SPARTA

I can remember cold fall evenings long ago, when my buddies and I would pile into a car that should by no means be able to make the 40 mile drive to Columbus, Ohio. We would smoke cigarette after cigarette as a ritualistic offering. The more we smoked, the further the car would go before breaking down. We would blast our favorite bands on the poor excuse for a stereo, and get ourselves pumped up for the show we were traveling to see. Once in Columbus, we would fall out into the street, leaving the warmth of our hoodies behind. This was another ritual. We would sacrifice our warmth for the expectant heat of a full-on, raging pit filled with other kids. The friction would produce all the heat we would need. Along with the band, we would scream into the night, singing out our angst and youthful resistance. Then we would go to Denny’s and talk about the show, turning one night of singing and dancing into a lifetime of memories.
Those were the good old days, and bands like the ones we would see then are few and far between now. But, on Tuesday, October 8th at The Newport Music Hall, I plan on fully reliving my youth. Sparta, which is what’s left of the former band, At The Drive-In, will help me feel all the energy and passion of being 17 again. And if you can fondly remember your own nights at Denny’s, and want to feel that way again, come to the show with me. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee afterwards.