myspace music my music | music videos | featured playlists | top artists | shows | classifieds | forums 

DARK SPARKS
Alternative / Punk / New Wave

"We are just flies spinning around the lights"



Midlands
United Kingdom

Profile Views:  83068




Last Login:  7/13/2009
View My: Pics | Videos | Playlists

   Contacting DARK SPARKS

 MySpace URL: 

   DARK SPARKS: General Info
Member Since4/17/2005
Band Websitewww.ilovedarksparks.com
Band MembersDARK SPARKS:
Leigh Greenwood - Voice and keys
Adam Greenwood - Guitar
Steve Charlton - Guitar
Simon Green - Bass and backing vox
Nicky Sykes - Drums
InfluencesThings
Sounds LikeDARK SPARKS are a band with ten eyes on perfection.

Previous recordings have already garnered them some critical acclaim; Into the Dark was a Steve Lamacq ‘track of the week’, Red Skies was playlisted on German national radio and Blood Petrol Fire had John Earls of Channel 4 Teletext talking of ‘slavering fanbases’ in his 4-star review. Even the NME threw a bit of hyperbole their way, labelling them ‘ace’ in their Radar section.

However an enforced line-up change in late 2008 already feels like Dark Sparks’ greatest progression to date, as a search for a replacement drummer also led to them welcoming an additional guitarist to the band and placing a keyboard into the small space in front of the singer.

The new line-up might be in its infancy but the extra muscle provided, plus the hours spent in rehearsals have added a texture and precision that had been missing from earlier incarnations. Instruments build and fade to suit the mood, but melody is at the forefront and the song is at the centre.

For the band it is a natural progression. Weaving sounds of venom, dread and sadness to words that catch in the throat is easy when you’re of the right mindset. The latest recordings, laid down at the famous 2Fly Studios in Sheffield, show a pop sensibility too.

Live the new line-up has started well, enjoying rapturous responses at Club NME shows and in sellout slots with the likes of Red Light Company and Grammatics. Add those to an impressive list of supports that includes Blood Red Shoes, The Enemy, The Rumblestrips, Boy Kill Boy, The Courteeners, The Rifles, The Whip, Larrikin Love and The Subways and it appears that Dark Sparks’ star may soon be on the rise.

With the collapse of the economy leaving record companies “totally bloody skint ”, Dark Sparks are determined to spend their year building a fanbase without one, through regular writing, recording and gigging. Work hard and let fate take its course. Because you get what you deserve.

All songs will be made available for free.
Record LabelNo


Get Flash now!

In order to listen or view this content you will have to upgrade your version of Flash.


DARK SPARKS's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

KERRANG RADIO AIRPLAY ON SUNDAY  (view more)

WE ARE JUST FLIES GETS 10 OUT OF 13 ON ROOM THIRTEEN  (view more)

DISCOUNT TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SHEFFIELD O2 ACADEMY GIG!  (view more)

CAMDEN JUNE 9 - FREE SHOW AT LEGENDARY PROUD GALLERIES  (view more)

AIRPLAY ON BBC RADIO LEEDS & HUMBERSIDE  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About DARK SPARKS

To download songs for free go to: ilovedarksparks.com Here is what people have to say about the music of the incredible and kind and beautiful and intelligent Dark Sparks. ;-)

IS THIS MUSIC?
So many bands, old and new, now make their songs available for free. But these two latest songs from this band who hail from ‘Planet Earth’ have an exciting air of the dark about them. Think early Suede, The Auteurs, Placebo when they’re not being too melodramatic…and you start to get close. Worth checking out. 4/5

24-7 MAGAZINE
Derbyshire hopefuls, DARK SPARKS, are proud of their name drop expertise (supported these, produced by those, managed by them...) but does their self released single 'Blood Petrol Fire' - an allegorical car crash scenario - measure up? Well, they'e certainly got the drama and drive of past mood pop heroes such as Echo and The Bunnymen and The Smiths but these boys bring an altogether more rambunctious attitude to their pop tones, with a healthy dose of grainy dissonance among the grandeur. Second song Bullet in the Eye even manages to combine Editors-esque gloom with the vocal desperation of '80s post-punk demi-gods, Theatre of Hate and PiL.
Let's hope they retain these fine qualities when the majors come a-knocking.

