Beachwood Sparks
| Beachwood Sparks | |
|---|---|
Beachwood Sparks performing in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1997–2002, 2008–present |
| Labels |
Sub Pop (US) Rough Trade (UK) Houston Party Music Bomp! Underground Liberation Force Records |
| Associated acts | Further, The Tyde, Mystic Chords of Memory, Frausdots, All Night Radio |
| Members | Christopher Gunst, Brent Rademaker, Aaron Sperske, "Farmer" Dave Scher, Ben Knight, Neal Casal. |
| Past members | Jimi Hey, Tom Sanford, Pete "Sleigher" Kinne, Josh Schwartz, Ian Mackinnon, Liz Randall. |
Beachwood Sparks are an American alternative country band from Los Angeles. A Daily Telegraph article on America's underground psychedelic pop scene described Beachwood Sparks as "country through a kaleidoscope".
The band was formed by bassist Brent Rademaker and guitarist Christopher Gunst who met in the 1990s when both were members of Los Angeles indie-rock group Further. Guitarist Dave Scher and drummer Jimi Hey (who played with Gunst in Strictly Ballroom) were recruited before the band's first show in June 1997.
Hey suggested the band's name by combining Sparks Street, where Brent Rademaker lived in Burbank, with Beachwood Street, which runs parallel and adjacent to Sparks. Hey left after a few shows and was replaced by Tom Sanford. At around the same time, the group was also joined by Pete "Sleigher" Kinne on percussion and another former Further member, guitarist Josh Schwartz.
They released the "Desert Skies"/"Make It Together" single on Bomp! in October 1998. Sanford left and was replaced by Aaron Sperske, drummer with Lilys, whose first recording with the band was on the Sub Pop singles club release "Midsummer Daydream"/"Windows 65" issued in April 1999. Kinne and Schwartz left shortly after.
In spring 2000, they released their first album, Beachwood Sparks. The "shimmering twang-pop melodies and gorgeous harmonies" drew comparisons to the late 1960s' Laurel Canyon country-rock of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Gram Parsons as well as to contemporaries Elephant 6.
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