Channeling modern rock influences into anthemic choruses and themes of lust, loss and embracing your inner demons, Sparks The Rescue return with 12 impressive edgy pop-rock tracks on new album Worst Thing I've Been Cursed With. The band's second full-length is a step forward for the band, blending sassy lyrics and the dynamic, unique vocals of frontman Alex Roy into the melodic, infectious songs the five-piece have become known for.
The group is comprised of Alex Roy (vocals), Patrick O’Connell (guitar), Toby McAllister (guitar), Ben Briggs (bass), and Nathan Spencer (drums). Seasoned musicians of over a decade, the crew started playing together in high school where they spawned from three local bands. They shared stages frequently at local shows and events until they decided in 2005 to become one single entity, Sparks The Rescue (deriving their name from Nicolas Sparks’ novel The Rescue).
In 2007, STR released a six-song digital EP, The Secrets We Can't Keep on Double Blind Music. It didn’t take long for their music to catch the ear of WCYY’s Mark Kurdo, and soon the EP was getting heavy rotation on “Spin Out,” a weekly program that features local artists. Requests started pouring in for their tracks to get regular airplay on the station, and STR went on to sell over 10,000 units of their EP on iTunes as their fan base grew exponentially. Their success has stemmed from their popularity at WCYY, and they haven’t forgotten that. They’ve played over 300 shows to date and have shared the stage with great bands including All Time Low, Hawthorne Heights, As Tall As Lions, Mayday Parade, Chiodos, Forever the Sickest Kids, Mayday Parade and A Static Lullaby.
Sparks The Rescue released their debut full-length album Eyes To The Sun in 2009 on Fearless Records. Produced by Jonathan Wyman of Halo Studios, the album has gained rave reviews, with tracks receiving play on MTV’s The Hills and Real World: Cancun. 2009 was quite the year for the band, who has toured Europe with The All-American Rejects, hit the road with Hit The Lights and won MTV/Garnier's battle of the bands contest to appear at MTVU's Woodie Awards. But there's no resting for them, as they rounded off the year winning the hearts of every teenage vampire lover out there with their killer new video for single "We Love Like Vampires".
2010 found the band playing Warped Tour in its entirety along with contributing a single to compilation Punk Goes Pop 3. Most of their time in 2010 was spent writing and preparing to record their highly anticipated follow-up to Eyes to the Sun. The quintet is currently on the road with Go Radio on The District Lines Tour. "Worst Thing I've Been Cursed With" was released in 2011 on Fearless Records.
The band's new self-titled EP was released on August 28, 2012, and on August 13, the band released a music video for their new song "Disaster," which featured former member Marty McMorrow doing guest vocals and synthesizers. This led to many fans believing he had rejoined the band; however, in response to YouTube comments on the video, Marty stated that he did not rejoin, and that he was "just helping out some friends."
On December 21, 2012, the band announced on Facebook that Mike Naran, David Pait, and Dylan Taylor's last show would be December 22, 2012, at The Space in Hamden, CT. Roy and McAllister toured acoustically in early 2013 as Sparks the Rescue, and in April 2013 the band released promotion photographs with Mat Petrin (bassist) and Nick Bilotta (drummer), who are also members of Roy's side-project band Holly Heist and original high school band 2 Girls Later. The band began performing with this lineup as a four piece in the Spring of 2013, and released a new EP titled "Truth Inside the Fiction" on July 30, 2013. The EP debuted at #33 on the iTunes Top Pop Albums Chart.
On July 21, 2013, Roy and Bilotta along with a new guitarist, booked a cover show in Portland's historic downtown district at a night club called Oasis.
In the summer of 2013, the band announced the Taking The D-Tour with opening bands Kingsfoil (featuring Frankie Muniz on drums) and Lion In The Mane. The band continues to play cover shows under the STR name with a new line-up including Matt Libby (rhythm guitar/vocals), a member of Bilotta's former project The Derek Wilkinson Band. No more tours have been announced and the band is actively playing cover shows at colleges, casinos, and tourist destinations. Bilotta's departure from the band remains unknown, with no announcements made by him or the band. His last shows were in Key West at Sloppy Joe's in September 2014. Spencer is currently reseated on the drums.
Members:
Alex Roy – Vocals (2006-present)
Toby McAllister – Lead Guitar/Vocals (1999-present)
Matt Libby - Rhythm Guitar (2014-present)
Mat Petrin - Bass (2013-present)
Nate Spencer - Drums (1999-2012, 2014-present)
Marty McMorrow - Keyboards (2005-2008)
Pat O'Connell - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals (2005-2010)
Ben Briggs - Bass (1999-2011)
Mike Naran - Rhythm Guitar (2010-2012)
David Pait - Bass (2011-2012)
Dylan Taylor - Drums (2012)
Nick Bilotta - Drums (2013-2014)
Shipwreck
Sparks The Rescue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now you're leaving me all on my own I swear I'll be a better man
If you keep drinking that wine little darling you'll be drunk before you know
When that other boy won't show any signs of a gentleman
Be afraid
Darling I'm a hurricane
If you shipwreck your love
I dreamt last night I broke in your apartment and I tried on all of your clothes
But I just can't get your shoes on my toes (can't get your shoes on my toes)
So I'm dancing to your stereo
Well if that boy don't dance with you darling there will be no romance ever starting
You'll be sitting all alone wishing I was all over you
Be afraid
Darling I'm a hurricane
If you shipwreck your love
I will be all the blame
Say my name
No just light it up in flames
If you're not in love then I don't want to play your games
No I don't want to play
Come on come on what are you messing with (Come on)
Come on come on what are you messing with (Come on)
Come on come on
Be afraid
Darling I'm a hurricane
If you shipwreck your love
I will be all the blame Say my name
No just light it up in flames
If you're not in love then I don't want to play your games
No I don't want to play your games
"Shipwreck" by Sparks The Rescue is a song about a man who is confessing his love for a woman and is afraid of losing her. The lyrics are full of emotion and passion as the man tries to convince his lover to stay with him. He admits that he hasn't been the best version of himself, but promises to change and be a better man. The use of the hurricane metaphor implies that the man is intense and powerful, and if the relationship fails, it will be all his fault. He is afraid of losing his love and expresses it in the lines "be afraid, darling I'm a hurricane, if you shipwreck your love, I will be all the blame."
In the second verse, the man is dreaming of his lover and trying on her clothes but unable to fit into her shoes, which symbolize that he doesn't fit into her life entirely, even though he desires her. He encourages her to dance with him and warns her about the other boy who won't treat her like a gentleman. The final verse shows the man's desperation as he pleads with his lover not to play games with him if she is not in love with him. The song ends with the repeated chorus, "be afraid, darling I'm a hurricane, if you shipwreck your love, I will be all the blame."
Line by Line Meaning
Have I been treating you right pretty baby? I'd be better if I wasn't so stoned
I wonder if I've been a good partner to you. I know I could do better if I wasn't under the influence of drugs.
But now you're leaving me all on my own I swear I'll be a better man
I understand you're leaving me and I regret my past behavior. I promise to improve and become a better person for you.
If you keep drinking that wine little darling you'll be drunk before you know When that other boy won't show any signs of a gentleman
You should be careful with your drinking. That guy you're seeing doesn't seem like he knows how to treat a lady, so be careful.
I dreamt last night I broke in your apartment and I tried on all of your clothes But I just can't get your shoes on my toes (can't get your shoes on my toes) So I'm dancing to your stereo Well if that boy don't dance with you darling there will be no romance ever starting You'll be sitting all alone wishing I was all over you
I had a dream where I was in your apartment trying on your clothes, but I couldn't fit into your shoes. Instead, I danced to your music. If that other guy won't dance with you, there won't be any romance. You'll wish you had chosen me instead.
Be afraid Darling I'm a hurricane If you shipwreck your love I will be all the blame
You should be afraid of me because I'm unpredictable like a hurricane. If our relationship fails, I'll take full responsibility for it.
Say my name No just light it up in flames If you're not in love then I don't want to play your games
You don't have to say my name, just forget me completely. I don't want to be a part of your life if you don't really love me.
Come on come on what are you messing with (Come on) Come on come on what are you messing with (Come on) Come on come on
Stop wasting time and make a decision. Stop playing games with me and choose what you really want.
No I don't want to play your games
I'm tired of playing these games with you. If you don't know what you want, then I don't want to be a part of it.
Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.