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.

Read More

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is a restless creative force, with endless musical projects as guitarist and producer, his own label and an accelerating sideline as an experimental filmmaker. In the past, he’s walked away from popular bands just to follow his muse into some unexpected directions, but says a brief reunion tour last year with At the Drive-In mattered more to him than many of us will ever know.

The raging, hard-rock quintet grew up together in El Paso, Texas, recorded for Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal label, traveled the world and had a frenzied radio hit with “One Armed Scissor” before breaking up in 2001. Their reunion tour was short, but the band is active in other ways. This week came the wide release of reissues of ATDI’s 1996 album debut, Acrobatic Tenement, and the career-defining (and final release) Relationship of Command on their brand new label, Twenty-First Chapter.

At the Drive-In – which also includes singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, guitarist Jim Ward, bassist Paul Hinojos and drummer Tony Hajjar – have scattered to other projects, leaving the future unknown. The Mars Volta, the post-ATDI post-punk/prog act led by Rodriguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala, is officially broken up, too, but the guitarist is already deep into Bosnian Rainbows, his band with singer Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes. Next week, Bosnian Rainbows begin a European tour with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (plus a few dates in Texas and California) and release a self-titled debut album on June 25th.

Rodriguez-Lopez spoke with Rolling Stone about his new band, making music and movies and his eternal attachment to At the Drive-In.

Read More

Eureka the Butcher, solo pseudonym of Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez (also of Zechs Marquise and The Mars Volta) announces the forthcoming release of his debut album. The recording, Music For Mothers is dedicated to the multi-instrumentalist’s mother Frances Sarah Rodriguez-Lopez who passed away last year. The album will be released via Rodriguez Lopez Productions on May 28, 2013 - stream “Here Comes Eureka B” below:



Regarding the album, Marcel writes:
“This record is for my mom because she is the reason why I started playing the piano. She told me that it was great that I wanted to play drums, but if I played the piano, I could create music and play to a room full of people by myself. I didn’t start playing drums for another 4 years, and I wouldn’t start playing piano for another 7 or so. That’s when i started making electronic music. Making music under the Eureka name gives me that ability: to make music and perform by myself. I, however, do not perform alone. Sadah Luna performs with me because of my love for her dance and her love for my music. She completes the live show.

Read More

Eureka The Butcher aka Marcel Rodriguez Lopez ( Zechs Marquise, The Mars Volta)  will be releasing his debut solo album via Rodriguez Lopez Productions/ SH later this Spring early Summer. He will also be performing with Sadah Luna two Free shows in Los Angeles. March 21st at Three of Clubs and March 22nd at High Fidelity Records with C-Gak. (All Ages)

Read More

(Source: Billboard)

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

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 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.

Read More

Deantoni Parks is a New York City based drummer/songwriter whose boundary pushing playing with Kudu in the early 2000’s helped establish him as one of the most forward thinking drummers within modern music. 

His musical vocabulary is tastefully unique and his precision and creativity on the drums is second to none. He has collaborated with a multitude of eclectic artists including Meshell Ndegeocello, John Cale and Asteroid Power-up!. Deantoni is also the most recent addition to The Mars Volta and plays along side TMV founder Omar Rodriguez Lopez in Bosnian Rainbows, along with Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes and Nicci Kasper. 

Beginning drumming at the age of 2, Deantoni’s musical background is deeply routed in jazz and funk, though the later influence of drum & bass clearly helped to further develop his stylistic approach to playing and his ability to creatively sub-divide rhythms. Described by Omar Rodriguez Lopez as “single handedly the most talented and unique drummer ever”, his approach towards playing is inspiring, as is his ability to perform and think well outside of the box.

He has recently released his first solo album via Rodriguez Lopez Productions entitled Touch But Don’t Look. You should probably think about checking it out.

Read More

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.

Read More

The Gorburger Show Episode 3 featuring Cedric Bixler Zavala of The Mars Volta and musical guest Chelsea Wolfe performing an acapella version of “The Way We Used To” from her new album Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs out on October 16th. Thanks to a Funny Or Die productions and The Warner Sound for not allowing Gorburger to eat the guests!

