| 06 August 2011
"All I’m doing is setting a standard I intend to live up to," Hal Sparks explains, after urging the audience to cut out the cruelty towards the world’s ‘weirdos.’ On a personal level, this moment comes as an unexpected surprise. As an American with a bit of a pop culture problem (addiction, if we’re being honest), I expect I’m one of the most well-versed in Sparks' work amongst this year's Festival attendants. Consequentially, proving himself is exactly what I need him to do tonight.
It is my pleasure, then, to tell you that he did. If you’ve ever seen a dance competition, you know a dance can be made or broken by its use of the stage. Watching Hal Sparks in the basement of the Gilded Balloon at midnight, rolling his shoulders in a figure eight in a convincing effort to expose the lurking sex appeal of the animal kingdom, I feel like an enraptured judge. See how he makes use of his levels as he lunges like Eddie Vedder?
As those familiar with Sparks will recognize, he is true to form in his opening, doling out his signature high-octane pop commentary, and rapidly alternating between pitch-perfect impersonations of the discordant sounds of 80s metal and 90s grunge. Wisely, however, Sparks doesn’t rest on this platform. Instead, he launches into his thesis with more vigor than seems possible at this hour, and he maintains this energy so consistently that you can’t help but be swept up by it. Sparks fans and novices alike might be surprised by his unflappable conviction, yet pleased to find that he makes a good point – repeatedly.
While the sheer volume of his set will surely solidify the perception of the loud and
proud American, Sparks also deepens it. Calling out American culture’s ‘width versus
depth,’ he swiftly addresses the elephant in the room and proves to be just as capable as anyone of poking fun at the Amurricas and its hyperbolic populace. If you’re feeling raucous, head to Hal Sparks’ show. He’s going boldly in his direction because he knows it’s a good (and internationally agreeable) direction, so just trust him, and let him take you there.
Hal Sparks: Evolution Overdrive, Aug 3-29 August (not 17), 10.45 pm
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