SparkleJet, An All-American Band.

Let’s take a moment of silence to bow our heads and respect Fresno’s SparkleJet (MySpace profile). They’ve been around a while and they deserve it.

Earlier this week I heard SparkleJet (official site) was scheduled to play a show this Friday (11/18) at Fresno club, Zapp’s Park. Former KFSR (90.7-FM) DJ Chris Corners LOVES them! If you ever used to listen to his radio show, that wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Since I know Chris (aslo the guitarist in Pinkeye) loves/worships SparkleJet, I thought I'd ask him to say a few words about this "tried-and-true, all-American ROCK BAND." Hell, they recorded with Steve Albini (the guy who produced Nirvana’s In Utero, and more…) not too long ago, so they get the thumbs up from me.

Show Info:
SparkleJet/Sleepover Disaster
Date: Friday, November 18th
Venue: Zapp’s Park (on Blackstone, just south of Olive in Fresno)
Age: 21 +
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Price: $5

Rumor has it that SparkleJet’s label people from Long Live Crime Records are going to be at the show. Let’s get our asses out there and show them that SparkleJet rules Fresno.

Yours truly,

Mitch on Speed.

(P.S. future guest bloggers can pitch ideas to mitchonspeed@gmail.com)

Guest Blogger: Chris Eckes (aka Chris Corners)

SparkleJet is the tried-and-true, all-American ROCK BAND. That breed of bands/musicians was once a widely embraced staple of our cultural fabric. These days, for reasons I don't completely understand, true rock bands are suddenly being nudged aside in favor of who knows what. Indeed, the music world would be a dull, monotonous wasteland if it were still made up solely of straightforward, guitar-based rock ‘n’ roll combos. Let's make no mistake about that. I also can't deny that excess-driven hacks have given the traditional idea of "rocking" a bad name a few times throughout history.

Putting all that nonsense aside, we all know it would be nothing less than a disgrace for the right-minded "rock band" to somehow lose its important place in the grand scheme, and for people to suddenly forget about the inherent power attached to it (as it’s undoubtedly the foundation from which every other form of popular music is based upon). SparkleJet is here to make sure this doesn't happen. Not in Fresno, at least.

It's such a good thing, really. SparkleJet, that is. Better than most probably even realize. The very best part being that they go about their rock ‘n’ roll business in a completely honest manner that doesn't feel the least bit contrived or pretentious. They aren't trying to be anything but who they are and what they know. SparkleJet simply play the music they were designed to play. I can't speak for anybody else, but for me, that's all I can ask from a band. It's also the common thread among nearly every artist that I enjoy listening to. What a bonus to have a band in town who not only stylistically fill the void of a dying breed, but also do it with genuine purpose and conviction.

Oh yeah, let's not forget that the songs are good. Like, real good. SparkleJet’s Bar Guest is one of my all-time favorite albums by any band, from Fresno or anywhere else. It's a bona fide classic in every sense of the clichéd term. Certain aspects of the record's sound can naturally be compared to other groups like The Who, Pixies, Guided by Voices, etc., but it's void of any copycat shenanigans that so many bands are guilty of. Besides, I can think of worse bands to occasionally give a nod to than those just mentioned, and when the influences make an appearance it feels more like inspiration than any sort of direct duplication. I also appreciate the fact that the album sounds highly calculated and well thought out, but with no sign of the urgency and spontaneity being compromised in the performance itself. In other words, it's chock-full of subtle nuances that make it more and more interesting with every listen, but it still retains the no-nonsense charm of a punk record (i.e. - "Dog Riot").

And, really, everything about SparkleJet is very balanced in that same way. The band even managed the difficult feat of having never made the same record twice whilst rarely ever veering from their distinctive aesthetic base or feeling the need to completely reinvent their sound. They merely change things up a bit each time out to give their winning formula a fresh twist, as will be instantly noticeable on their new record slated for release on Long Live Crime Records in January.

I feel obligated to point out that this forthcoming SparkleJet LP, Beyond the Beyond, was primarily engineered by Steve Albini at his Chicago studio, which obviously rules. (Albini did record a Nirvana album, a Pixies album and a Jimmy Page & Robert Plant album [aka - 1/2 of Led Zeppelin. Eh, um!].) But I suppose it wouldn't be wise to jump to the conclusion that this guy's involvement automatically makes something "cool" or "great" (as badly as I’d like to say). At any rate, because of the way Albini approaches the recording process, the worth of a product ends up mostly in the hands of the artist. The producer has made it a simple priority to faithfully capture the natural sound of a self-contained band in the room that they're playing in, just the way our ears would hear it (no over-doctoring/altering of the sound, except when necessary or requested by the artist).

It's fortunate, then, that our SparkleJet boys happen to be a top-notch unit, entirely capable of taking advantage of such a streamlined approach, which is just what they did. The result is anything but Bar Guest Pt. II, yet none of the basic elements that made the old SparkleJet so alluring have gone missing. Absent is the underlying production polish of Bar Guest, yes. But maybe that's only a superficial curveball where instead we get an equally effective raw, live energy applied to the same great songs, the same great singing, the same great guitar work, the same great drumming, the same great bass playing -- the same great band.

It's a blast to listen to and a welcome addition to their back catalogue of work. They're currently showcasing many of the new songs live, so if you're curious about the new record and want to hear what the tunes sound like, the best way to find out is to go to a show and hear them in person.

Final thoughts. SparkleJet is that rare, tasteful rock band that every city should have and be proud of if they do. It's exciting to me when a group of guys from our own Central Valley locale can bring as much songwriting prowess and live performance value to the table as bands I might otherwise have to travel 4-5 hours to see/hear. They conduct themselves as a real band with a healthy work ethic that is equal parts focused, simple, fun, and meaningful. The same can only be said about maybe a handful of other Valley bands, and SparkleJet are at the forefront of what, to me, is "doing things right".

SparkleJet is a breath of fresh air. That is, in contrast to the fleeting, disposable, Fresno music buddies, who get together to write a quick- batch of songs so they can play a couple Tokyo shows and call it quits after a month without ever recording a thing-type of bands that Fresno is notorious for. And let’s not forget the Triple Rectifier half-stack-playin' kids on the other side who think that cloning the image and sound of the nu-metal flavor of the week is their instant ticket to rock stardom.

Maybe that stuff is all part of the Fresno charm. I happen to like the SparkleJet way better. Besides, any band capable of taking a cornball song like "A Quick One, While He's Away" and miraculously making it seem cool, just the The Who did 40 years ago, is okay by me.