The recording is being shared as 16 bit/44.1 kHz stereo FLACs.

Sparks
Highline Ballroom, New York City
April 25, 2013

01-Overture
02-The Rhythm Thief
03-Metaphor
04-Propaganda/At Home, At Work, At Play
05-Sherlock Holmes
06-Angst in Your Pants
07-Under the Table With Her
08-My Baby�s Taking Me Home
09-Singing In the Shower
10-The Wedding of Jacqueline Kennedy to Russell Mael
11-Excerpts From the Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
12-Dick Around
13-Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth
14-This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us
15-Suburban Homeboy
16-When Do I Get to Sing

Encore

17-The Number One Song in Heaven
18-Beat the Clock
19-Two Hands One Mouth
20-Ron Speaks


Lineage: Stealth recorded and minimally produced by mrsaureus, sitting center floor thirty-five feet back from the stage. Core-Sound High End Binaurals (DPA-4060 capsules) to Sony PCM-M10 (48 kHZ, 24 bit), WavePad Sound Editor to provide modest global amplification, cut into songs and export as16 bit/ 44.1 kHz FLACs. If people want it, I can share the 24/48 version. This is an audience recording that aims to document the experience of being in the crowd at the show, and features occasionally loud but appropriate crowd noise. This is the first time this recording is being shared.


This was the first NYC performance by Sparks in 11 years, which is a long time even considered against the 40+ years they�ve been doing their thing. The reason for the long absence was addressed elliptically by Ron at the end of the show, and even after listening to the recording I don�t understand it. No matter. We waited patiently, and showed up in sufficient numbers to sell out a medium sized venue in Chelsea with fans of all ages. For their part, Russell and Ronald promised to come back sooner next time. Well, all right.

And it was certainly worth waiting for. From the moment Ronald strolled onto the stage and sat down at the keyboard we made it pretty clear we were glad he was back. And when Russell came out shortly after, darting around like a big rodent and looking a little like a Quaid brother we didn�t know about, it was evident there were no hard feelings.

It pleases me outrageously that this band has been taking it�s own odd path for more than 40 years while still looking and sounding great. My 17 year old self would be so pleased to know that I was at this show. Plus ca change . . . , and all that.

This was my first time at the Highline in about 3 years, and I�d quite forgotten how much I like it. It�s about the same size as the Bowery Ballroom, but without any history that I know about, and well appointed in a clean, modern, industrial style with a double row of banquets providing a lot of seating all around the standing area. It�s literally in the shadow of Manhattan�s Highline Park, which consists of the elevated tracks in the meat packing district transformed into a fanciful walkway. Worth checking out.