07/10:  Song of the Day.  Truman Sparks:  Juan the Sperm Whale/Trog

Following on the heels on the announcement late last week that Truman Sparks had been named Best New Band in Virginia by The Boston Phoenix, the band will be playing their first show in Charlottesville since the news broke.  You can catch Truman Sparks tonight at Outback Lodge, along with Harrisonburg’s Lex Vegas, Glass Fence from L.A., and Corsair.  Doors open at 8pm, $6 - $8, and Truman Sparks should hit the stage around 11pm.

Next up after tonight’s show at Outback, Truman Sparks hits the road this weekend, travelling to Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday for a show at 700 Club.  Check out the video after the break, which was taken from the skate film Anthro II, and features a “Juan the Sperm Whale/Trog” medley from Truman Sparks. [Thanks JB for the details on tonight’s show] »Read More

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[Truman Sparks:  l-r:  Adam Smith, Julie the Cat, Ray Szwabowski, Jon Hampton.  Jon Bray not pictured]

Pictured above is Virginia’s newly named Best New Band, which just so happens to be none other than Charlottesville’s own Truman Sparks.  (Minus the cat).  This according to The Boston Phoenix, New England’s largest arts and entertainment weekly, who in honor of the 4th of July weekend came up with their own list of the All-Time Best Band, All-Time Best Solo Artist, and Best New Band for every state in the Union (as well as the District of Columbia). 

While many of these “best of” lists are created to raise a debate among music fans, there’s no arguing with the kind of well-deserved attention that this is sure to generate for Truman Sparks.  And of course it’s always nice to hear from an outside source what music fans here in C’ville already know; that Truman Sparks rocks!  Many congrats fellas!  I am lighting off a couple of bottlerockets left over from the weekend in your honor.  (And to think that these guys almost called it quits back in April.)

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For awhile there it looked like we had heard the last from local rockers Truman Sparks as back in April the band announced that they may be playing their last show together.  But as luck would have it, and aided by the feedback of select focus groups and a couple of burritos, Truman Sparks turned away talk of retirement and now they continue to “melt the faces” of music fans here in Charlottesville and beyond. 

Your next opportunity to catch this local four-piece in action arrives on Thursday, May 22, as Truman Sparks joins The Nice Jenkins, The Cinnamon Band, Invisible Hand, and Marshall Costan’s Awesome Few for one of the final shows at the Satellite Ballroom.  Doors open at 8pm.

We caught up with three of the band’s members on the eve of their final performance at Satellite for a little game we call 7 Questions.  Our queries and their answers can be found after the break. »Read More

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Local band Truman Sparks takes to the stage for one final show tonight at Dust.  Also on the bill are Order, Mortiferous, and D.B.B. Cups.  Show starts at 8pm.  Cost is $5.  Head out there and say your farewells with a heavy dose of ”melting your face off” rock.  Best of luck guys for the road ahead.

[UPDATE:  1:10pm.  Monday, April 28.  In case you haven’t read Ray’s comment to this post, this will not be the last sighting of Truman Sparks in Charlottesville.  The band has decided to keep it together!  So…if you’re a fan of Truman Sparks you can hope to have your face melted off once again in the very near future!]

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The Outback Lodge hosts a three-band bill tonight.  Line-up includes the Young Livers, and local bands Truman Sparks and Worn in Red.  This is an all ages show.  Cost is $6.  The MUSE says be there shortly before 10pm.  We’ll let what you hear when you walk in the door be a surprise!

[UPDATE:  And if you go tonight, you better come back and tell us about it.  Woe unto the thee who fails to do so! (said the little man behind the curtain.)]

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Today, my day started as they all have over the past week since cvilleMUSE began last Wednesday.  I reluctantly stumble out of bed, make my way to the coffee pot, pour its contents down my throat, and eventually make my way to the computer to see where things stand.  (Which means:  What am I going to write about today)

First I pop on the MUSE to see if anyone has added any new comments to the wildly entertaining and enlightening posts I have written over the past couple days.  Then, with tears in my eyes, I check out the local blogs and news sources to see what I’ve missed while I’ve been sleeping.  Who knows, maybe Van Halen has decided to add three more Charlottesville tour dates to make up for the two previously cancelled shows, only to cancel the new dates because the band realized they can’t be in Akron, OH and Charlottesville at the same time.  Of course, we learn later that the Akron show has been cancelled as well.

From there it’s on to a number of music sites and blogs to see what’s happening in the world of music in general.  For example, today I learned that Janet Jackson’s new album, in addition to being released on CD, is also coming out on 180g audiophile quality vinyl.  Hooray! 

After another pot of coffee, I finally check my email to see what appointments I may have forgotten, whether my loan was approved so that I can continue to support my favorite presidential candidate, and to find out what the current going rate of Viagra is these days.  To my surprise I find an email there that begins with the following salutation:  “Dear All Knowing Muse”.  My immediate response was “I couldn’t have said it better myself”.  But right after that the confusion begins.  The body of the message contained the following:

Any idea what time Truman Sparks will actually begin playing tonight? Are they opening or headlining?

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