L7’s Donita Sparks: Bricks Are Heavy, and DIY touring
2023 marks the 30th(+1) anniversary of L7’s iconic album Bricks Are Heavy, and they’re coming to Australia and New Zealand to celebrate. Founding member, vocalist, and Flying V afficionado Donita Sparks recently shared her thoughts on DIY touring, younger crowds, and of course, the tour.
“We just got back from a tour of South America, and of course, everybody got sick,” Sparks laughs, “but now we’re getting ready to be in full rock mode for New Zealand and Australia!”
The upcoming shows promise to be a unique experience. “We’re going to do one set with Bricks Are Heavy, which is about 40 minutes,” Sparks explains. “The second set will be our “wannabe hits” from our other albums; It’s a good show, and people really dig it.”
The anticipation for these shows is palpable, especially considering the challenges the band faced due to the pandemic. “We had to cancel Australia a couple of times because of the pandemic, but in that time, it got this built-up energy for demand,” Sparks says excitedly. “Our ticket sales are pretty good in New Zealand and Australia, so we’re really, really happy about that. We like a packed house – that’s when it’s the funnest – and it looks like we’re going to have that on this upcoming tour.”
Reflecting on the popularity of their iconic album “Bricks Are Heavy,” Sparks expressed gratitude, albeit with a touch of humour. “So even though it took a worldwide pandemic to do it – and I jest when I say that – we are very humbled by the fact that so many people want to come out and hear us perform ‘Bricks Are Heavy.'”
Donita goes on to discuss the emergence of a younger fanbase. “We get a lot of young people coming to our shows; it’s really cool,” Sparks beamed. “I think a lot of the young ones aren’t just discovering grunge and the ’90s, they’re also discovering, what I feel was the crowning jewel of the grunge era – how many women are in bands and what cool and diverse bands were going on with women in them.”
Discussing the evolution of the music industry, Sparks highlighted the shift from the old days to the present. “Back in the day, everything was taken care of for us, well, in the early days it was all DIY, but once we signed to Sub Pop / Warner Brothers and really got international, things were arranged for us – we were very much “go here, do this”, now it’s a lot more hands-on, and we have to do a lot more work; we’re not on a label, we don’t have a management company, we’re just on our own, but you know that’s cool too… There’s a lightness of being about it.
As L7 embarks on their next musical journey, it’s evident that the band are not just performers, but storytellers, weaving tales of resilience, evolution, and the enduring power of rock ‘n’ roll. “All the people that are putting you down, they’re going to come to you years later and congratulate you,” she reflected. “People would put us down and try to make us feel less-than, and then, here I am, so many years later, and so many of the haters have said they were wrong – that’s the ultimate revenge!
L7 are touring in December.
