SARGENT HOUSE

Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez is usually known for playing percussion or keyboards in bands The Mars Volta or Zechs Marquise. As a child, his mother encouraged him to pursue the piano as an addition to the drums that he preferred, so he would always have the opportunity to perform as a solo act. While on tour with his other bands, Rodriguez-Lopez concocted with the synthesizer-driven sounds of Eureka the Butcher, his alter ego. Those works have been collected in the album Music for Mothers, set for release May 28. The full album stream for Music for Mothers is available today. Check out how he chops up alien synth lines and stuttering rhythms to create otherworldly electronica worthy of any momma’s praise. - Alexis Stephens

Eureka The Butcher’s Album Release show is on May 28 in El Paso

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.

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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)

 Zechs Marquise will be playing at this years Spillover Fest in Dallas on March 17th with a great bunch of bands check out the full line up below. And Check out this great live clip of Zechs Marquise in Milan, Italy playing “Lock Jaw Night Vision” a track off their album Getting Paid. Love it!

Zechs Marquise live clip and a great in depth interview with them from their show at Purgeraj in Zagreb, Croatia.

(Source: youtu.be)

Zechs Marquise in Ireland

I enjoyed their show at the Workman’s Club so much that I found myself compelled to catch Zechs Marquise (video session above) live again. So I did. I went to see them play the Speakeasy in Belfast too. Both shows were excellent. A band who aren’t especially well know in Ireland, although signed to Sargent House, they feature Marcel (The Mars Volta) on drums and Marfred Rodriguez Lopez on bass. Their older sibling may be revered multi-instrumentalist Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta, At the Drive In, Bosnian Rainbows) but we’re not here to talk about that right now. There was a generous crowd for the Workman’s Club show with help from Youth of a Nation promotions and support from No Spill Blood. Zechs Marquise successfully held the crowd’s attention and drew others in from the bar outside. If you weren’t a fan at the beginning of the night you were by the end of it, they really won the venue over.

It was the show at the Speakeasy in Belfast that really stood out. I ventured up, still a bit sad after the final Richter Collective party only to be met with an experience that would lift anyone’s spirits. Despite the fact that only a handful of people were there, it was Zechs Marquise’s last night of a 6 week tour and they gave it everything. To the point where the drummer, Marcel, broke the last two cymbals he had. What a finale. If you haven’t heard their album Getting Paid yet then I urge you to check it out. They are currently working on a Motown covers album and are due to release an album’s worth of new material in 2013. - Niamh Hegarty

Zechs Marquise recorded live at A38 in Budapest, Hungary on the 12th of November 2012. Don’t miss Zechs still on Tour now in Europe. 

ZECHS MARQUISE
Nov 17, 2012 - Kristiansand, Norway @ Haandverkeren
Nov 19, 2012 - Chemnitz, Germany @ AJZ
Nov 20, 2012 - Brno, Czech Republic@ Fleda
Nov 21, 2012 - Graz, Austria @ Forum Stadtpark
Nov 23, 2012 - Dublin, Ireland @ Workman’s Club w/ No Spill Blood
Nov 24, 2012 - Galway, Ireland @ Roisin Dubh
Nov 25, 2012 - Belfast, N. Ireland @ Speakeasy Bar

SEE ALL SHOW DETAILS HERE

Zechs Marquise performing live from Brighton, UK their track Guajira from the album Getting Paid video courtesy of Bowlegs Music. - Don’t miss Zechs on tour NOW see all dates here.

(Source: youtu.be)

Marcel Rodriguez Lopez is a Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist best known for his percussion and keyboard playing with the progressive rock group The Mars Volta, though this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as his musical accomplishments are concerned.

He is also the drummer and recording engineer for the group Zechs Marquise, which features two of his brothers, Marfred and Riko, as well as Marcos Smith and Matt Wilkson. Their most recent album entitled Getting Paid is out now on Sargent House/RLP. In addition to this Marcel records electronic music under the name Eureka the Butcher and has played on around eighteen releases by his brother Omar Rodriguez Lopez since 2006. The dude is prolific.

SIGHT/SOUND/RHYTHM caught up with Marcel before a Zechs Marquise show in Leeds, UK to talk about musical development, studio recording and technology within his music.

I think this is the first time you’ve been here with Zechs Marquise. How’s the European tour going so far?

It’s been great so far. It’s not at all like touring in the States. In the states it’s a lot harder. Over here the promoters are nicer and more hospitable and the venues are nicer. We’ve had places to stay every night and food, whereas in the states you’re basically on your own, you know. You get to the next place and they pretty much act like you’re doing them a favor by being there. Whereas over here they’re a lot more grateful and realize that it’s a two way street. That it takes both parties to make a great show and for people to have a good time.

