Simple Minds weren’t the only fave rave band who announced a rare US tour on Monday! The Brothers Mael also let the second leg of their “Two Hands | One Mouth” duo tour drop and this time they dared to venture East of the Mississippi for a rare jaunt. I had already known about their visit to Asheville for the Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit on October 25th but given the full breadth of the tour and its scope, this Monk has made the audacious decision to forego the heretofore impossibly rare visit by Sparks to his own fair city and will instead undertake a road trip to view the Sparks concert of choice! Is the Monk mad…? I simply state, “…call me Rasputin!”

Sparks: The Revenge Of Two Hands /One Mouth North American Tour | 2013

October 23 2013 | Atlanta | Variety Playhouse
October 25 2013 | Asheville | Mountain Oasis Festival
October 27 2013 | Washington, DC | 9:30 Club
October 28 2013 | New York | Webster Hall
October 30 2013 | Boston | Brighton Music Hall
November 01 2013 | Montreal | Le National
November 02 2013 | Toronto | Lee’s Palace
November 04 2013 | Detroit/Pontiac | Crofoot Ballroom
November 06 2013 | Chicago | Lincoln Hall
November 07 2013 | Chicago | Lincoln Hall
November 09 2013 | Austin | Fun Fun Fun Festival
November 11 2013 | Los Angeles | Fonda Theatre

Yow! Look at that sweet date at the Variety Playhouse in the Little Five Points district in Atlanta! It calls to us. It says “The tickets are 1/3 the cost of the Mountain Oasis Festival… and you won’t have to subsidize a dozen bands you dislike!” For that alone, driving the four hours to Atlanta looks good, but when one weighs what will doubtlessly be the only Sparks show I ever get to attend and the scales fluctuate between a 45-60 minute [tops] festival set versus a full concert in the more relaxed climes of the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, then it easily is decided. The clincher was when my wife also opted for the less convenient but more enjoyable option when the trip was mooted to her.

So the Sparks itinerary looks like they are serious about this thing!  The Chicago shows at Lincoln Hall seem like they’ll be special. Especially on the second night. Only two dates on this itinerary are festival shows, but the brothers played Coachella so I guess they can negotiate any setting by now. For those not in the know, the Two Hands/One Mouth tour sees the group playing with their elaborate numbers arranged for voice and keyboards only. And when I say keyboards, I mean just that; no computers or sequencers were harmed during the staging of this extravaganza. There are no guitars or drums; as fun as they are. This is a little something different. And Sparks promise that the set list is being changed for this leg so the favorites that the world has heard thus far on the tour are not necessarily what fans will be hearing later in the year. And just what did fans hear earlier this year?

L’il Beethoven Records | UK | 2xCD | 2013 | LBRCD115

Sparks: Two Hands One Mouth Live In Europe UK 2xD [2013]

Disc 1: The Show

1. Sparks Overture
2. Hospitality On Parade
3. Metaphor
4. Propaganda
5. At Home, At Work, At Play
6. Sherlock Holmes
7. Good Morning
8. Under The Table With Her
9. My Baby’s Taking Me Home
10. Singing In The Shower
11. The Wedding Of Jacqueline Kennedy To Russell Mael
12. I Am Ingmar Bergman
13. Mr. Bergman How Are You?
14. We’ve Got To Turn Him ‘Round
15. He’s Home
16. Dick Around
17. Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
18. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us
19. The Rhythm Thief
20. Suburban Homeboy
21. When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way’

Disc 2: The Encore

1. The Number One Song In Heaven
2. Beat The Clock
3. Two Hands One Mouth

Expect to see this disc at the merch table! That’s a great set list. For my wife’s sake, I deeply hope that “Suburban Homeboy” will still make the cut for leg two of this tour! But the band’s 80s arc looks under represented. Deciding how to pick from 21 albums for a set list must be maddening and I’m glad the task doesn’t fall to me. I await whatever they decide to offer my eager ears in Atlanta.

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