Sparta (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 in El Paso, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Jim Ward, Paul Hinojos, Tony Hajjar |
| Headquarters | El Paso , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jim Ward, Matt Miller, Neil Hennessy |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums, EPs, singles |
Sparta is a rock ensemble from El Paso, Texas, established in 2001. The band currently features Jim Ward on vocals and guitar, Matt Miller handling bass duties, and drummer Neil Hennessy. Founding members Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar had previously been part of the post-hardcore outfit At the Drive-In and formed Sparta following that group's disbandment. After a break from 2008 until 2011 during which Ward pursued solo endeavors, Sparta reunited for performances between 2011 and 2013 before reassembling permanently in 2017. To date, they have released five studio albums, with their fourth, Trust the River, arriving in 2020 after a hiatus of 14 years.
The band's musical style has been characterized by Pitchfork as "anxious, epic guitar rock," while SPIN Magazine described them as "a consistently cathartic and emotionally intense force."
Austere (2001–2002)
After At the Drive-In disbanded, drummer Tony Hajjar and bassist Paul Hinojos set out to form a new group. Hinojos invited former bandmate Jim Ward to take on lead vocals. Initially collaborating briefly with Erick Sanger, they later brought in El Paso native Matt Miller, then playing bass for Belknap, to become their permanent bassist. This shift allowed Hinojos to move to guitar. Sparta signed with DreamWorks in 2001 and released their debut EP Austere in early 2002. Critics gave the EP mixed feedback, acknowledging the band's promise but noting that a distinct sonic identity had yet to be fully developed.
Wiretap Scars and Live at La Zona Rosa (2002–2004)
Sparta’s first full-length album, Wiretap Scars, was released in August 2002. Although it did not achieve widespread acclaim within the mainstream post-hardcore community, it garnered respect and helped differentiate them from At The Drive-In comparisons. The album showcased a cleaner and more approachable sound compared to ATDI’s heavier distortion-driven style. Its opening track "Cut Your Ribbon" was lauded as "splintering, power-hungry rock," while other songs such as "Cataract," "Glasshouse Tarot," and "Mye" stood out for their emotional resonance and memorable melodies. Sparta cultivated an underground fanbase through performances at smaller venues across North America and Europe, gaining broader visibility by supporting Pearl Jam in 2003. During the Wiretap Scars tour, Gabriel Gonzalez joined as a third guitarist and keyboardist; he would later rejoin Sparta in 2017.
On May 25, 2003, Jim Ward experienced a personal tragedy when his cousin Jeremy Ward—sound manipulator for The Mars Volta and frontman of De Facto—passed away due to a heroin overdose, deeply impacting Jim.
On March 19, 2004, Sparta recorded a live album at La Zona Rosa featuring seven tracks including two new compositions titled "Lines in Sand" and "La Cerca." This promotional recording captured the band's live performance energy but was never commercially released. Music videos for "Cut Your Ribbon," "Mye," and "La Cerca" were aired on Fuse TV.
Porcelain and line-up changes (2004–2006)
Sparta’s sophomore album, Porcelain, was released in July 2004. Contrary to widespread assumptions, none of its songs directly address Jeremy Ward’s death; instead, tracks such as "Death in the Family" and "Travel by Bloodline" explore other personal losses including Jim Ward’s grandfather. In an interview with Alternative Press, Ward clarified that he had not yet processed Jeremy’s passing at the time and therefore did not incorporate it into the album's themes. Before releasing Porcelain, Sparta opened for Incubus and subsequently embarked on their own headlining tour.
In 2005, Ward unexpectedly halted the band mid-tour to reflect on his career direction and personal matters, withdrawing for two months without professional communication. During this hiatus, guitarist Hinojos departed to join The Mars Volta, taking over Jeremy Ward’s former role; he was succeeded by Keeley Davis.
Ward later reunited with drummer Hajjar in Los Angeles to compose new material without pressure from deadlines, rekindling his dedication to Sparta. By January 2006, the band had signed with Hollywood Records and announced plans for a short film titled Eme Nakia, inspired by Hajjar’s upbringing in Beirut, Lebanon.
Threes and Eme Nakia (2006–2008)
On March 9, 2006, Sparta revealed their album Threes, which was made available for full streaming on their MySpace profile two days prior to its official release on October 24. The album's lead single was "Taking Back Control," followed by "Erase It Again" released in mid-2007.
Davis made his debut with the group at Los Angeles' Viper Room in July 2006, an event viewed as a "warm-up" preceding their formal comeback performance at the Troubadour on July 29. Ward described this as their "first show to the public in 15 months." During this show, they introduced three new tracks including the single "Taking Back Control." Ward also took the opportunity to address his earlier departure directly to the audience. Subsequently, Sparta performed at Chicago's Lollapalooza and embarked on extensive tours across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, sharing stages with bands such as Deftones, My Chemical Romance, and Straylight Run. A notable moment occurred during a joint tour with Straylight Run and Lovedrug, when Sparta lent equipment to Lovedrug after their gear was stolen in Detroit.
Alongside the release of Threes, Sparta produced a 16-minute film titled "Eme Nakia," which featured a soundtrack composed by the band. The film delves into drummer Hajjar's early years amid the Lebanese civil war, detailing his family’s hardships after relocating to El Paso, Texas, and the passing of his mother. This independent film garnered favorable reviews and was distributed free with album purchases. The title combines "Eme," meaning mother in Arabic, and "Nakia," the name of Hajjar’s mother.
