The College welcomed Charlottesville-based band Sparky’s Flaw to the UC Terrace on Friday, March 28 as part of UCAB’s Friday’s at 5 series.
The members of the five-piece band, who liken themselves to Maroon 5, U2 and Coldplay, have no shortage of charm or talent. With two EP’s available on iTunes and upcoming shows with Switchfoot, O.A.R. and Matt Nathanson, the campus was lucky to snatch these guys on our small campus.
The DSJ sat down with Sparky’s Flaw - Will Anderson (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Alex Hargrave (bass), Johnny Stubblefield (drums), and Nate McFarland (lead guitar). Kit French, who plays the sax, was not able to make the interview.
After the first few laughter-filled questions, it was clear that even though the band may be on the rise, the guys of Sparky’s Flaw are still just down-to-earth friends from Charlottesville.
DSJ: How and why did you guys start Sparky’s Flaw?
Will Anderson: Johnny was in a band with some dudes, we were in high school - tenth grade - Johnny had been playing some music with me and then he decided to join this other band.
Johnny Stubblefield: I’ve been playing steady for a while.
[laughter]
WA: We got jealous, so I decided to start a band with my friend David, and we got Alex on bass…
JS: I saw where the real talent was so I switched.
WA: Yeah, Johnny saw the light and came over. He latched on.
[laughter]
JS: And I’ll never let go.
WA: It’s true! We started in high school, Nate [a college friend] joined…last year, right?
Nate McFarland: July… 7-7-07 actually.
WA: Really? That is…cosmic.
DSJ: So you guys all go to UVA?
WA: Nate and I go to UVA. Kit goes to Mary Washington. And these guys are from Charlottesville as well.
DSJ: So when you started, did you ever think you would end up opening for Switchfoot and bands like that?
WA: No, we just sort of did it as…uh…
JS: …a joke.
[laughter]
WA: Well it started out as something we all like to do, and then it turned into something -
JS: Nate, what are you doing over there?
NM: Whoops…
WA: You broke the window!
[Nate messes with the blinds.]
[laughter]
JS: We like to trash the green room. Very rock and roll.
WA: Yeah, it always started out as a hobby and then, no we definitely did not [think we would reach the level we have]. We hoped, of course, as all young bands do.
DSJ: What is the significance of the band’s name?
NM: We were just playing a show. Well, actually, they were playing a show. I wasn’t in the band yet. I don’t know why you want me to tell it. I wasn’t even there.
[laughter]
JS: There was a guy at the venue. His name was Sparky.
WA: And he was impeccably dressed, except for a duct-taped shoe.
NM: We’re very big into literary, you know, significance. We go for allegories.
DSJ: Do you guys have any special pre-performance rituals?
WA: No, we just sing a song, and slap each other across the face all the time, and get going. No, we don’t really.
[laughter]
… There was a time when we used to try to trick the other person in the band but it just turned a little too complicated. So now we just say a little chant, say “Don’t mess up” and then hit it and quit it.
DSJ: What’s the last song or CD that you bought on iTunes or downloaded?
JS: The Feeling.
NM: Nada Surf.
WA: I just bought the new Miley Cyrus song, and the new Mariah Carey single.
NM: [sings] Touch my body!
WA: Yeah, that’s it, definitely, Mariah Carey, “Touch my Body.”
Alex Hargrave: I bought Damien Rice, “O”, such a long time ago!
DSJ: Do you guys have any crazy fans yet?
WA: It’s definitely gotten to the point where…
DSJ: You need a security guard?
NM: I am the security guard.
[laughter]
WA: That’s the reason you’re in the band now.
DSJ: Do you guys play “Rock Band”, or “Guitar Hero”? Do you play the same instrument on Rock Band as you do in real life?
NM: No, I try to branch out. I think the vocals on Rock Band are kind of lame.
AH: I’m nasty at the drums.
WA: I’m really good at the guitar. Alex and I played it a lot last year. An egregious amount actually. Yeah that was not good, but in the process we did get very skillful.
DSJ: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing, what would it be?
NM: I thought you were going to say, “Which band member would you eat?”
[laughter]
DSJ: Actually, let’s change the question. That one’s better.
All: NATE.
[laughter]
WA: He looks like he would taste good, look at that! [Nate flexes] Anywhere you grab is soft.
JS: What was the question?
WA: If you were on an island, what would you take?
JS: I’m very practical. Mine wouldn’t be creative and fun. I’d say a Swiss army knife.
NM: I’d bring a baseball bat.
WA: I’d definitely bring an iPhone.
JS: But do you get service there?
WA: Yes, you do get service there.
JS: Oh, well there you go! But what about the battery?
WA: Don’t worry about the specifics.
DSJ: If you guys weren’t musicians, what career do you think you’d take?
AH: I would be a trapeze artist.
JS: I think my mom asked me this last night.
WA: [imitating Johnny’s mom’s voice] “What will you do if the band sucks?”
WA: I would probably want to be a history teacher.
DSJ: Who would play you in a movie about your life?
AH: Ohhh Johnny Depp!
[laughter]
DSJ: That was instantaneous!
AH: Also, if it was a comedy, it would be Jack Black.
WA: You stole all of the good people! Nate?
NM: The British guy from “A Beautiful Mind.” He’s got, like, the red hair?
DSJ: Paul Bettany?
NM: Paul Bettany, I like him.
WA: Steven, from Laguna Beach.
[laughter]
I’ve been told that I look like him.
JS: Eddie Murphy.
[laughter]
I think we’ve got similar personalities.
DSJ: And are you guys working on a new CD right now?
WA: Yeah, we are. We’re in the middle of school and everything so it’s been crazy, but we recorded over winter break, and then took a long break for the semester. Then we’ll start working again. We’ll go to L.A., hopefully at the end of April and through the end of the school year to try to get it done.
DSJ: So is it a collaboration writing songs, or is it an individual process?
WA: Yeah, I’ve been working with a few people, our producer is a pretty good songwriter. The songs came out great, so, we’re excited about it.
DSJ: Do you guys have any goals for the band?
WA: We’d love to play for as many people as possible.
NM: I’d love to pack the Norva.
JS: I’d like to reach… further than that.
[laughter]
WA: It’s our nearest goal…[I’d like for] as many people hear our music as possible.
DSJ: So what are your musical influences?
WA: One from each of us. Alex?
AH: Radiohead
NM: Damn it! Uh, Death Cab for Cutie.
JS: Dave Matthews Band. Ryan Adams.
NM: I don’t know, like directly influencing our sound, Maroon 5.
WA: U2.
JS: Coldplay.
[silence]
JS: And that’s all we have ever listened to.
[laughter]
DSJ: Thank you guys so much.
WA: No, thank you. Sorry we’re so awkward, during these things.
NM: It’s a charming awkward.