Watch it Sparkle ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Watch it Sparkle produces a brand of gutter rock that can’t help but exist on the fringes. Nothing about the band or it’s songs is particularly shiny or eye catching. At best a generous person might characterize them as a polished dumpster, something that even at its “cleanest” is still intrinsically dirty.

The primitive guitar work and drunkenly bombastic singing of frontman Justin Mellor is all punk in sight and sound. He’s got a stage personality and slur sloppy enough to keep you wondering how he keeps it together, but on the whole the songs are groovy enough to keep your feet engaged. Providing some key help in keeping it together is drummer Starr Harris and bassist Steb, a rhythm section that appeals to both the pure punk (with the drums) and hard rock (with the bass) elements of Mellor’s performance.

As a local music writer of even minimal repute I probably should have been tripping over myself to cover the Pixies “Doolittle” show Friday night. A low ceilinged room where you can step right up to the front of the stage will always be the place I’d much rather take in a show though, it just somehow seems the more proper environs to commune with a band and it’s music than in a cushioned seat 50 yards from an expansive stage larger than the most of the said rooms I usually frequent. So there I was. At the front of the stage. Feeling a bit dirty. And not at all regretting my decision of band or venue.

Watch it Sparkle ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Watch it Sparkle ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Watch it Sparkle ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth