Sparta @ The Gov, Adelaide 22/5/2024
This was definitely one of those shows that will go down in folklore and one where you really needed to be there. Sparta brought the twentieth anniversary celebrations of legendary debut album Wiretap Scars to Adelaide. SPARTA formed from the ashes of seminal rockers AT THE DRIVE-IN who disbanded in 2001. Released in 2002 to huge praise from postpunk and hardcore audiences just about everywhere, their debut album Wiretap Scars filled the gap left by their former group and won over the harshest critics.
It was an absolute treat and privilege to have able to experience this show. It was a solid mid week turn out for this much revered band. The main set offered no real surprises playing Wiretap Scars in full from start to end. There was no talk, banter or any commentary from front man Jim Ward opting to let every song to shine in its own right. Staging, lighting and the production was minimalist with the band literally tuning, plugging in and playing.
It was a bold start with big single Cut Your Ribbon to get things going. Air and Collapse were clear crowd favourites in amongst sheer quality of the rest of this magnificent album. The crowd were transfixed on the band as they ripped their way through Mye, Sans Cosm, Light Burns Clear, Cataract, Red Alibi and Rx Coup. There was still more to come with Glasshouse Tarot, Echodyne Harmonic and Assemble the Empire. With the end of the album done Jim Ward said “thank you so much Adelaide” which after playing for nearly an hour was his first moment interacting with the crowd.
Ward went on to thank Adelaide for sticking around the last twenty years with his band and living in the memories and experiences of that album hence allowing the crowd to have that with no talking. Full of praise for our city having a day off to check out the sights even adding that bassist Matt Miller wants to retire here.
Ward asked the crowd if they wanted to hear some jams with the next couple of tracks Breaking the Broken and While Oceana Sleeps were taken from 2004s Porcelain. Ward spoke about wanting to write an album that would stop the world in its tracks and 2020s Trust The River ironically did that with the pandemic that followed. Suggesting he might come back for a comedy tour it was on to Empty Houses. Miracle was great and there was a moment of reflection talking about supporting Incubus here and how important Australia has been to him since. With no encore, indicating that he didn’t want to waster our time, it was the sublime Atlas to close the show and Ward stepped away from the microphone to allow the crowd to join the sing-a-long with him. Fantastic show and there is talk that they will be back soon, can’t wait.
Live Review By Rob Lyon