Hiatus (2008–2011)
In June 2008, Ward declared that Sparta was "currently on hiatus and label-less," shifting his focus toward his project Sleepercar. By January 2009, he expressed no intentions of reuniting with Sparta, although the band's future remained open-ended. In July 2010, sleepercarmusic.com clarified that "Sparta is not broken up; Sparta is taking a nap."
First return (2011–2013)
Following a three-year break, Sparta performed their first gig since 2008 in November 2011 at Tricky Falls in El Paso, Texas—a venue co-owned by frontman Jim Ward. They commenced work on their fourth studio album, serving as a successor to 2006's Threes, and toured throughout the southwestern United States in May 2012. On May 17, 2012, Sparta released "Chemical Feel," marking their first new song in six years, offered as a complimentary download.
In January 2012, At The Drive-In briefly reunited before disbanding again later that year. They reunited once more in January 2016; however, Ward was replaced by former Sparta member Keeley Davis for their March tour.
Second return, line-up changes, Trust the River and Sparta (2017–present)
On November 13, 2017, Sparta announced a refreshed lineup featuring returning members Ward, Matt Miller, Gabriel Gonzalez, alongside former Cursive drummer Cully Symington. Concurrently, they released "Graveyard Luck," their first single in five years. This was followed by another track titled "Cat Scream" in April 2018 and a North American tour.
The band unveiled the single "Believe" on January 23, 2020, coinciding with their album Trust The River, which was released on April 10, 2020. A planned US tour was subsequently canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Gonzalez and Symington departed without replacements, leaving Sparta as a duo comprising Ward and Miller. The band resumed live performances in March 2022 at Ward’s restaurant Eloise in El Paso and later supported The Get Up Kids during a North American tour.
In August 2022, Sparta announced their fifth studio album—a self-titled record marking their first release as a duo. Ward and Miller collaborated with members of Thursday and musician Kayleigh Goldsworthy on this project. The announcement was accompanied by two singles: "Mind Over Matter" and "Spiders." The album Sparta was released on October 14, 2022 through Dine Alone.
Band lineup
- Current members
- Jim Ward – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (2001–2008, 2011–2013, 2017–present)
- Matt Miller – bass guitar, backing vocals (2001–2008, 2011–2013, 2017–present)
- Neil Hennessy – drums (touring 2023–2024; official member since 2024)
- Past members
- Tony Hajjar – drums (2001–2008, 2011–2013)
- Paul Hinojos – guitar, backing vocals (2001–2005)
- Erick Sanger – bass (2001)
- Gabriel Gonzalez – guitar, keyboards (2003, 2017–2021)
- Keeley Davis – guitar, backing vocals (2005–2008, 2011–2013)
- Cully Symington – drums (2017–2021)
Studio releases
| Album | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | Australia (ARIA) | ||
| Wiretap Scars | 2002 | 71 | — |
| Porcelain | 2004 | 60 | 56 |
| Threes | 2006 | 83 | 96 |
| Trust the River | 2020 | — | — |
| Sparta | 2022 | — | — |
Live recordings
- Live at La Zona Rosa 3.19.04 (released in 2004)
- Live 2023 (released in 2024)
Extended plays
| Title | Year | Peak Chart Position (Australia) |
|---|---|---|
| AUS (ARIA) | ||
| Austere | 2002 | 80 |
Singles
| Song Title | Year Released | Peak Chart Positions (US) | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Rock | Alternative Rock | Mainstream Rock | |||
| "Cut Your Ribbon" | 2002 | — | — | — | Wiretap Scars |
| "Air" | 2003 | 32 | — | 35 | |
| "Breaking the Broken" | 2004 | — | — | — | Porcelain |
| "Taking Back Control" | 2006 | 22 | 25 | 24 | Threes |
| "Erase It Again" | 2007 | — | — | — | |
| "Chemical Feel" | 2012 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Graveyard Luck" | 2017 | — | — | — | Trust the River |
| "Cat Scream" | 2018 | — | — | — | |
| "Believe" | 2020 | — | — | — | |
Music videos
- Cut Your Ribbon (2002)
- Air (2002)
- Breaking the Broken (2004)
- Taking Back Control (2006)
- Erase It Again (2007)
- Believe (2020)
- Miracle (2020)
- Turquoise Dream (2020)
- Class Blue (2020)
Additional tracks
- The song Taking Back Control was featured in the film The Invisible, included on its soundtrack as well as a special feature on the DVD.
- "Each Brave Eye" served as a B-side on the "Cut Your Ribbon" single, released in 2002.
- Contributed a cover of "Kiss the Bottle" for the tribute album to Jawbreaker, titled Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault.
- The Japanese edition of Porcelain includes "Farewell Ruins" and "Bombs and Us"; additionally, "Farewell Ruins" was issued on 7" vinyl and via iTunes. The track "Bombs and Us" was inspired by songwriter Elliott Smith.
- An early iteration of "Taking Back Control," known as "Future Needs," is featured in the video game Madden NFL 07.
- For the album Threes, three B-sides were released: "As Far As We Go" (available exclusively through certain stores), "Blood Spills" (iTunes exclusive), and "Born and Buried" (included as a bonus track in Europe).
- The opening segment of "Cut Your Ribbon" has been utilized in MTV’s program True Life.