REVIEW: Sparks: Live at The Tabernacle - ATL

Touring their 26th album, MAD! the beloved duo serves as a reminder that there's nothing cooler than being "weird."

Sparks ask ATL fans "So May We Start" (Photo by Mikey Smith)

When watching legacy acts live in concert, there tends to be an unspoken rule amongst fans to remind themselves that their favorite bands are no longer in their prime. Concertgoers definitely love to finally hear their life-long favorites live or see bands for the umpteenth time on tour, but if you gave fans a time machine, they would almost always choose to go back and see a younger, more active version of these icons.

Enter Sparks, opening the North American leg of their MAD! tour at ATL's Tabernacle with a packed and eager crowd. The duo, Russell and Ron Mael, celebrated the release of their 26th record MAD! this summer and are taking the show on the road this fall with a stacked list of shows. However, this tour isn't your usual evening with a group who's been making music for 50+ years. Not only do Sparks entertain, but their wit and insanity still charm generations with each subsequent release.

Lead singer Russell Mael performing at The Tabernacle (Photo by Mikey Smith)

From the second the brothers step foot on the stage, they immediately stole the attention of the audience. Russell (age 76) spent the night jumping around and singing in his signature falsetto, while his big brother Ron (age 80) kept his seriously silly persona in check while playing keys/synth throughout their 20 song setlist. Backed by a tight band playing guitars, drums, and bass, Sparks blasted classics like "Beat the Clock" and "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" as well as their new tracks including "JanSport Backpack" and "Running Up a Tab at the Hotel for the Fab."

Ron Mael playing on his very own "Ronald" synthesizer (Photo by Mikey Smith)

Members of the audience belted out every lyric, no matter if the song was from 1979 or 2025. No one was afraid to dance to the grooviest melodies or wear outfits as eccentric as the music. Sparks' fans are just as wonderfully weird as the band's aura. Rarely do you find crowds who understand the assignment for a show as the one on Friday night at The Tabernacle. Whether 8 or 80 years-old, it's not hard to have fun at a Sparks show, and isn't that what a great concert is all about?

Fans enjoying all-time favorite Sparks songs (Photo by Mikey Smith)

Sparks prove that you don't need 5-minute guitar solos or massive pyrotechnics to put on a great show. While those things are the textbook definition of "cool," Russell and Ron bring their natural quirk to the table. Their goofy yet profoundly influential musings captivate listeners decades after debuting. If their multi-minute standing ovations don't convince you that the duo is in their prime, then you must be MAD! (pun fully intended).

Russell and Ron still continue to be at top of their game in 2025 (Photo by Mikey Smith)

Thank you so much to Sparks and their team for this experience! Art Seen ATL is proud to cover this legendary band's tour kickoff in our city.

Article and photos by Mikey Smith. Please credit @mts2.photo or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.