Monday Night with Sparks at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside 9/8/2025
words/photos: Paul Havelin
It’s still not uncommon to be met with a “WHO?” when talking about Sparks, but then again, Sparks aren’t a very common band. 53 years after their first release, the Mael brothers (Russel, 76 and Ron, 80) are still doing things their own way with their newest album ‘MAD!’, which they’re currently touring in support of. Backed by a four-piece band, Sparks hit the stage at the Keswick Theater Monday night (which was filled with a comical amount of fog) with one simple question: “So May We Start?”, which was met with resounding enthusiasm.
What followed was a nearly 2-hour clinic in songwriting and showmanship drawing from the band’s 26 album repertoire that included some of their most well-known tunes as well as some crowd-pleasing deep cuts. Russell, decked out in a brightly colored floral suit, danced his way across every inch of the stage leading the crowd through anthemic singalongs while Ron sat stoically at his piano churning out earworm melodies that have been an undeniable influence on new wave and pop music for the last 50 years. There seemed to be a genuine and mutual appreciation that Sparks are still a band, outlasting many of their peers and trends that could have quickly turned them into a footnote in music history, but they continue to produce new and interesting music that keeps their longtime fans engaged while still bringing in new listeners. The ‘MAD!’ tour rolls on though select cities across the US through the end of September.
What followed was a nearly 2-hour clinic in songwriting and showmanship drawing from the band’s 26 album repertoire that included some of their most well-known tunes as well as some crowd-pleasing deep cuts. Russell, decked out in a brightly colored floral suit, danced his way across every inch of the stage leading the crowd through anthemic singalongs while Ron sat stoically at his piano churning out earworm melodies that have been an undeniable influence on new wave and pop music for the last 50 years. There seemed to be a genuine and mutual appreciation that Sparks are still a band, outlasting many of their peers and trends that could have quickly turned them into a footnote in music history, but they continue to produce new and interesting music that keeps their longtime fans engaged while still bringing in new listeners. The ‘MAD!’ tour rolls on though select cities across the US through the end of September.
