Sperkse, Rademaker, Scher, Gunst (clockwise from top left)Here’s my weekly reminder to point your web browser to Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST on Little Radio. Tomorrow their guests will be Airborne Toxic Event.
Each week I pick one song to play on the show and then I eventually write about it here. On 11/22 they were on vacation. On 11/29 my pick was Kelley Stoltz’s “Your Reverie” from his forthcoming Sub Pop album, Circular Sounds (out next Tuesday). Since I haven’t heard the album yet, I’m going to skip writing about it. On 12/6/07, Sinking did an all 7” show. My pick that week was the Beachwood Sparks’ “Make It Together,” which was the B-side to “Desert Skies” (still available from Bomp!).
The Beachwood Sparks got their start in the LA scene around 1997 which was about the time I moved to LA for the first time. When I first saw them, they were a six piece consisting of: Brent Rademaker, Chris Gunst, “Farmer” Dave Scher, Aaron Sperske, Pete Kinne (RIP) and Josh Schwartz. I wrote a bit about the history of these guys back in December 2006. Basically they knew each other from KXLU and the bands Further and Strictly Ballroom. In the early days, Schwartz and Gunst would trade off lead vocal duties. The band was inspired by Gram Parsons/country rock, jangly/Byrds, power-poppy/Big Star and shoegazey/British bands. Schwartz’s songs leaned towards the more upbeat, toe tapping end of that spectrum. The band played around town quite a bit, but only released two singles while Schwartz was in the band. “Make It Together” is one of two Schwartz songs that made it to wax during that era (the other being “Midsummer Daydream” on Sub Pop). Both songs are well worth tracking down.
Situations get fucked up and Schwartz left the band before their eponymous debut full length came out on Sub Pop in 2000. The Beachwood Sparks released two full lengths (both are worth tracking down) and an EP that was a bit of a sonic departure and had guest contributions, before calling it quits. These days, several of the members are still active in music. Gunst moved up north and started a band called Mystic Chords of Memory. Sperske plays around town with the Lilys. “Farmer” Dave has been touring with Interpol and plays with Jenny Lewis. Schwartz has a new band called Bolero and recently toured with Dewey Cox.
Just announced: see Josh Schwartz play an acoustic set at 9:00 PM at Spaceland on Friday night.
Beachwood Sparks on Myspace
Each week I pick one song to play on the show and then I eventually write about it here. On 11/22 they were on vacation. On 11/29 my pick was Kelley Stoltz’s “Your Reverie” from his forthcoming Sub Pop album, Circular Sounds (out next Tuesday). Since I haven’t heard the album yet, I’m going to skip writing about it. On 12/6/07, Sinking did an all 7” show. My pick that week was the Beachwood Sparks’ “Make It Together,” which was the B-side to “Desert Skies” (still available from Bomp!).
The Beachwood Sparks got their start in the LA scene around 1997 which was about the time I moved to LA for the first time. When I first saw them, they were a six piece consisting of: Brent Rademaker, Chris Gunst, “Farmer” Dave Scher, Aaron Sperske, Pete Kinne (RIP) and Josh Schwartz. I wrote a bit about the history of these guys back in December 2006. Basically they knew each other from KXLU and the bands Further and Strictly Ballroom. In the early days, Schwartz and Gunst would trade off lead vocal duties. The band was inspired by Gram Parsons/country rock, jangly/Byrds, power-poppy/Big Star and shoegazey/British bands. Schwartz’s songs leaned towards the more upbeat, toe tapping end of that spectrum. The band played around town quite a bit, but only released two singles while Schwartz was in the band. “Make It Together” is one of two Schwartz songs that made it to wax during that era (the other being “Midsummer Daydream” on Sub Pop). Both songs are well worth tracking down.
Situations get fucked up and Schwartz left the band before their eponymous debut full length came out on Sub Pop in 2000. The Beachwood Sparks released two full lengths (both are worth tracking down) and an EP that was a bit of a sonic departure and had guest contributions, before calling it quits. These days, several of the members are still active in music. Gunst moved up north and started a band called Mystic Chords of Memory. Sperske plays around town with the Lilys. “Farmer” Dave has been touring with Interpol and plays with Jenny Lewis. Schwartz has a new band called Bolero and recently toured with Dewey Cox.
Just announced: see Josh Schwartz play an acoustic set at 9:00 PM at Spaceland on Friday night.
Beachwood Sparks on Myspace
Download "Confusion Is Nothing New"
4 comments:
JIMI HEY !!!!!!!!!
Look how stoned those guys look, I'm getting a buzz just looking at that picture.
yeah, i should have mentioned jimi hey too. he apparently named the band, was the first drummer (and the last drummer) and had a post-BS band with Farmer.
Glad to see the guys getting back together for Seattle show in July. Get ready!
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