the Spark - ProfilesArchive

About Me

The Spark were a fast/thrashy hardcore/punk band from Baltimore, MD influenced by the greats like Black Flag, Minor Threat, Jerry's Kids, Tear It Up, Cut the Shit, and many more, as well as less obvious bands like Articles of Faith and Dinosaur Jr.
We played our first show on Sunday, June 1st, 2003 at the Charm City Art Space in Baltimore, MD and we played our final show on Saturday, October 14th, 2006 at the Oddfellow's Hall above Ten Car Pile-up in Towson, MD.
We started this band barely knowing each other and we ended it as friends, extremely proud of everything we'd accomplished. We made a lot of friends along the way. We played with a lot of great bands, some of which were heroes to us. We released a few records, none of which we look back on with embarrassment. And we spent a lot of time in the van figuring out what makes us happy.
We love this band and we wish to thank everyone that supported us in any way. None of us are going anywhere, we're still active with new bands. Please check them out and help us continue what we started with the Spark...
Paper Dragons - www.myspace.com/paperdragonspunx
Pulling Teeth - www.myspace.com/pullingteethmd
the Jons - www.myspace.com/losjohns
Head Home - no website yet, but great band!
Again, thanks for everything.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/31/2003
Band Website: thesparkhc.com
Band Members: Mike R - microphone
Kristin - bass
Darick - drums
Mike S - guitar
Influences: Black Flag, Minor Threat, All, Descendents, Tear It Up, Striking Distance, Bad Brains, Jellyroll Rockheads, Circle Jerks, Negative Approach, the Germs, Dag Nasty, Big Boys, Cut the Shit, Life Sentence, the State, Poison Idea, and Angry Samoans.
bands you should check out...Never Enough, Ruiner, Bad Business, Nick Fury, Forward To Death, the Breaks, Bane, Turbonegro, Active Sac, Jean Mills Society Torch, Municipal Waste, Can't Say, Worn Thin, Get It Away, Damage Deposit, No Time Left, Fucked Up, What Happens Next?, Doughboys, Pinhead Gunpowder, Moment of Youth, Aesop Rock, Run DMC, the Aftermath, Kill Your Idols, Career Suicide, Swiz, Cannibal Ox, Johnny Cash, Wire, Paint It Black, Shitfit, 86 Mentality, DSB, I Hate You, the Hate Crimes, Atmosphere, Rob Sonic, the Gatecrashers, Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, Medic, the Backup Plan, Drag the River, Lucero, the Misfits, the Faction, Modern Life Is War, the Suicide File, Dag Nasty, Gorilla Biscuits, DYS, My Revenge, Slapshot, DRI, Internal Affairs, Teen Idles, Cro-Mags, Operation Ivy, Youth of Today, Judge, I Object, In My Way, Shanghai Valentine...the list goes on and on.
movies you should watch...Another State of Mind, the Decline of Western Civilization, Suburbia, Afropunk, the Minor Threat DVD, Goonies, Stand By Me, Zoolander, Old School, Dogtown and Z-Boys, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, Spinal Tap, Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show, A Mighty Wind
books you should read...Dance of Days - Mark Anderson, Get In the Van - Henry Rollins, We Got the Neutron Bomb - Marc Spitz, Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut, Still Life With Woodpecker - Tom Robbins
Sounds Like: Black Flag, Jerry's Kids, and Tear It Up with lyrics about giving a shit about more than the color of the vinyl.
Record Label: Firestarter Records (www.firestarterrecords.com)
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

pressing information: Nobodys Laughing 12"

Nobody's Laughing 12" (September 2006)Mike Fitzgerald Records 4431. Same Old Story2. Bleeding Teeth3. Then the Cops Showed Up4. Life In a Dying City5. There's a Glaring Inconsistency In Your Logic6. T...
Posted by the Spark on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:58:00 PST

pressing information: the Spark / Deathcycle split 7"

the Spark / Deathcycle split 7" (September 2005)Burn Bridges Records 1 / Complete Distort Records 2the Spark1. Fireflower2. This Is Not a Straightedge Song3. It's a Friggin' Hammer4. The Spark vs. God...
Posted by the Spark on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:43:00 PST

pressing information: the Spark / Bail Out! split 7"

the Spark / Bail Out! split 7" (November 2004)Rosewater Records 4the Spark1. Emergency Surgery In the Studio2. Pump Air Not Gas3. the Music Or the Misery4. One To Two (Dag Nasty)Bail Out!1. Keep Talki...
Posted by the Spark on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:24:00 PST

pressing information: Fashion Rats and Status Whores 7"

Fashion Rats and Status Whores 7" (June 2004)Mike Fitzgerald Records 4101. Circle Pits Not Karate Kicks2. Bored In DC3. Operation: They Think We're Idiots4. Dear Heartattack5. Of Course It's a Basemen...
Posted by the Spark on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:04:00 PST

pressing information: Less Slow, More Go! 7"

Less Slow, More Go! 7" (November 2003)Go Home Records (Firestarter Records) 2 / Wallride Records 11. Firestarter2. The Flag Shop Is Out of Stock (aka Hate-riotism)3. The Gooch4. Bike Lock Resolution5....
Posted by the Spark on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:57:00 PST

LP release show this Saturday in DC!

Our LPs are arriving this week, so Saturday's show at AU will be the official record release show. Colored vinyl limited to 100! You better fucking be there!Saturday, August 5that the Kay Spiritual Ce...
Posted by the Spark on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 04:04:00 PST

The Spark is coming to an end...

The Spark has decided to call it quits at the end of the summer. The three years we have been active have all been great, and there are no bad feelings between any of the members, but the time has co...
Posted by the Spark on Sat, 22 Apr 2006 11:54:00 PST

Had to cancel TIFY 2005 - sorry.

Hey everyone, I'm sorry to say that about a month ago we had to drop off of this year's This Is For You fest due to some familial obligations happening at the same time. The fest is always a ton of fu...
Posted by the Spark on Fri, 09 Dec 2005 11:03:00 PST

the Spark winter tour (almost completely booked!)

we're heading out on tour right after Christmas again this year and everything is almost all set. we'll be going out with our friends Ruiner this time and we're playing a bunch of dates with Never Eno...
Posted by the Spark on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

City Paper Best of Baltimore 2004 - "Best Punk Band"

City Paper said so... http://www.citypaper.com/bob/story.asp?id=8806 Jean Mills Society Torch also got a mention... http://www.citypaper.com/bob/story.asp?id=8836
Posted by the Spark on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST