Sparklehorse Delivers Glistening Set

The modest Mark Linkous (a.k.a. Sparklehorse), clad in a vintage three-piece suit, played the Clubhouse in Tempe, Arizona last night to an intimate crowd. Despite taking a five-year hiatus before releasing his latest, Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain, Sparklehorse appeared comfortable onstage, describing his performance as "just part of the job" -- it didn't hurt he was backed by beatkeeper Johnny Hott, reportedly his best fried of some 20 years. The dream-pop maestro mixed his set with tunes old and new, playing "It's Not So Hard," "Knives of Summertime," and the Beach Boys-y gem, "Don't Take My Sunshine Away." KELLYN JOHNSON / PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CLAWSON

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We asked: Thank glistening heavens for Sparklehorse. What would you be doing right now if you weren't here?

Name: Finnin Dominis
Age: 16
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Occupation: Student
"My friend and I ditched dance to be here and we don't usually miss it."

Name: Connor Adams
Age: 18
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Occupation: Student
"Sitting in my room playing Diablo 2. Yeah, that's it."

Name: Nicole Gutierrez
Age: 18
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Occupation: Student
"School work. Lots of it. What do you expect, this is a college town?"

Name: Olivia Kessler
Age: 16
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Occupation: Student
"I would be dancing at the Mesa Community Center. Modern dance is great but I couldn't miss Sparklehorse."

Name: Cassie Powers
Age: 18
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Occupation: Student
"Re-reading the entire Harry Potter series. I'm trying to read them all before the next book comes out."