Live music review: Sparta Celebrates Wiretap Scars 20th Anniversary Tour at Parish

Sparta cruised into Austin’s Parish venue on July 26, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Wiretap Scars. This highly anticipated release came after their 2002 EP, Austere. Wiretap Scars was well received, particularly following the downfall of the critically acclaimed band, At The Drive-In. The breakup of At The Drive-In, due to musical differences, split the band into Sparta and The Mars Volta. Both bands definitely took different paths and crafted their own sound. 

Sparta was formed with the joining of Paul Hinojos (guitar) and Tony Hajjar (drums), both former members of At the Drive-In. Later, Paul Hinojos went on to join The Mars Volta, led by Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals) and Omar Rodriguez (guitar), who were also former members of At the Drive-In. Tony Hajjar explored his own musical projects after contributing to a couple of Sparta releases.

El Paso’s all-girl band, Acid Wave, kicked off the festivities with their late shoegaze/dream pop sound. Throughout their set, the band’s members took turns on vocals, pleasantly surprising the audience and expanding their fan base while demonstrating their versatility. Touring alongside Sparta is undoubtedly going to put Acid Wave on the map with music fans in the coming years. Make sure to grab a copy of their album on Hogar Records.

Continuing the celebration was none other than Venezuela’s band, Zeta! The hard-rocking group took the stage by storm, catching most of the audience off guard. Their complex instrumentation filled the venue with compelling riffs and prog-rock metal vibes, all underlined by Latin beats. Zeta’s high-energy performance proved they are a force to be reckoned with. Keep an eye out for Zeta when they come to your area; you won’t be disappointed! For more on Zeta, check out a show review at The Far Out Lounge on The Cosmic Clash.

 

When it was time for Sparta to take the stage, loud cheers erupted as band leader, Jim Ward and bass player Matt Miller, accompanied by drummer Neil Hennessy, appeared on stage. The band’s setlist included a complete playthrough of Wiretap Scars. The show kicked off with the powerful track “Cut Your Ribbon, ” immediately igniting strong emotions as the crowd sang along to every word. As they transitioned into the second track, “Air,” a nostalgic vibe filled the room as the crowd screamed out the chorus, “We’re drinking on jet streams, through to, ideas won’t happen!”, evoking memories of the early 2000s shows in El Paso and beyond.

The album’s perfectly placed track order softened the pace with “Collapse,” “Sans Cosm,” and the beautifully crafted “Light Burns Clear.” The lyrics echoed, “Looking back with perfect symmetry, Mistakes were you, mistakes were me, Photos fall through the glass, Paint it black to hide your face”. “Cataract”‘ has always carried a hint of At The Drive-In influence, particularly in the song’s opening. “Red Alibi” and, “℞ Coup” lived up to expectations, with both new and old fans cheering enthusiastically for every note. When they launched into “Glasshouse,” Miller took control, delivering each note with conviction, and leading the charge on stage.

Before continuing, Ward broke his vow to play the album in its entirety but still thanked the crowd for their unwavering support, stating, “Thank you for giving a shit after all these years.” With gratitude in his voice, the band proceeded to carry on with the rest of their performance.

The last two tracks on Wiretap Scars, “Echodyne Harmonic” and “Assemble the Empire,” didn’t mark the end of the show. Sparta had some surprises up their sleeve to keep the energy going. They launched into “Breaking the Broken” from their second release, Porcelain, which kept the audience on their toes, singing along to the lyrics, “I wouldn’t trade what I got, not for anything.”

Before continuing their set with the classic, “As Oceana Sleeps.” Jim Ward once again broke with protocol to express his gratitude to his long-standing member and friend, Matt Miller, for his unwavering support over the years. He also took the time to thank the opening bands before introducing drummer Neil Hennessy. In a lighthearted moment, Hennessy jokingly attempted to mimic the brilliant style of Zeta’s drummer, eliciting a chuckle from the crowd. The camaraderie and appreciation between the band members added a special touch to the memorable night.

With a carefully curated setlist, they went on to perform “Empty Houses” and the incredible “Miracle” from their Covid pandemic release, Trust the River, in April 2020. Naturally, the band ended the show with the emotionally driven song, “Atlas.”  Ward stepped away from the mic, letting his signature scream fill the air, and encouraging the crowd to repeat after him, “More than lights, expose who you are.” Sparta lived up to their promise and gave the audience what it wanted, a hard-hitting unforgettable performance.

The show satisfied the hunger to hear the classic Wiretap Scars after 20 years played in its entirety. Good luck with getting your hands on an original pressing of Wiretap Scars valued at about 200 dollars.

Sparta has three remaining U.S tour dates (including Dallas August 12) before heading to Europe for the remainder of August into September.

All photos by Drew Doggett