DARK SPARKS:
Leigh Greenwood - Voice and keys
Adam Greenwood - Guitar
Steve Charlton - Guitar
Simon Green - Bass and backing vox
Tez Brown - Drums
Influences
the past, the present & the future
Sounds Like
DARK 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.
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Dark Sparks are not alone in thinking their songs are excellent - these people do too....
DESTROY BEFORE READING
All spider webs and nightmareish visions, there is no reason Dark Sparks cant go on to find their own audience. The band have already racked up an impressive list of support slots and i hope to check them out live as soon as possible!
THIS MUSIC WINS
The whole effect of Dark Sparks' music is adrenaline pumping to say the least; If they keep this up, Dark Sparks are surely a UK band with great things to come.
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
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. 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
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.
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.
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Yep, I am defo up for it, it's been ages since I saw you! I'm already on the cheaplist (You-V-Me's) but thanks anyway! Shall also tune in to the internet
A mini Sheffield festival 4th-6th September. Spread across two great venues; The Harley and The Wick at Both Ends. Click the poster for full line-ups.
Headliners include: The Crookes, Max Tundra, Paul White, JFB, Dark Sparks, Shmoo, Findo Gask, Ed Maker (Reverend & The Makers), Party Horse (Ex Tiny Dancers), Hallo...I Love You (Ex Elle S'Appelle), Squire Of Gothos, Pygmy Globetrotters & many many more..
Issue 10 of Sheffield Music Scene contains a massive 37 page feature on Tramlines Festival; a feature we've called "Where Are They Now..." about the new projects that have arisen from the ashes of some recently split bands; as well as live reviews of Soundclash (Elephant Keys, Alvarez Kings, Glass youth, The Ratells), Reverend & The Makers, Sarah Mac, Doncast Live Festival, Rosie Electro, and Ruberlaris; Album/Single/EP reviews of Reverend & The Makers "A French Kiss In The Chaos", The Whiskey Works, and Dark Sparks; Daz's pick of the demo's including The Book Club, All The Damn Kids, Kartica, and TheDismissiveATTACK; plus an interview with Athlete!
We've also got FREE Downloads from The Magi, and Dark Sparks EP (as reviewed); and for Footy fans, in association with White Circus Fever, we're going to be bringing you monthly updates on a league containing a number of local bands and the like!
hello boys, thank you very much! the pixies...a well known band and a very nice one but i dont think that we have things in common or sound like them...nice to meet you guys.we'll talk soon...
Hi - Were good friends with Dark Sparks. Were looking for a singer for a new project. If you'd be interested please go on our page and get in touch. Thanks x
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
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?
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