Watch it Sparkle

Sloppy Seattle garage-rock trio Watch It Sparkle really don't care if their guitars are out of tune. They don't care if the drumming is slightly off or if their two-minute-or-under songs are something you've already heard before—several times over—since, like, the '70s. Watch It Sparkle just want to make you dance, goddamnit, dance! The drumming is simple but hard, the tambourine is everywhere, and the vocals are spastic and full of sighs, howls, and hiccups, so during tonight's show you can flail, stumble, and be totally trashed, but still look totally cool. - The Stranger (Megan Seling)

WATCH IT SPARKLE

Thursday, Feb. 18

Seattle's Watch It Sparkle is a goddamn mess. Seriously. A sweaty, slurry, falling down, down-and-out mess. And it's beautiful. Low-fi garage punk the way it was meant to be - with equal parts piss, vigor and relentlessness - the band is releasing a 7-inch and they want you to come celebrate with them, specifically Thursday at the Swiss with Tacoma's the Plastards. Never has there been a better bill to get drunk, fall down and thank the good lords of garage rock for. Watch it Sparkle frontman Justin Mellor often steals the disheveled show, though the band's underappreciated rhythm section is not to be ignored. - Matt Driscoll

[The Swiss, with the Plastards, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821] - Weekly Volcano

Watch it Sparkle

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. - Sound on the Sound

9 p.m. / Watch It Sparkle

For a name that conjures images of cleaning-supply commercials and freshly scrubbed bathroom floors, there's nothing remotely commercial or clean about Watch It Sparkle's dirty garage pop. "My Baby Has a Red Tooth" is a noisy-but-simple, heavy-but-bouncy track that epitomizes the band's formula: add Justin Mellor's warbly, wailing vocals to organs and an unrelenting drum beat to create messy, irresistible songs. Just try not to pogo along. - Seattle Weekly

Watch It Sparkle, NighTraiN, White Jazz, Mopper

(High Dive) There ain't nothing new about what the local trio Watch It Sparkle have to offer—tambourine-heavy, sloppy garage rock with heavy bass and spastic, howling vocals—but if the sound ain't broke, why fix it? Their song "My Baby Has a Red Tooth" has a little Murder City Devils vibe, but I think that's mostly the organ talking, because the vocals are more crazy werewolf than Spencer Moody. Regardless, they'll be a spectacle to watch. There's one more reason to check out the show: opening band White Jazz, a project featuring members of Akimbo and Bloodhag, which means it will be loud. And maybe literary. But mostly loud. MEGAN SELING
- The Stranger - Megan Seling

Watch It Sparkle, NighTraiN, White Jazz, Mopper

(High Dive) There ain't nothing new about what the local trio Watch It Sparkle have to offer—tambourine-heavy, sloppy garage rock with heavy bass and spastic, howling vocals—but if the sound ain't broke, why fix it? Their song "My Baby Has a Red Tooth" has a little Murder City Devils vibe, but I think that's mostly the organ talking, because the vocals are more crazy werewolf than Spencer Moody. Regardless, they'll be a spectacle to watch. There's one more reason to check out the show: opening band White Jazz, a project featuring members of Akimbo and Bloodhag, which means it will be loud. And maybe literary. But mostly loud. MEGAN SELING
- The Stranger

Watch It Sparkle, NighTraiN, White Jazz, Mopper

(High Dive) There ain't nothing new about what the local trio Watch It Sparkle have to offer—tambourine-heavy, sloppy garage rock with heavy bass and spastic, howling vocals—but if the sound ain't broke, why fix it? Their song "My Baby Has a Red Tooth" has a little Murder City Devils vibe, but I think that's mostly the organ talking, because the vocals are more crazy werewolf than Spencer Moody. Regardless, they'll be a spectacle to watch. There's one more reason to check out the show: opening band White Jazz, a project featuring members of Akimbo and Bloodhag, which means it will be loud. And maybe literary. But mostly loud. MEGAN SELING
- The Stranger

Seattle's Watch It Sparkle have been snagging some primo opening slots lately (Ty Segall, T-Model Ford), and justly so. They're not doing anything fancy, but they're doing it well: garage rock that stabs you with as much conviction and fun vibes as does Thee Oh Sees' version of this venerable genre. It's burgers-and-fries stuff, but prepared with a gourmet's attention to detail. - The Stranger - Dave Segal

"That’s a textbook definition of dedication–dedication to chaotic behavior. It’s a musical path that’s rarely traveled anymore and quite impressive to witness in person. - SeattleShowGal.com

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.

by Josh Lovseth - Sound on the Sound

Watch It Sparkle is a Punk / Trash / Garage Rock band from Seattle Washington. This three piece band features Justin Mellow on guitar and vocals, Steb on bass and Starr on drums. All three play their instruments with passion and passable competence. Here is a review of their new 4-song EP. The band will be supporting it with a West Coast tour in March (Show Schedule here) and a full length album titled "Leave Me to Dream" is due to be released later this year.

1. My Baby Has a Red Tooth - This song starts off with power cords and pounding drums, soon augmented by keyboards. Vocals come in starting with a frantic "uhhhhh" followed by the punk verses and chorus. The vocals are a bit low in the mix but this is a guitar song so it's fine.

2. Your Heart Will Throb Hard - This song also starts with power chords but more in a Garage form. It also features keyboard similar to what you hear on the first B-52s album. Again the vocals are punky but a little stronger than track 1. The first 4 seconds is nearly "Fireflies" by Owl City, then its straight into great Garage guitar and drums. It has cool Garage backing vocals and the song ends with a scream. This is my favorite song and sounds to me like a cross between "Do It Clean" by Echo and the Bunnymen, and "Planet Claire" by the B-52s.

3. It's a Kill - Strong guitar and drums song with a vocal style similar to the first 2 tracks.

4. Hokey Cokey - Starts off like Wooly Bully - but then the pace doubles and we're in punk-o-mania! This song should have any listener pogoing around their room. The lyrics are based on the Hokey Pokey and sung in the same frantic style as the others.

This is a solid punk / rock EP with some Garage and New Wave influences. If you like Garage, you may like this as well. Have a listen to some of the songs at the band's MySpace page. Buy the CD at CD Baby. - http://garagerockradio.blogspot.com/

The Happs

What's happening in Humboldt County's art, entertainment and music scenes
Spring break in Humboldt is both rad and sad, from an entertainment standpoint that is.
It marks the change of seasons that, hopefully, brings plenty of fun outdoor festivals underneath the cool Northern California sunshine. But gone with the homeward-bound college kids a majority of local shows and events. Despite the low number of scheduled events this week, the few that are available are gnarly.

If you're an Alibi fan circle your calendars for Saturday when self-proclaimed “trash rock” band Watch it Sparkle mixes punk rock with a little bit of dangerous and a whole lot of fun at the Arcata bar and restaurant. (21 & up, $5).
”Their live shows (are) very intense; they're something different. They're not some indie college rock guys singing moopy songs,” said the band's publicist Larry Kay, “They're a fun kind of band you don't get to see much any more.”

This is the band's first tour together and it's frontman Justin Mellor's first time in California. Mellor, an East Coaster studying forest conservation at the University of Washington, said those attending should be prepared for a high-energy show.

”We're going to give it our all, prepare to sweat,” he said. “The sound of the band is dirty, old school punk. It's raw and honest.”
Opening for Watch it Sparkle are Eureka rockers Splinter Cell.

Kai Beech /Tri-City Weekly
Posted: 03/16/2010 01:39:15 PM PDT - Times-Standard