Wednesday, 4/23/97 Group’s sparkle separates it from rest of the
rock pack Sparkler, based in L.A., brings ethereal tunes to
Westwood Plaza
By Vanessa VanderZanden Daily Bruin Contributor The shag cut,
designer clothing-clad members of "Sparkler" are hard to miss among
the ripped jeans and thrift-shop duds that lounge around Kerckhoff.
The band, which play Friday at noon in Westwood Plaza, makes its
way to the patio chairs just outside the coffee house. Donning a
red, white and blue leather jacket, along with black leather pants,
lead singer/ guitarist Rick Parker combs back his orangey bleached
hair. Across the table, bassist Tommy Black straightens his black
and white checked pants with his glittery, silver painted nails
while drummer John Wilmer grins from behind black wrap sunglasses.
"A friend of ours made up the name ‘Sparkler’ because she seemed to
notice that we were a little more sparkling and glamorous than all
the other flannel shirted, dirt wearing Seattle-type bands that
were popular a couple of years ago," Parker explains. "Our songs
are more dreamy and not as moshy," Wilmer adds. In the footsteps of
Big Star and David Bowie, the band strives to make its songs come
across as luxurious and majestic as those glam pop stars of the
past. Friday at noon, all of UCLA may judge for themselves.
However, it won’t be the first time Bruins will behold the
illustrious trio, which played a surprise performance earlier last
week. "I grew up right on this campus," exclaims Wilmer. "This is
my playground. Like, those hills over there?" He motions towards
the main grassy knoll just across from Kerchoff. "I used to
skateboard on them, until they kicked us out. They said, ‘You can’t
do that! You’re gonna hit a student!’ So we’d eat at the Coop and
then go right back." Even Parker maintains a soft spot for the
campus. Having attended UCLA as, for the most part, an English
major, he remembers appreciating free shows in the Coop and in
Westwood Plaza. For this reason, he made sure the booking agent set
up a good amount of college dates throughout their current tour,
promoting their debut album, "Wicker Park." "It’s named for this
artsy neighborhood in Chicago where we recorded it," explains
Wilmer. "It’s where Verucca Salt and Liz Phair live," Parker adds.
"It’s got these crumbling brick buildings from the 1800s." "We were
totally out of our element," Wilmer interjects. "But we made
friends." As the local bars don’t close in Chicago until 4:00 a.m.,
Sparkler befriended many a "loser alcoholic," as Wilmer
affectionately calls them. And, though Parker likes to attend
jet-set parties in his free time, Sparkler has always been
predominately about the music. Focusing on creating a haunting
feeling within a beautiful melody, Sparkler creates an ethereal
sound. "That’s just the way the songs come out," Black relates.
"It’s just the kind of people we are. We’re romantic people. We
like good pop songs." Drawing on relationships with friends and
lovers, Parker writes the lyrics to all of the songs. Black’s and
Wilmer’s chemistry with Parker come together to form the
instrumental side, meshing with Parker’s dark and brutal themes of
surviving in a lonely world. Often, fans connect with these
comforting songs of isolation. "You can tell when they’re paying
attention," an excited Wilmer claims. "One time, this kid, he must
have been like twelve or thirteen, he came up to me after the show
and said, ‘Dude!’ and went on to explain something I’d done up on
stage. That was great, ’cause I used to do the same thing to any
good drummer I saw in concert." Such a give-and-take response from
audiences keeps the shows worthwhile for Sparkler. Though some
nights result in a private set for the bartender and door guy,
other evenings introduce the band to sold out clubs. Such evenings
inspire the group, allowing it to reach new musical heights. "I
like to make it to a certain point mentally, a weird point, where
you’re just totally into it," Black searches to describe the
euphoria. "I can’t really explain it …" "You try to get to the
moment where you’re just so there," assists Parker. "It’s so
wonderful," continues Black. Getting to the shows can be less than
wonderful, which is why it’s important to have a sturdy touring
van, preferably a 15 passenger econo-line from Ford with trailer.
Sometimes ripping across three states at once, the musicians have
traveled 18-hour stretches from the cobblestone streets of
Vancouver to the burning pavements of Florida. Unfortunately for
Sparkler, the van has thus far made those treks in the dead of
winter. "We were driving through Colorado during a snow blizzard
once," recalls Parker. "Our van went into a spin, going like 60,
and we ended up going down hill." "We hit black ice," Wilmer adds.
Having first conceived of Sparkler over two years ago, the group
has been through a lot together. Yet, on days when the three need
their space, each member enjoys a different activity. Parker and
Wilmer often tinker in their private recording studios, while Black
does "graphic stuff." "I like to be alone a lot," Black admits. "I
do my little things. I just, I don’t know. What do I like to do
when I’m alone?" he muses to himself. "He practices his dance moves
nude, in front of the mirror," proclaims Parker. "I practice my
John Travolta moves to Neil Diamond songs," Black gleefully
decides. And, though Westwood Plaza probably won’t see Black’s
debut performance of these well-maneuvered steps, it will bring
back fond memories for Parker and Wilmer. Parker’s stay in Sproul
Hall left mostly positive stains on his psyche while Wilmer’s days
as a Numero Uno pizza delivery boy to stoned dorm kids and scheming
frat boys will live fresh in his mind forever. Yet, as Black begins
mischievously taking pictures of the Bruin photographer with her
camera, Wilmer admits that their youthful days have converged into
a more serious preoccupation. "You gotta strike a balance in your
life," Wilmer admits, "but I always find myself back in my studio,
back on my drums, pokin’ around with my music. I’m obsessed! At
least at this point. Though, it might be stocks I’m into in like
five years." Sparkler plays at Westwood Plaza on Friday at noon.
INGA DOROZ Sparkler: (from left) Tommy Black, Rick Parker and John
Wilmer.