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through the sparks in performer magazine

here's the direct link. scroll down a bit to read. here's the text:

Through the Sparks / The Bottletree Cafe / Birmingham, AL / January 24, 2008

If you’ve had any exposure to Birmingham’s local music scene by now you’ve heard of Through the Sparks. Combining members of former bands such as Stateside and Cutgrass, Through the Sparks and its tumbledown indie alt-Southern rock echoes the likes of critical sweethearts Wilco and Spoon in all the right ways.

Touring in support of its latest release and first full-length album, Lazarus Beach, the Birmingham quintet presented a set heavy with tracks from the album and a few new tunes to boot. Through the Sparks kept the modest stage of the Bottletree crowded with a plethora of instruments and expanded the lineup up to seven members with a trombone and tenor sax player to assist on some of the later songs in the night. The trading of instruments seamlessly between band members — switching basses, guitars and keyboards after nearly every song — gave an insight to the versatility of the members and perhaps a glimpse into their writing process.
The guys maintained an even mix of peppy pop and moody ballads, keeping the energy in the crowd just right for their mellow style. As a testament to their craftsmanship, many of the tracks they played from Lazarus Beach were retooled and in some cases seemed to be completely new. The ukulele-laden “Action Figure Graveyard” was reborn with a sound resembling the soft zydeco swoon of a New Orleans funeral. The live versions were almost invariably better than their recorded counterparts, proving Through the Sparks as one of those rare bands that is truly better live.

But the most impressive part of the show was the clarity versus the sheer size of the band’s sound. The band sonically filled every inch of The Bottletree Cafe, with no hint of muddiness or distortion. The credit for the phenomenal acoustics lies with the soundman Rolland Ryan who, according to guitarist Nikolaus Mimikakis, has previously worked with such notable performers as Brian Wilson and Lucinda Williams.

-Review & photo by David Feltman

here's some video shot by alison of all 8 of us playing like a dove. great song.

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