Sparks play The Warfield!
- Cheryl Alterman | The Music Soup Editor
- Mar 29, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
The Mael Brothers still going strong after playing for over fifty years!
This is a re-post from 2022 when Sparks played San Francisco's Warfield, in honor of Ron Mael (one of the Sparks brothers) 80th Birthday! He now joins that ever growing 80 year old rockstar club. Ron and Russell Mael are two brothers who make up the band Sparks. And this duo has been one of my favorite bands since I was a kid. So here's to a Happy 80th Birthday to Ron Mael and to the Mael brothers, known as Sparks for keeping their music alive for the last fifty years!
Re-post from March 2022:
The Warfield San Francisco is all abuzz with a completely sold out all seated show. When walking into the venue we wondered what the queue going around the inside of the building, and up the stairs...'Twas a merch line of course! Never before seen one like this. And this long queue was the same length before, during, and after the show. It never let up.
If you are one of those that have never heard of, or experienced Sparks, then allow me to fill you in....Sparks, is a band made up of brothers Ron and Russell Mael originally from LA growing up in Pacific Palisades. The Mael bros started playing out in the late sixties under the band name of Halfnelson. In 1968 Halfnelson got the attention of Todd Rundgren. Halfnelson released its first album in 1971. Rundgren helped them produce music and they eventually changed their band name to Sparks in 1972. The Halfnelson album was then
re-released by Bearsville Records in 1972 as Sparks. The re-issued debut spawned the minor regional hit "Wonder Girl". Sparks music and fashion style is a quirky, art rock, new wave poppy, music with unusual and interesting lyrics. And quite visually theatrical.
They have since released 27 albums including a live album. Sparks has collborated and recorded an album with Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand for an album. They've been at the top of the charts more than once in their 50+ years in the music industry. The first being in 1974 with the number two hit on the Billboard charts with, the song "This Town Aint Big enough for the Both of Us".
The show began at about 8.30, once most of the audience was in their seats. The audience seems to have consisted of real true Mael bros fans. Long term fans experiencing an historic evening of music with their childhood music. The Mael Bros brought it on this evening a the Warfield. Both Ron and Russell are both in their 70's, Ron, 76, Russell 73. Though their ages did not change their style, energy or sound. Time has been kind to these two brothers. They brought the same energy I had experienced in the 70's at their shows. Russell dancing and singing whilst Ron plays deadpan. A schtick that makes these two unique.
In the mid 70's I saw them live, quite a bit. At one of their early gigs at the Whiskey a-Go-Go Russell Mael asked me to get on stage and give his brother Ron a big kiss, (to make him smile). Russell was always coming up with ways to get Ron to crack his deadpan face...so I got onstage and my kiss did just that! He cracked up as soon as I planted one on him, sitting at his keyboard. And at a show in 1976 Sparks played an epic show at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. My friends and I were in the front row. Sparks managment gave us all "Ronald mustaches" to put on. Another prank to get his face to crack! And of course when he looked into the audience he saw us with our mustaches on and he cracked up. That show in particular was amazing, not only was the Sparks set great, but they had this unknown band open for them. That band was an unknown band called, Van Halen. It was one of Van Halens' first shows on a proper stage. And they absolutely killed it...Of course! I have never forgotten that Van Halen performance when they were the openers for Sparks, and my introduction to the band. Truly an unforgettable show!
This show at The Warfield in San Francisco, 50+ years into their career brought a certain special historical feel to it. Obvious hardcore long termers were present. The never ending merch line was telling. It felt as if this show was important. They got so many standing ovations for this, their first show of the tour post Covid. The brothers were warm, and humble. Receiving their long bouts of admiration from their long time fans. They were so obviously touched by the crowds' cheers. Their encores felt like they were added after the fact, as the crowd simply did not want them leaving the stage. So they kept coming back. Each time to an enthusiastic loving appreciative crowd. It just felt good. It was heartfelt and so very genuine. Amazing to see as a long time Sparks fan.
So lovely to experience this special evening with Sparks. I looked forward to covering this show. Counting down the days leading to showtime. And they did not disappoint! Thanks to Ron and Russell Mael for entertaining me for a lifetime. ©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2022
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