SARGENT HOUSE

The word “supergroup” can be a tricky term. It’s one of those words that has a habit of raising expectations, and that’s not always a good thing. Bosnian Rainbows are certainly an act who fit firmly into the supergroup category, made up of former The Mars Volta members Omar Rodríguez-López and Deantoni Parks, plus Le Butcherettes vocalist Teri Gender Bender, and Nicci Kasper on keys.

Considering this musical prog-punk pedigree, it’s no wonder how hard it is to get close to the stage of London’s 100 Club for the band’s headline set. This intimate venue has built its reputation on being the place where numerous punk legends, such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Adicts, have cut their teeth.

This proves to be a fitting lineage for tonight’s show. The low ceiling and tightly packed crowd give proceedings a sweaty house party feel. And as Bosnian Rainbows take the stage, cheers are hushed into near silence and the band launches straight into the sinister synths of ‘Eli’, the opening track from their forthcoming self-titled album.

The fact that the band have been constantly on tour since their inception in 2012 shines through as the four-piece instantly come together like a tightly honed machine. Rodríguez-López’s virtuoso guitar work fits seamlessly with the pounding beats and rhythmic synths of Parks and Kasper.

It’s clear, however, that the stage belongs to leading lady Teri Gender Bender. Having a name reminiscent of ’70s punk icons like Poly Styrene is no accident. Her stage presence is drenched in gloriously exhibitionist spirit as she dominates the stage like a cross between Alice Glass and Patti Smith.

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Teresa Suarez aka Teri Gender Bender the band leader and lyricist of Le Butcherettes and singer and lyricist of Bosnian Rainbows is also a published Poet. She will be going to Mexico in late April to celebrate the second pressing of her book of poems entitled “The Missing Carcass” with two Porrua Book signings - details below. 

April 26th @ Porrua (Mariano Otero) Guadalajara at 6:00pm.
April 27th @ Porrua (Bosque de Chapultepec) Mexico City at 4:00pm.

photo above by Robin Laananen

This week, we have the infectious “Torn Maps” from Bosnian Rainbows, a new project featuring Teri Gender Bender (of Le Butcherettes) and Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Deantoni Parks & Nicci Kasper.

Born and raised in Denver by Mexican and Spanish parents, Teresa Suaréz (known professionally as Teri Gender Bender) has, like many, a bi-cultural identity. Her garage-punk band Le Butcherettes — which began in Guadalajara, Mexico — is a product of that identity, particularly the differences in gender expectations that she has witnessed between the North American neighbors.

Though Suaréz has toned down her stage show from the days of using bloody aprons and severed pig heads (she’s vegetarian, actually) as anti-sexism symbols, it still brims with the fuck-you defiance of a bad-ass feminist rocker. She’s aware that her sex and gender have brought “superficial pros and moralistically damaging cons,” as she puts it, but she’ll use any means necessary to elbow her way into the rock-and-roll boys’ club.

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At The Drive-In and The Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has unveiled the first track from his new band Bosnian Rainbows. The track is titled ‘Torn Maps’ and you can hear it below


Rodriguez-Lopez, who announced in late 2012 that he and At The Drive-In frontman Cedric Bixler had placed The Mars Volta on hiatus, is joined in the new outfit by drummer Deantoni Parks, keyboardist Nicci Kasper and singer Teri Gender-Bender, who is also a member of noise experimentalists Le Butcherettes.


Speaking to NME about his new band, the axeman revealed that the band’s debut album was recorded in Germany in late 2012 and will be released later this year. He said: “We recorded the record over in Europe, we did a tour across Europe and we recorded the album in Hamburg, Germany. It’s been done for a while and we’ve decided to put it out this year. We’re really happy with it.”

Rodriguez-Lopez has previously collaborated with Gender-Bender on his 2012 solo album ‘Octopus Kool Aid’ and has also recorded extensively with Kasper. Speaking about this, he said: “I’ve collaborated with all three of these artists before. I worked with Teri from Le Butcherettes on a solo record of mine, maybe a year or two ago. I also worked with her on the second Butcherettes record, I realized just how wonderful a musician she is.”


He continued: “I invited Deantoni Parks into The Mars Volta as our drummer, as a hired musician. But, as I got to know him, I realised ‘Wow, this guy is a brilliant composer’. He works as hard as me and he’s got thousands of songs in his catalogue. We must have made six records together over the years. It’s the same thing with Nicci Kasper, we all love writing music. It’s really something else.”

The guitarist also spoke about the different approach he has taken when it comes to writing material with his new band, compared to his days in The Mars Volta, adding: “It’s the classic thing, you stick with one way of doing things for so long that you start to crave a different way of working.”
He continued: “I did eight years in At The Drive-In being in a collective, so after that I wanted something where I was in charge and no one asked me any questions. After 11 years then in The Mars Volta of doing that, I found myself feeling very lonely and I felt like I abandoned my friendships, so I’ve decided to focus on this band.”

