May 12

May 12 Show Review, Photos: Sparta Celebrate 20 Years of 'Wiretap Scars' in Sacramento

Sparta
Wiretap Scars 20th Anniversary Tour
w/ 68, Geoff Rickly
Harlow’s
Sacramento, CA
May 11th, 2023

Review and Photos by Jared Stossel

When At The Drive-In broke up, two incredible bands were birthed as a result. Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez found success with The Mars Volta, while guitarist Jim Ward, bassist Paul Hinojos, and drummer Tony Hajjar found their success in the creation of Sparta. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over twenty years since the release of the band’s thrilling debut, Wiretap Scars, but last night’s performance from Sparta at Harlow’s in Sacramento proved that time moves fast. The Ward-fronted project (now rounded out by bassist Matt Miller and touring drummer Neil Hennessy) brought the band’s DreamWorks Records debut to life in front of a packed house, with support from some of rock’s most lively acts with duo 68 and Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly.

The evening was kicked off with a six-song acoustic performance from Rickly. Incredibly candid and humorous throughout the entirety of the set, he treated the crowd to a helping of both solo songs and Thursday favorites, culminating with a great rendition of “Understanding In A Car Crash”. Rickly spoke honestly about his career, his sobriety, and the song that he’s been asked to never, ever play again on a cruise ship (show up early; it’s a funny story and made for one of the best moments of the night). He sounded better than ever, and his performance was a great reminder that he’s truly one of the best vocalists in this scene.

I’m going to do my best to describe 68 to you, but please note that no combination of words I include below can do this any justice: you must see them in person. The duo - comprised of vocalist/guitarist Josh Scogin and drummer Nikko Yamada – is an experience to behold in concert. The last time I saw 68 was back in 2016 when the group comprised Scogin and drummer Michael McClellan. With Yamada behind the drum kit, their brand of gripping noise rock is still as intense and in-your-face as ever. I use the term “noise rock”, but you could use a hundred different terms to describe their sound; it’s impossible to put them into one category. For two people to generate so much power on a stage is captivating; the grand finale of their performance involved Scogin dismantling Yamada’s kit while he processes his guitar sound through a looper pedalboard, forcing the drummer to adapt. While I was standing in front of the stage, it was obvious that there was some form of jazz or drumline experience under Yamada’s belt, based on the traditional grip of his drumsticks and the way he transitioned between styles. Simply put, 68 is wild, and they’re still a “do-not-miss” act across any genre of music.

With little to no stage banter, the members of Sparta took the stage and seamlessly played through the Wiretap Scars album. A little more than halfway through the performance, vocalist Jim Ward took the microphone to explain that he wasn’t speaking between songs because he knows he has a propensity to talk for a while and wanted the audience to truly experience and feel every piece on its own. “We have more songs from other albums later. I’ll talk then,” he says with a laugh as the crowd cheers. A man of his word, Ward spoke more as the band dove into songs from 2004’s Porcelain (“Breaking The Broken”, “While Oceana Sleeps”) and their 2020 album Trust The River (“Empty Houses”, “Miracle”). Joking about their age, the band informed the crowd that they would be playing their last song and that they don’t do encores because “we don’t want to walk off stage, just to walk back on stage again”. The crowd cheered and sang along to the night’s concluding track “Atlas”, a song from their 2006 album Threes.

Without wasting time and leaving everyone in Harlow’s thoroughly entertained, Sparta brought an enticing show to Sacramento as they continue to traverse the world, celebrating the power of their debut record. People will age, and life will be full of changes, but certain music remains timeless. Last night’s show proved that Wiretap Scars is among those that have stood the test of time.

Sparta’s tour continues tomorrow night in Portland, OR. For more information on tickets, click here.

Sparta Set List
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Air
Cut Your Ribbon
Air
Mye
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Sans Cosm
Light Burns Clear
Cataract
Red Alibi
Rx Coup
Glasshouse Tarot
Echodyne Harmonic
Assemble The Empire
Breaking The Broken
While Oceana Sleeps
Empty Houses
Miracle
Atlas