In a lovely display of RVA-based artistic cooperation, Sparta and Ki:Theory, who are currently touring the West Coast together, have taken the Mondial Creative Labs along with them, in order to document the tour for a series of videos that will be posted on Alternative Press’ website. The tour represents somewhat of a comeback for Sparta, the West Texas band led by former At The Drive In guitar-slinger Jim Ward, which features Richmond’s own Keeley Davis, formerly of Engine Down and Denali, on guitar.
In a lovely display of RVA-based artistic cooperation, Sparta and Ki:Theory, who are currently touring the West Coast together, have taken the Mondial Creative Labs along with them, in order to document the tour for a series of videos that will be posted on Alternative Press’ website. The tour represents somewhat of a comeback for Sparta, the West Texas band led by former At The Drive In guitar-slinger Jim Ward, which features Richmond’s own Keeley Davis, formerly of Engine Down and Denali, on guitar. Sparta just released “Chemical Feel,” their first new track in six years, and are apparently working on a new album. This tour is a way for the band to let old fans know that they’re a going concern once more. Ki:Theory, their tourmates on this short jaunt, feature veteran RVA musician Ash Bruce on drums. Bruce and Davis are both part of Mondial’s staff when they’re not out on tour, so it seems quite appropriate that Mondial’s Nick Wurz would be the person to accompany the two bands and document this particular tour.
Wurz earned a degree of fame for himself after his short documentary film capturing the riots that occurred in Richmond when VCU lost to Butler during the Final Four last year was picked up by a variety of news services, including CNN. Wurz is a former musician himself, previously playing in local indie groups Delegate and Gregor Samsa. Wurz saw the opportunity to document the Sparta/Ki:Theory tour as a natural extension of his other creative collaborations with Davis, Bruce, and the rest of Mondial. “Most of us have either been in bands with each other or toured together,” he says. “Our commercial production work takes us out on the road too–––we spent a long stint in LA last month working on a major project and we’re headed up to New York City for something else this week. Being out there with these dudes, collaborating on creative work and going where the job takes us, is what we do every day anyway. So documenting this tour seemed like a natural thing to do. It’s an extension of our company and another chance to be creative.” Mondial have done a variety of other graphic, web design, and commercial works in recent months as well, notably a recent TV ad for BF Goodrich, on which they collaborated with local DJ crew Audio Ammo.
Alternative Press posted the first of the three videos that will make up Mondial’s Sparta/Ki:Theory tour diary today–you can see it HERE. Keep an eye on Alternative Press’s website for the other two installments, which should show up sometime next week. And keep your eye on Mondial as well–this is only the beginning of what we can expect from this up-and-coming creative team.
