Sparta Announce ‘Wiretap Scars’ 20th Anniversary U.S. Tour

Sparta, the El Paso band featuring Jim Ward, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album Wiretap Scars with a tour of the U.S. The dates kick off on May 4 in Mesa, AZ and conclude in Albuquerque, NM, on May 19. The tour stops in Los Angeles on May 7 for a show at the Roxy.

The band is taking ’68 and Thursday’s Geoffrey Rickly on the road with them as support. Tickets are on sale now here, and all dates are listed below, with more to be announced soon. This marks Sparta’s first tour of 2023 and a follow-up to their fall 2022 tour supporting The Get Up Kids.

Featuring fan-favourites “Air” and “Cut Your Ribbon,” Wiretap Scars was released in August 2002. At the time, Sparta was Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar. The 3 formed Sparta following the break of their former band, the post-hardcore At the Drive-In.

‘Wiretap Scars’ 20th Anniversary Tour Dates:

May 4: Mesa, AZ at Nine Half House *
May 5: Anaheim, CA at Chain Reaction *
May 6: San Diego, CA at Music Box *
May 7: Los Angeles, CA at Roxy *
May 9: Fresno, CA at Strummers *
May 10: San Francisco, CA at Great American Music Hall *
May 11: Sacramento, CA at Harlow’s *
May 13: Portland, OR at Dante’s *
May 14: Tacoma, WA at Alma *
May 15: Boise, ID at 9th St. Parallel *
May 17: Salt Lake City, UT at Metro Music Hall *
May 18: Denver, CO at Bluebird Theatre *
May 19: Albuquerque, NM at Launchpad *
June 1: Lubbock, TX at Jake’s Sports ^
June 2: Oklahoma, OK at Beer City Music Hall ^
June 3: Kansas City, MO at Recordbard ^
June 4: St. Louis, MO at Red Flag ^
June 6: Minneapolis, MN at Fine Line ^
June 7: Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge ^
June 9: Pontian, MI at Crofoot ^
June 10: Cleveland, OH at Grog Shop ^
June 11: Columbus, OH at Newport ^
June 12: Nashville, TN at Basement East ^
June 14: Little Rock, AR at The Rev Room ^
June 15: Baton Rouge, LA at Chelsea’s Live ^
June 16: San Antonio, TX at The Rock Box ^
July 26: Austin, TX at The Parish #
July 27: Houston, TX at White Oak Music Room #
July 28: Pensacola, FL at Handlebar #
July 29: Atlanta, GA at Masquerade – Hell #
July 31: Baltimore, MD at Ottobar ^
August 1: Philadelphia, PA at Underground Arts ^
August 3: Boston, MA at Brighton Music Hall ^
August 4: Brooklyn, NY at Brooklyn Monarch ^
August 5: Rochester, NY at Montage Music Hall ^
August 7: Pittsburgh, PA at Thunderbird Cafe ^
August 8: Covington, KY at Madison Live ^
August 9: Louisville, KY at Headliners Music Hall ^
August 10: Memphis, TN at Growlers ^
August 12: Dallas, TX at Southside Music Hall ^

* w/ ‘68 and Geoffrey Rickly
^ w/ zeta and Geoffrey Rickly
# w/ zeta only

Sparta ‘Wiretap Scars’ 20th Anniversary Tour Poster