One of the most devastating moments in rock ‘n roll in the new millennium was the breakup of the critically acclaimed and highly inspirational post-hardcore band, At the Drive-In. The group broke up shortly after they took the music world by storm with their third full-length record “Relationship of Command” upsetting many diehard and new fans.
The group broke up for personal reasons and they split into two camps, each creating their own bands. Jim Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar went on to form Sparta, a straight forward indie/post hardcore band. While Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriquez-Lopez went on to form Mars Volta a highly eclectic prog rock group.
Bixler-Zavala has always been known for his animated theatrics on stage, constantly bouncing around the entire stage, collapsing into a heap while he pours his falsetto voice into the microphone. Equally as entertaining his guitar wizard Rodriquez-Lopez, whose riffs dominate a Mars Volta concert which often delve into several minutes of captivating solo work.
The Mars Volta are very crafty during their live performances, rather than playing their songs as they were recorded they’ll dive into jam tangents that can easily last up to 10 minutes creating an entirely original composition for their fans. No Mars Volta show is the same, which is quite fitting for a band as unique as them.
Josaleigh Pollett
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