It is laborious for me to understand what a newcomer to Sparks would make of seeing brothers Ron and Russell Mael for the primary time. Ron, the mustached one behind the keys, appears like he as soon as was a silent movie star and simply fell off the silver display screen (and is a bit grumpy about it). Alternatively, Russell, along with his upbeat posture, sings a few lady crying in her latte. Hopefully, by the point Russell introduces us to the second tune, a few 22-hour-old little one seeing the world and wishing to return to whence he got here, the harmless viewer/listener will perceive the twisted humor Sparks has been meting out for over 50 years throughout a number of dozen albums.

When the duo’s first data got here out within the early Seventies, I managed a report retailer and performed the albums on our turntable. Typically it could drive away prospects (Sparks are an acquired style), and different occasions it could kindle new friendships. I would have by no means dreamed that Sparks could be making music all these years later, not to mention taking part in at my workplace desk. And I additionally couldn’t have imagined that the band’s newest album, The Woman Is Crying In Her Latte, could be pretty much as good as ever. After three new songs, Sparks takes one dip into the previous, “a Sparks golden oldie,” as Russell places it. With a terrific band behind them, Ron and Russell performed the tune “This City Ain’t Massive Sufficient for Each of Us,” bringing unimaginable pleasure to me and hopefully to these simply discovering Sparks.

SET LIST

• “The Woman Is Crying In Her Latte”
• “Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is”
• “It Does not Have To Be That Approach”
• “This City Ain’t Massive Sufficient For The Each Of Us”

MUSICIANS

• Russell Mael: vocals
• Ron Mael: keyboards
• Evan Weiss: guitar, vocals
• Max Whipple: bass
• Eli Pearl: guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Stevie Nistor: drums

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producer: Bob Boilen
• Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
• Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
• Artistic Director: Bob Boilen
• Sequence Producer: Bobby Carter
• Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel, Alanté Serene
• Audio Assistant: Kwesi Lee 
• Manufacturing Assistant: Ashley Pointer
• Photographer: Keren Carrión
• Tiny Desk Workforce: Suraya Mohamed, Kara Body, Hazel Cills
• VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann