Interview with the Black Sparks
- by Dawn Reed

(Photo by Darrow Montgomery)
It's not surprising that Bethesda based punk band the Black Sparks dominated our last Band of the Month poll.  Formed in 2006 by a couple of 8 year olds playing in the basement, these dudes were born to revive classic DC punk. Their fun nuggets* have the ability to scrape wallflowers away from the corners and onto the floor for some good-time floor punching. (*listen to "Mister Panther" from their 2010 EP S.T.Rawberries.) We wanted to find out more about this band that's on the rise, so we got a hold of Jonah Antonelli (guitar,) Nathaniel Salfi (drums,) Sam Grove (guitar,) Andrew Salfi (vocals,) and Ray Brown (bass.) Here they talk about playing with Titus Andronicus, the influence of Ian Mackaye, and the complexity of BYS (Bethesda Youth Shows.) Now onto the interview...

How did the band start?

Ray Brown, bassist: From what I understand (I wasn’t in the band at the time), Jonah and Nathaniel started playing and writing songs in 3rd grade (winter/spring of 2007). They then recruited their friend Sam Grove to play guitar and Nathaniel’s younger brother Andrew to sing.

Nathaniel Salfi, drummer: Jonah and I formed the band in my basement in 3rd grade (2006). We wrote a few songs, but the band really didn't start progressing until our lineup was complete with the additions of Sam, Andrew and Ray in 2008

Sam, guitarist: Actually, the band started when Nathaniel and Jonah were in second grade in 2005, and Andrew and I joined in 2006.  I know that because I got my first guitar that same year.

Jonah Antonelli, guitarist: We started the summer of the year we were in third grade. It was, as bands stereotypically start, a project based in our drummer’s basement. This was back when we thought that good tones were achieved by turning up the gain and that’s it.

Where did the band name come from?

Ray: Again, from what I understand, it’s a combination of a cat named Sparky and some sort of traffic sign.

Nathaniel: We went through a bunch of names first, but they were either bad or taken by a different band. Jonah and I one day eventually just came up with the name "The Black Sparks".

Jonah: One day we were sitting around after having switched around from different names for months, and The Black Sparks just came out of nowhere. Once we thought about that name, though, we liked the concept more and more; you can’t really see black sparks, right?

What are your biggest musical influences?

Ray: Initially, it was lots of early Green Day and also Nirvana. Now, it’s more Fugazi, or a nice mix of those two.

Nathaniel: Every band Ian Mackaye has been in, Blink 182, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Archers of Loaf.

Sam: My biggest musical influences have been Jimi Hendrix, Fugazi, The Ramones, The Clash, The Specials, U2, The Who, and Nirvana. I also play trumpet, and I am influenced by Duke Ellington and Maynard Ferguson.

Jonah: The biggest musical influences on the band as a whole have definitely been classic punk and rock bands. Andrew (our singer) says he loved listening to Fugazi as a baby. We greatly admire them as well as other early punk bands from DC like Fugazi, Minor Threat, Black Eyes, etc. The Clash, The Ramones, and The Offspring are other big influences I can think of.

What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?

Ray: Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Fugazi, Minor Threat, The Pixies, Arcade Fire, Imperial China, Sleeper Agent, Beastie Boys (RIP MCA), Delta Spirit, The White Stripes, Death From Above 1979, Screaming Females, The Bots, Bad Brains, and Radiohead.

Nathaniel: I’ve been listening to Fugazi, Archers of Loaf, Built To Spill, The Bronx, Face To Face, Gorillaz, NOFX, No Age, The Black Keys, Public Enemy, Silversun Pickups, The Evens, Sonic Youth,  and The Specials.

Sam: Right now, I am listening to a combination of Fugazi, Bad Brains, NOFX, Public Enemy, Run DMC, The Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, Solar Powered Sun Destroyer, 65daysofstatic, Titus Andronicus, and Jesus Lizard.

Jonah: It’s been Neutral Milk Hotel and The Mountain Goats lately, and also some Harry Partch. Additionally, ever since we opened for Titus Andronicus back in March, I’ve listened to their album The Monitor over and over. They’re an awesome band, and quickly are becoming an influence on us.

What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?

Ray: The first concert I went to was Carlos Santana at Meriwether for my dad’s birthday when I was 3 years old. It was too loud so I just cried under a blanket the whole time. I’m not quite sure what the first album I bought was, or whether I even bought it, but it was most likely White Blood Cells by the White Stripes when I was around 4 years old.

Nathaniel: The first album I bought was American Idiot by Green Day in 2006. The first concert I went to was Barry Manilow.

Sam: The first album I bought was the Clash's London Calling.  The first concert I went to when I was 9 or 10 was O.A.R.  The best concert, however, was Gang of Four at the 930 Club.

Jonah: The first concert I ever went to was Green Day at the Verizon Center. Most of us used to love Green Day and we still love Dookie and lots of their older stuff. First album I bought was in-fact Alvin & The Chipmunks. I still have it on my iPod, but I don’t think it’s been listened to in years.

Andrew Salfi, singer: The first concert I ever attended was filled of different sounds I couldn’t recall when I was little. It only sounded like” jfdlsajfckkklsfjadsa-jkladfj j  dsa-fat  sda f sfd sfad sdf  fdas”. I didn’t understand why people liked the sound of “jkdl -problem- afjks-NO-qajf- jkldsaj f fds f dks af ds fkdsla;f”. The first album I bought was probably a Green Day album .

What do you love about DC's music scene?

Ray: Everybody knows each other. Whether it’s the bands, the people who book the venues, or the kids who are involved, they all know each other. When we played Fort Reno in the summer of 2010, we started getting offers to play shows at Black Cat Backstage, Fredericksburg All Ages, Comet, H Street Festival, Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series, Adams Morgan Day Festival, Positive Force, etc. It’s because all the people who book these venues are friends with each other, or so it seems. Also, at almost every local show I see, there’s a band I recognize from either having played with them or more likely seeing them on the Fort Reno schedule at one time or another.

Nathaniel: Everybody is nice and supportive.

Sam: The DC music scene is not mainstream, so when you go to shows, you recognize lots of people. Also, you have so much in common with everyone else in DC, so everyone gets along.

Jonah: What DC’s music scene does so well is it preserves the human element of making music which has been really lost over the past decades. I love the DIY ethic about so much of it as I mentioned earlier, partly because it lends itself over to a community feeling you don’t get in many other places. It’s also great because the history of the DC music scene is tied up so closely with the history of the city itself.

Andrew: What I love about the DC music scene is that people understand bands and offer a hand. DC gives people a chance to share their sound with all types of people. DC music scene shouldn’t be named DC music scene. I think it should be called something like “the people that don’t want to live a normal life” or “the music scene of DC”, or something that’s recognizing the difference they have from other people. Ray is totally right with what he said.  It’s not the name; it’s the people that make the punk scene fun, exciting, adrenaline pumping, slam dancing, etc. The people are what give the scene its name.

(I hope that didn’t sound too cheesy…:)

What would you like to see change in the local music scene?

Ray: I feel like the scene should get more notoriety nationally and internationally, but that may destroy the family and community aspects of the scene by attracting “intruders”. That’s also me just having the same notion of when I was a four-year-old that I wanted to be popular and get DC to the level of excitement as New York or LA. Although, a few more shout outs from a certain Dave Grohl wouldn’t hurt/would be much appreciated!

Nathaniel: Even more youth (kids our age) coming to shows would be great.

Sam: It might be helpful if some better known bands played with local bands. I think more kids would go to shows if bands like No Age or Police and Thieves played at more free or cheap shows.  Plus it may help to encourage the local bands to stick with it.

Jonah: More of the same talent, community, and support would be great.

Andrew: I hate when people at my school say that the only thing I do in this band is scream. That’s because the music hasn’t had enough exposure. Also another problem is that people that think they’re a GOOD CITIZEN think that all teens do drugs and so they need to be 100% locked on us at all ages shows.  I’m saying that because we can’t have a bigger scene because of this attitude. When Ray started BYS (Bethesda Youth Shows), the adults there made us follow strict rules. No one showed up because you had to sign up on Facebook and get on a list and do a lot of complex things. You couldn’t just walk into the show and listen. So what I want is a change in the amount of freedom we get to use to make the punk scene stronger!

What are your plans for the upcoming year?

Ray: Good question……. (All of this is still up in the air) We will most likely master our two EP’s then release them on a record label, promote them, and gain exposure with those. This summer, hopefully we can play multiple shows in the area (Fort Reno, fingers crossed). We may also record a full-length album with our friend and get that out there within a year from now. Once the school year starts, we’ll continue to play shows and promote, but mostly we’ll write new material. Once again, we have no concrete idea as to what the near future holds.

What was your most memorable live show?

Ray: This is a tie between two magical shows. First, last March we played Fredericksburg, Virginia for a great all-ages music series/nonprofit Fredericksburg All Ages where we opened up for a popular Jersey punk band called Titus Andronicus. It was so exciting because the show was at a small drum studio that fit about 100 people in (somewhat) small town Virginia, and we were sharing the stage with a very popular band. Honestly, a band of middle-schoolers from the suburbs doesn’t open up for a band that’s played Coachella, Lollapalooza, and SXSW, and opened up for Vampire Weekend and hand-picked by Metallica to play their festival, and regularly mentioned in Spin and Rolling Stone, and on the same label as Radiohead and The White Stripes!!!! That’s not how the world works!!!!!!!  Additionally, all the stringed instruments had gotten new and awesome amps not too long before, thus leading to the first show we’ve played where we used all of our own amps.  The other most memorable show was when we played Fort Reno in the summer of 2010 as I mentioned before. It was so memorable because of how well we played, how many people were there and were into it, but mainly because it made us feel accepted and truly part of the DC music scene. Also, as I mentioned before, it gave us sooooooo many opportunities to play local shows. Every single 'like' on Facebook since the day we played Fort Reno can be traced to that show.

Sam: Most memorable show for me was Fort Reno, because the crowd was into it, we were playing well, and it was after that show that we got popularity. Then again, the Black Cat was cool because we had a nice backstage room and free food.  Additionally, I liked the setup of the Black Cat and we got to play with Gist.

Jonah: Fort Reno in the summer of 2010 was awesome.  It was a great crowd and location, also because it has an amazing history in the DC scene.

Is there someone who has helped your band grow through support?

Ray: Our drummer’s dad and my brother Ruben have helped book many shows for us, including Positive Force, H Street Festival, and Comet. Also, we have been very thankful to receive lots of moral and financial support from our family.

Nathaniel: Nayan Bhula has helped us grow a lot.

Sam: Big credit goes to Nayan Bhula, and all our families who continue to support us.

Jonah: Our parents have been unbelievably supportive of the band. Everyone else in the scene who has been guiding us and giving us advice and being welcoming has been great. This is a great place to get into music.

Andrew: I feel like we all helped out with different things and should get credit.

Is there a piece of equipment you couldn't live without and why?

Ray: Me personally, no. I am notorious amongst my music friends for being very oblivious to equipment. I don’t use any pedals, I don’t know the advantages of different brands of amps, I don’t even know what treble means! This often applies to the rest of the band too. If you give us instruments, amps, and mics, our creativity and desire to play will triumph regardless of the equipment we’re using.

Nathaniel: I could not live without the stick-holder that attaches to the side of the hi-hat because I drop drumsticks a lot.

Sam: I can't live without my guitar and amp.  Probably the next piece I need is the footswitch that changes the channels on my amp, which I use for the song “Slip Away”.

Jonah: My guitar because it is how I create pleasing sound oscillations that turn into music.