Through The Sparks

Blending prog rock, psychedelia, and indie rock into expansive sonic textures, Through the Sparks formed in Birmingham, AL during 2003. Guitarist Nikolaus Mimikakis, his percussionist brother Thomas Mimikakis, and bassist Greg Slamen launched the project as a side effort while they were still performing with John Paul Keith in Stateside. Recording had already started under the Through the Sparks name when Keith disbanded Stateside, prompting Slamen and the Mimikakis brothers to shift their full focus to the new endeavor. Multi-instrumentalists Jody Nelson and James Brangle, both contributing keyboards and guitars, soon joined the lineup. The expanded group began presenting its layered soundscapes in concert settings, issuing a debut six-song EP titled Coin Toss on the Skybucket label during spring 2005. Early 2006 brought Audiolotas: Scraps for the Human Ear, a set of demos, home recordings, and unfinished pieces meant to chronicle the band’s initial phase. Lazarus Beach, their first full studio album, appeared in spring 2007.