I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: August 1, 2023] Sparta

Since 2020 I have had four opportunities to see Sparta. Two were cancelled because of the pandemic.  One saw them opening for Get Up Kids (a show I was interested in, but not enough to go) and now this one.  And while those two cancelled shows were probably good, seeing them for this one was undoubtedly better.

Sparta formed out of the breakup of At the Drive-In (Mars Volta was also formed from that breakup).  Sparta sounded more like ATDI because the songs were short and punky, even though Cedric the lead singer went on to Mars Volta.  Guitarist Jim Ward sings lead on Sparta songs and his voice is unique and sounds just as great as it did when Wiretap Scars came out twenty years ago.

The band came out–a trio now–with Matt Miller on bass and Neil Hennessy on drums. Jim Ward stood on the far side of the stage (not too far away) and the band launched into the album.

It was great to hear these songs live.  I hadn’t listened to the album in quite awhile, although I did listen to it a week ago to refamiliarize myself.  And I remembered how much i loved at least half of the album.  And the rest I enjoyed.  Hearing (and feeling) the guitar riffs and the excellent bass lines was fantastic.

The crowd wasn’t as dense as I would have thought and there was surprisingly, no mosh pit (which I appreciated).

The whole album sounded great–fresh and new and really great live.

Nobody said anything–they simply played a songs, tuned and played more.  I honestly couldn’t tell if Jim Ward was enjoying himself or not.  He was intense.  With a few smiles, that may or may not have been for the music.

And when the album was over, he smiled big and told us that after a couple of shows they decided not to interrupt the flow of the album, to play straight through.  And then he said he had to make up for not talking by talking a lot.

He proved to be a very fun and pleasant fellow.  Thanking everyone for coming out and sticking with the band for 20 years.  He mentioned how they stole all of the first At the Drive In album from Drive Like Jehu.  And that if this was the first time you’re hearing the band Zeta, you have a new favorite band.

They played five more songs from their other records.  Interestingly, they didn’t play anything from their most recent record (which I haven’t heard, but which I believe was the basis for their previous tour).

I liked the Porcelain album as well, so I was glad to hear two from it.

I didn’t know any of the newer songs (I guess I lost track of Sparta), but they sounded good too.  Not as exciting as the first album (in fact, one of the songs was pretty mellow), but absolutely in keeping with the feel of the rest of the set.

I’m really glad I got to see this tour.

SETLIST

1. Cut Your Ribbon ϖ
2. Air ϖ
3. Mye ϖ
4. Collapse ϖ
5. Sans Cosm ϖ
6. Light Burns Clear ϖ
7. Cataract ϖ
8. Red Alibi ϖ
9. Rx Coup ϖ
10. Glasshouse Tarot ϖ
11. Echodyne Harmonic ϖ
12. Assemble the Empire ϖ
13. Breaking the Broken ¶
14. While Oceana Sleeps ¶
15. Empty Houses ≅
16. Miracle ≅
17. Atlas €