Stay tuned for the episode with Le Butcherettes as guests and musical guests coming soon on The Gorburger Show!

(Source: youtu.be)

When Brooklyn based drummer Deantoni Parks first started to work with the guys in The Mars Volta circles, it felt like a perfect fit. Having first contact with his polyrhthmic and highly stylized techniques in a euphoric mind altered state at Vegoose festival playing behind the kit for Volta, I couldn’t believe how he was controlling his drums under a plethora of subtle effects and the overall sea of music around him. This was the introduction phase for me to diving into his band KUDU along with the traces of releases he would contribute to for The Mars Volta’s main composer Omar Rordriguez Lopez. Deantoni Parks plays with a level of precision and tenacity that walks a fine line between organic and constantly moving jazz drumming and highly intricate and synthetic Squarepusher esk electronic beats. It has been 6 years since I was dismantled mentally by his drumming live and now Deantoni Parks is embarking on the release of Touch But Don’t Look, his first solo record to date and the first of what we hope to be many albums by Parks on Rodriguez Lopez Productions and Sargent House.

Read More

Read More

On July 31, 2012 the solo album by Deantoni Parks will be released on Rodriguez Lopez Productions / Sargent House. It’s an honor to be part of this because to Omar and myself we believe he is one of the greatest living drummers on earth.
GO D!

Check out the track Make My Day from the new album here:

El Paso-based prog band Zechs Marquise released Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare in 2009 and the much tighter and more original Getting Paid on On Rodriguez Lopez Productions via Sargent House in 2011. Getting Paid received appreciative reviews but the band was often written about in terms of the bassist and the drummer’s older sibling Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and his prog-rock band The Mars Volta. Zechs Marquise contains keyboardist Riko Rodriguez Lopez,  bassist/vocalist Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez and drummer Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, who also plays keys in The Mars Volta.

It’s no coincidence that both bands have similar influences. “We get a lot of comparisons to Mars Volta because of our relation or whatever, but the main difference is that Marcel and I were heavily influenced by hip-hop, where our brother Omar was influenced by punk rock, and salsa. We were influenced by hip-hop and salsa. So, it has that dynamic. We were all in the same house growing up listening to the same music. You influence each other, living together for so long. You develop each others tastes in a weird way,” Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez says over the phone.

One might wonder if there could be any sibling rivalry among this clan of intense prog fiends. In a word: nope. The Rodriguez-Lopez members of The Mars Volta and Zechs Marquise tour with each other and gig with each other. Zechs Marquise opened when Omar Rodriquez Lopez’s earlier band At the Drive-In played a hometown reunion show. When they get done with all of that they take a break, in order to hang out with each other.

They are, in fact, doing exactly this when Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez answers his cell for the interview. The brothers are driving back to Texas with their dad after a weekend spent going to baseball games in Los Angeles. “All of us spend our fair share of time away from home, so it’s nice to get to have these last-minute trips with our dad,” says Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez. Empirically speaking, it is the sweetest thing ever.

Lately, reviews of the Zechs Marquise live show and the slow-building recognition for Getting Paid have be taking the band from status as the little brother of The Mar Volta to a known quantity in its own right. Note to aspiring indie rockers: a little touring had something to do with that. Also, Getting Paid is some fine music. The twelve instrumental tracks fuse funk and prog-rock without being tedious or anachronistic. Cerebral and psychedelic it might be, but it’s also brash and pugnacious: Old music for young heads by young heads. Rodriguez-Lopez confirms the secret ingredient is hip-hop.

“We were listening to these old hip-hop records that we hadn’t listened to in years. You know these bangers where you kind of nod your head and tap your foot? I like the feeling of a lot of these songs. A lot of hip-hop songs have that. That was one of the ways that hip-hop influenced Getting Paid. We liked that swing, that groove,” he says in a phone interview.

Read More