Sparta is an American rock band hailing from El Paso, Texas, and was established in 2001. The current lineup features Jim Ward (vocals, guitar) and Matt Miller (bass), with a rotating cast of session drummers accompanying them on tour. The band originated when Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar, previously members of the post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, decided to form Sparta after At the Drive-In's breakup. Sparta went on hiatus in 2008 to allow Ward to pursue solo projects, but they reunited from 2011 to 2013 for a series of performances and made a permanent comeback in 2017. They have released five studio albums, with their fourth, Trust the River, coming out in 2020 after a 14-year gap between albums. Pitchfork has characterized Sparta's music as "anxious, epic guitar rock," while SPIN Magazine has noted its "reliably cathartic and emotionally charged presence."
Sparta is an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. The band currently consists of Jim Ward (vocals, guitar) and Matt Miller (bass), who are touring as a three-piece with rotating session drummers. Founding members Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar were m... Read More →
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