CHANNEL 4 TELETEXT - demo of the week 8/10
Deserving to put Derbyshire village Swadlincote on the map, they've supported The Paddingtons and Subways and are far better than either.
Leigh Greenwood has the same hard-won optimism as Tom Smith, as the band unleash propulsive classic '80s indie fire behind him in The Bunnymen mould.
There's an ambition here that deserves to be matched by a slavering fanbase.

SANDMAN
Dark Sparks on the other hand immediately take my aural hand and guide me to a far more exciting place. Music that is full of energy and desperate yearning for substance in an otherwise watercolour world. It's a passionate cry for attention, bass driven, pounding drum beats, as if Editors had the new-youth drive of Bloc Party. Headliners Louie can't but fail to live up to the energetic performance of Dark Sparks. Despite leaping and bound- ing around the stage as if giving a masterclass on scruffy rock stagemanship, their music doesn't quite carry the same energy or eagerness.

OUR IRON LUNG
Things soon picked up though, as Dark Sparks took to the stage in a burst of feedback and distortion. Slowly, from this mass of noise emerged the crisp sound of well crafted song after song. Lurching forward at a mechanical pace, held together by skillful guitar work and captivating vocal lines, they immediately swept away the hangover left by Dazed Dakotas. As forthcoming single Into The Dark burst forth from the stage, it felt like a special moment was dawning over the night. Suddenly people were dancing, reaching out over the monitors to the twitching singer and equally electrifying guitarist and bassist. Dancing with vigour and energy to the relentless pulse of forward thinking yet palatable music. Its as if Interpol stopped growing moustaches and started writing songs that made your feet move for dancing's sake, not for movements sake. As if Franz Ferdinand had grown up slower, and at some point merged with Tiny Dancers.

HIGH VOLTAGE
Dark Sparks’ second single sounds like something The Strokes might have come up with if they grew up in Derbyshire. All the key ingredients are there, from the jangly guitars to the gloriously furious drums. By adding vocal harmonies and contagious lyrics to the mix however, ‘Blood Petrol Fire’ shows that the band aren’t merely copycats. Instead, they could prove to be something quite special. 4/5

THE MAG
Throwing some choppy chords together and coming up with The Smiths meet Bloc Party, Dark Sparks get down to the business of chronicling a nasty car crash in their fanbase-favourite, 'Blood, Petrol, Fire'.
The stark contrast between crashing loud sections and delicate low volume bits is excellent and the vocal follows the transitions perfectly.
'Bullet in the Eye' keeps that eighties-revival going (duly updated, of course) sounding even more saccharin than the first track, revelling in a flurry of guitars.
It takes balls to tackle subjects like this and Dark Sparks have the sincerity to pull it off. Watch out for these indie-disco-wave pioneers!

FLAVORPILL
Quartet Dark Sparks have garnered comparisons to Bloc Party, Interpol and various '80s indie acts, but the as-yet-unsigned band has a much more autonomous personality. Vocalist Leigh Greenwood's charismatic vocals tussle with the sharpest of guitar hooks in recent single "Blood Petrol Fire," and the rest of their catalogue is peppered with pop-friendly post-punk. – Joe Rudkin

And best of all....

SANDMAN
Looking like skinny Victorian dandies Dark Sparks shamble onto stage armed with songs are off kilter, bordering on tuneless, and on ‘Through Sleeping Eyes’ singer Leigh Greenwood screeches about ‘your hands around my neck’ as if he’s bordering on madness. Single ‘Into The Dark’ elicits nods of recognition from the crowd, but in all it makes for a fairly joyless affair. A memorable thing is the vocalist’s gait, a mixture of bending, crawling and swooning, somehow strange and fascinating.
.................................................................



