and said I should talk to Morrissey about
it. All I could do was laugh by now at that one. Then Ron said he liked
my earrings (my cool Frida Kahlo bottlecap ones). Now I was
speechless. My idol complimenting ME about my accessories. I'm
hella-cool now. I think someone took pictures of me talking to the
Maels - I hope so because I need to know I wasn't dreaming this all
up. Tammy signed my CDs too, but added "I wasn't on this one but
I'll be on the next one" I said, it's okay, you signed my other one. She
smiled and said "in Norwich right." Damn, they're on to me. I better
start wearing a disguise to future signings or else they'll think I'm a
deranged fan who travels distances and waits for hours in line....errr,
anyway.... After seeing the Maels again, I was once again
overwhelmed. I couldn't find the way out so I sort of wandered in
circles (this is a pattern - meet an idol - walk in circles.). No one
seemed to steer me the right way or hurry me out either but somehow I
found Chris, Sandy, Craig and my Moz pal-Mel outside with their
signed items. However, I was hella-cool once again, when it came to
talking to Ron and Russell and managed to put sentences together and
everything and not appear too flustered. That wasn't always the case in
the past. "uhh... I like.....love.....fan club....nastassia....thanks...."Afterwards, we all stumbled out into the street, still blubbering and
foaming at the mouth, taking pictures to finish off our rolls of film,
limping and aching from the long drive, day and night, drove home
through a daze, crumpled into our beds and mumbled about Our
Great Sparks Adventure before falling asleep with smiles on our faces
or we lived happily ever after or somethng like that.Until the next Great Adventure. After the new album comes out "sorta
soon" perhaps?Jo ("When You Wish Upon a Star") Solders #441
Sorry for the long post, I'm delirious and still so hyped up but so
exhausted but I ain't complaining.