Last summer, Jeff and Steven McDonald, the brotherly duo who founded the pioneering, sound-shifting band Redd Kross, decided to check out their longtime pals Sparks at the Hollywood Bowl. The McDonalds, long inspired by the band created by brothers Ron and Russell Mael, saw the show with friend and musical collaborator Josh Klinghoffer and Steven’s wife, That Dog singer Anna Waronker, and left with a newfound appreciation for what Sparks accomplished as a band. “I just thought, ‘God, these guys have never stopped,’” said Steven, who played bass for Sparks from 2004 to 2009.
“At first, I thought they were a little crazy but keeping tabs on it all these years and watching it, I know they’re not crazy. They’re just dedicated and have a singular vision.” In 2019, Redd Kross was ready to celebrate its legacy with a 40th anniversary rollout, beginning with the release of its seventh studio album, “Beyond the Door.
” The band’s debut EP was going to be reissued on Merge Records, along with never-released demos and a victory-lap tour that was in the works, with a final show at the Regent Theater to include every person who played in Redd Kross to join in for a jam session. Then the pandemic hit and the McDonalds were left in the lurch. Though, as they’d describe it, something as neat as celebrating a 40th anniversary wouldn’t suit them anyway.
“I always thought it would be more fun to be like the 37th anniversary or 42nd anniversary, because really, what .