   DARK SPARKS's Friend Space (Top 4)
DARK SPARKS has 8450 friends.
 KERRANG! RADIO 


 Plug 


 The Leadmill 


 julian 





DARK SPARKS's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 4333 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
FUGITIVES





Jul 6 2009 9:17 PM

cheers lads,just been listening to your tunes,they are great,missed most of yor set.was in hospital the night before so didn't hang around too long Odeed on sudafed nasel spray so be aware if you suffer from hayfever its driving me fucking crazy.see you soon hopefully
Stuart's Photography Leeds





Jun 22 2009 6:54 PM

Pleasure: And thanks for the free downloads: Excellent and I have to agree with Andy Baker: Well worth searching out. Good luck in the future
Dark DD





Jun 22 2009 8:44 AM

sounding great!!! will try and make it to the o2 gig (babysitter pending)
By the way r u free on the 18th Nov for a 40th party??!! only joking x
Grand High Exalted Goddess One of Lunadom





Jun 18 2009 3:49 AM

Hi Fellas! Youse seem to be doing so good across the pond. Won't you please come play in NYC?? If not now, do you have plans to or atleast somewhere in the States?
The Kid Jones





Jun 10 2009 10:16 PM

Well done last night boys, thought you were great. Hope to gig again with you in the future :)

The Kid Jones
Johnfish Sparkle





Jun 7 2009 9:12 PM

Thx for the Friendship Guys!
JS
Tree Shaped Building





May 7 2009 5:36 PM

∴∴∴

∴∴∴     <- dark sparks :)

∴∴∴


Thanks for the add!
laura janine





May 5 2009 9:27 PM

cheers for the add :)
nice sound.
xox
13th Reunion





May 1 2009 11:35 AM

Nice one last night lads! ;)
v





Apr 30 2009 2:54 PM

oh dark sparks, you are too cool.

i adore that photo on your comment/message/block box! it really is one of my favourite photographs. i love manray! :)
ROCK YOUR SOCKS elle ☆♫☆





Apr 27 2009 9:28 PM

Thanks for reminding me! :) x
Warning Sine





Apr 20 2009 8:48 AM

Hi Dark Sparks, Absolutely loved the gig in Sheff last Wed! We Are Just Flies is ma favourite! Keep up the marvellous work! :)
ROCK YOUR SOCKS elle ☆♫☆





Apr 18 2009 5:10 PM

Hey fellas, how are you? Havent spoken or seen you lotin like forever! Hope things are still going well..... Gonna try and get to the rockhouse at the end of the month.
x
Helen





Apr 14 2009 10:17 PM

Love the new songs.
Come to Birmingham.
Immediately! x
Romi





Apr 14 2009 1:18 AM

Hello there, long time no see, wow,
you're sounding extremely well!
Love the new tunes

^_^
La Folie





Mar 31 2009 10:45 PM

La Folie have a very exciting gig coming up on the 8th of April down at the Leadmill in Sheffield!
We're being supported by Sound of Guns and Pistola Kicks!
Get in touch with us if you want some tickets...hope you like the flyer too...



Love Mannie LF
Sarah





Mar 24 2009 11:08 PM

Stoke eh? you're getting nearer to me.........:-0
┼ 'ºCøld Nïgh±mårêº' ┼





Mar 5 2009 11:17 PM

No Biggy
And no Thnk You
for accepting <3

keep up the great job
and good luck!~ <3
♥Stefan&Roxana♥





Mar 3 2009 8:59 AM

hi
emwally





Feb 28 2009 11:30 PM

hey
thanks for the add!

xox
LΞALA





Feb 28 2009 6:56 AM

haha of course.. free accomodation in melbourne victoria! google it :)
thanks guys
LΞALA





Feb 26 2009 4:38 AM

dark sparks. cute picture.
come to australia ;)
♥♥ tAnIa♥♥





Feb 26 2009 2:12 AM

hehe and that is going on there...kizz.......tAnIa♥
♥♥ tAnIa♥♥





Feb 25 2009 9:44 PM

hello! thanks for adding me your music taste this in the profile greetings...tAnIa♥
always to tyrants





Feb 23 2009 11:41 PM

Hey. Think you guys are amazing live! Saw you in Derby then came to Leeds too. Kinda fancy the guitarist Steve :) He's awesome. Looking forward to seeing you at Leadmill in Sheffield.
Much Love, Kevin x
Add Comment


©2003-2009 MySpace.com. All Rights Reserved.