Rodriguez-Lopez also spoke about Bixler and revealed that the singer is currently working on his debut solo album, which will mainly consist of acoustic. Asked if he was missing working with Bixler, who he has worked with for almost 20 years, the guitarist said: “It’s been very strange being without Cedric. It’s one of those bittersweet moments, it’s great for both of us because he’s making this great solo record, which is more of an acoustic thing. I’m really excited to hear another side of him and to work on music without me. He’s composing all the music, playing all the instruments, literally doing everything himself, rather than just singing over the top of my songs.”

Bosnian Rainbow’s as yet untitled debut album is due for release later this year. The band are set to tour extensively in support of the record.

SEE ALL TOUR DATES HERE

My hearing survived 72 complete sets performed over 33 concert outings this past year. I saw so many great shows that it took some time to rank the best. The top three stand above the crowd. Each could have been listed as No. 1. Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes gave one of the best individual performances I’ve witnessed. Without further ado, here are my top concerts of 2012:

1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, September 7 at Wrigley Field - With stupefying energy, “The Boss” holds up a mirror to the country while rocking for nearly three-and-a-half hours. Surprise guests Tom Morello and Eddie Vedder join the anger and, ultimately, fun. (The next night with Springsteen playing in a downpour for an hour was something, too.)  

2. Iggy and The Stooges, September 16 at Riot Fest - Restless Pop and his menacing band leave the rest of the fest in the Humboldt Park dust with an incendiary performance, showing that punk is a state of mind.

3. Le Butcherettes, June 1 at Subterranean - Teri Gender Bender throws her mind and body into a mesmerizing display of self-expression in the moment. The breathless show challenges the standard expectation of a concert performer.

4. The Who, November 29 at Allstate Arena - Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey play Quadrophenia and their greatest hits with renewed passion and commitment in a performance worthy of the band’s legacy.

5. Charles Bradley, December 30 at Lincoln Hall - The late bloomer turns a lifetime of blues into a triumphant soul revue, singing through tears and sweat before leaving the stage to hug audience members.

6. Roger Waters: The Wall, June 8 at Wrigley Field - The tour returns for a victory lap. The themes of personal isolation and government tyranny found in the awesome spectacle remain relevant.

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The new band Bosnian Rainbows formerly known as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group will be heading East to play some shows in February 2013. Don’t miss them.

“Don’t ask me about any other band or whether they’re touring.  This is my new band and it’s what we’re all concentrating on now.” - Omar Rodriguez Lopez

BOSNIAN RAINBOWS US / CANADA SHOWS 2013
Feb 15, 2013 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Feb 16, 2013 - Asheville, NC @ Asheville Music Hall
Feb 17, 2013 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Feb 18, 2013 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Feb 19, 2013 - New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
Feb 20, 2013 - Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Feb 22, 2013 - Montréal, QC @ Cabaret du Mile-end
Feb 23, 2013 - Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club (Early Show)
Feb 24, 2013 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
Feb 25, 2013 - Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
Feb 26, 2013 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Feb 27, 2013 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
Feb 28, 2013 - TBA
SEE ALL SHOW DETAILS HERE
*Please note some venues may promote or list the shows as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group - Bosnian Rainbows is that group.

Here’s what the critics have been saying about them so far
Here was a band welcomed as new heroes. It was amazing to be part of - so all-inclusive and intimate. It felt like many in the audience had just discovered their new favorite band.” - Stuff (New Zealand - Live Review)

“Omar, clearly a man who constantly requires brand new blood to sustain him, he hasn’t been this energized since The Mars Volta early days, and with an album due to drop in 2013 this just might be the most exciting project yet” - Rock A Rolla - Live Review London, UK

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It’s almost too much girl power to handle! Before she went to Las Vegas last week to collect her Latin Grammy Awards (Best Alternative Music Album for Déjenme LLorar and Best Alternative Song for that same title track), Carla Morrison popped into the Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles to record some very special material with friends Nina Diaz of Girl In A Coma and Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes & Bosnian Rainbows.

Get To Know Teri Gender Bender Of Le Butcherettes

Carlos Cruz/Red Bull

Carla Morrison at the Red Bull Studios in Los… View Full Size

We got an exclusive invite to the studio to come see the girls in action as they rehearsed and recorded the new versions of “Hasta La Piel” (with Teri Gender Bender) and “Dejenme Llorar” (with Nina Diaz).

Is Carla Morrison Mexico’s Answer to Adele?

And just as she’s savoring her Latin Grammy wins, Carla has made the two songs from this recording session available for free download on the Red Bull Panamerika site.

By ANGIE ROMERO and INGRID ROJAS (@rojasingrid)

Don’t miss the new Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group EVERYONE is raving about now called Bosnian Rainbows featuring Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes on Vocals and Deantoni Parks (The Mars Volta) and Nicci Kasper.


AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Nov 23, 2012 - Adelaide, AU @ Fowler’s Live
Nov 24, 2012 - Perth, AU @ The Rosemont
Nov 25, 2012 - Melbourne, AU @ Cherry Rock Festival
Nov 27, 2012 - Wellington, NZ @ San Francisco Bathhouse
Nov 28, 2012 - Auckland, NZ @ The Kings Arm Tavern
Nov 29, 2012 - Brisbane, AU @ The Zoo
Nov 30, 2012 - Byron Bay, AU @ Great Northern
Dec 01, 2012 - Sydney, AU @ Hi Fi Bar
Dec 02, 2012 - Melbourne, AU @ Corner Hotel

JAPAN
Dec 07, 2012 - Osaka, @Akaso
Dec 08, 2012 - Tokyo @ Liquid Room

SEE ALL TOUR DATES AND DETAILS HERE

Omar Rodriguez Lopez’s “Octopus Kool Aid” featuring vocals by Teri Gender Bender of Bosnian Rainbows and Le Butcherettes has arrived and all orders will ship right away.
Almost sold out so GET YOURS SOON HERE also available on CD.

Special thanks to Carla Morrison and her management & Red Bull Studios for inviting Teri to join this special session. CLICK TO HEAR BOTH TRACKS the other featuring Nina Diaz from Girl In A Coma.

About a month ago, the Warner Sound and Funny or Die premiered their outlandish new web series, The Gorburger Show, which follows the titular extraterrestrial host as he invades a Japanese news network and creates his own talk show. Voiced by comedian T.J. Miller, Gorburger has already chatted with Tegan and Sara, 3OH!3 and more. Now you can get an exclusive first look at the latest episode, which features Le Butcherettes chopping a big ol’ chunk of meat as part of the segment “Justify Your Band Name,” as well as a performance of their gritty cut “New York” with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta.

Omar Rodriguez Lopez’s genre-defying sixteen-year career has resulted in more than 40 albums and Rolling Stone have deemed him one of the “Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” You’ll know him from both The Mars Volta & At the Drive-In of course, but his latest project, Bosnian Rainbows, is just beginning to take shape. The band recently came over to the UK to play a few shows & Louder Than War caught up with him in London both for a chat & to see his live show.

“I’m not interested in genre, I’m not interested in bands, I’m not interested in music scenes- I’m just interested in expression, and expression is constantly changing. You’re learning new things, new influences, language changes, body language changes over the years, we completely shed our skin every seven years as human beings, I’m more interested in that, the human thing”

- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez describes his stance and position as a music maker and composer.

Bosnian Rainbows gave a breathtaking performance at Londons The Garage on Oct 3rd, marking their 30th gig as a new band with the notoriously ‘tough’ UK crowd.

The risk in a new band featuring Omar Rodriguez Lopez is that the followers of both his previous two bands, At The Drive In and The Mars Volta, will have expectations based on those lengthy & much loved endeavors. However, the Bosnian Rainbows set was received with rapturous applause by fans of both those previous bands. Although this in reality is merely a bonus as the music is the focus of our attention tonight as opposed to the musical history of the musician, a man who owes nothing to a field to which he consistently gives so much. Thus, this is not an Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group, this is Bosnian Rainbows.

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Bosnian Rainbows @ The Button Factory, Dublin on October 2nd 2012

Omar Rodriguez Lopez doesn’t sleep much. At least that is the impression one must get looking at the massive amount of work he gets through. This year alone, the prodigious and prolific guitarist has released a new album with prog-rock The Mars Volta, toured with the reformed punk band At The Drive-In, and here he is on another tour with the instrumental post-rock The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (where do they come up with these inventive names?). At least, that’s the impression we’re given. That’s what the posters say; that’s what the gig listings say; that’s what I was sent to review.

What it turns out to be is Mr Rodriguez Lopez’s latest musical venture Bosnian Rainbows. I think it’s fair to say that no one really knew what to expect.  They strolled out on stage at 9.45. Three of the band huddle around the instruments – a two-piece drum set, guitar and lots of keyboards – as lead singer Teri Gender Bender (Teresa Suarez to her mother) took the spotlight at the front of the stage.

What followed was just over an hour of music, which none in the audience had ever heard before. Bosnian Rainbows didn’t once venture into any of Rodriguez Lopez’s back catalogue, instead reeling out song after song from this unknown new band; one which “hope to make a record next year”. Nobody complained however, as what they were giving the audience was something quite exceptional and very different. Imagine St Vincent recording with King Crimson, with the occasional input of some 80s’ electro keys.

Teri’s vocals were powerful, yet vulnerable as she jumped around the stage like Kate Bush on a bad acid trip. This was when she wasn’t giving audience members a scary smile or speaking in Spanish as she did between most songs. Rodriguez Lopez stood out of the spotlight tearing away at his guitar; very much the leader of the group still. The highlight of the show was the epic Turtle Neck (at least that’s what I’m calling it). Rodriguez Lopez provided some backing vocals at the start of what seemed a slow, sensitive piece. It gathered pace before eventually breaking into an instrumental piece; allowing Rodriguez Lopez his first opportunity to really show his prodigious guitar ability. It was one of the few times of the night in which he let himself off the leash.

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