Back home, when we do come across nice promoters we always make it a point to go up to them and say thank you for making it a good night for us, because it’s really easy for it to just go bad, basically.

Absolutely. I’ve been at venues before where promoters have just disappeared, or sometimes haven’t bothered to show up at all.

Yeah, we’ve had promoters straight out tell us that they have other shows going on that night and that they’re going to those other shows. So they just stop by to show face and then they leave and we don’t see them for the rest of the night, then we end up getting paid from somebody else who they’ve delegated that responsibility to.

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Zechs Marquise will be heading to Europe for their first Headline tour in October in support of their latest release Getting Paid. Don’t miss your chance to be Mega Slapped.


ZECHS MARQUISE EU TOUR 2012
Oct 19, 2012 - Oberhausen, Germany @ Druckluft
Oct 20, 2012 - Stuttgart, Germany @ Zwoelfzhen
Oct 21, 2012 - Hamburg, Germany @ HafenKlang
Oct 23, 2012 - Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix
Oct 24, 2012 - Arnhem, Netherlands @ Willemeen
Oct 25, 2012 - Offenbach, Germany @ Hafen 2
Oct 26, 2012 - Terneuzen, Netherlands @ De Pit
Oct 27, 2012 - Basingstoke, UK @ Bang Bar
Oct 28, 2012 - Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
Oct 29, 2012 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Oct 30, 2012 - London, UK @ The Old Blue Last
Oct 31, 2012 - Paris, France @ Espace B
Nov 1, 2012 - Aarau, Switzerland @ Kiff
Nov 2, 2012 - Basel, Switzerland @ Hirscheneck
Nov 3, 2012 - Delemont, Switzerland @ SAS
Nov 4, 2012 - Tarbes, France @ Le Celtic Pub
Nov 5, 2012 - Toulouse, France @ Le Saint des Seins
Nov 6, 2012 - Torino, Italy @ Blah Blah
Nov 7, 2012 - Milan, Italy @ Circolo Magnolia
Nov 8, 2012 - Rome, Italy @ Init
Nov 9, 2012 - Conegliano, Italy @ Appartamento Hoffman
Nov 10, 2012 - Zagreb, Croatia @ Kset
Nov 11, 2012 - Vienna, Austria @ Rhiz
Nov 12, 2012 - Budapest, Hungary @ A38
Nov 13, 2012 - Berlin, Germany @ Marie-Antionette
Nov 14, 2012 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ KB18
Nov 15, 2012 - Trondheim, Norway @ Blaest
Nov 16, 2012 - Oslo, Norway @ Parkteatret
Nov 17, 2012 - Kristiansand, Norway @ Haandverkeren
Nov 19, 2012 - Chemnitz, Germany @ AJZ
Nov 20, 2012 - Brno, Czech Republic@ Fleda
Nov 21, 2012 - Graz, Austria @ Forum Stadtpark
Nov 22, 2012 - Prague, Czeh Republic @ venue TBA
Nov 23, 2012 - Dublin, Ireland @ Workman’s Club w/ No Spill Blood
Nov 24, 2012 - Galway, Ireland @ Roisin Dubh
Nov 25, 2012 - Belfast, N. Ireland @ Speakeasy Bar

CHECK HERE FOR ALL SHOW DETAILS

Zechs Marquise played direct support on the show and was the only other band on the bill. Their most recent release, Getting Paid, was one of our top picks in 2011. Their psychedelic jam rock styling mixed with 4/4 hip hop beats which then weave back into mind-warping interludes is completely awe-inspiring. I’m actually fairly disappointed in San Francisco’s lack of coming to shows early, especially at The Great American. The venue’s floor space was maybe a third full when Zechs came on, and the crowd slowly trickled in after that. For those who came late — you missed out. I actually enjoyed “Everlasting Beacon of Light” sans vocals and obviously the mastery that is “Mega Slap” was phenomenal. I wish the crowd had a bit more pep in their step though — Zechs is better enjoyed moving the hips than it is cross-armed.




Written By Nick Wan All photos by David Wajsfelner See Full Slide Show & Review HERE.

Tonight, Brooklyn-based weirdos Fang Island are playing the Great American Music Hall with Zechs Marquise  show starts at 8 p.m., tickets are $15. We strongly suggest you go watch these guys — here are five reasons why.

1. Fang Island is Responsible for the Greatest Patrick Swayze Tribute in History

From the “Time of my Life” whistle and the dead president masks to the Dirty Dancing T-shirts and Vaya Con Dios flag, this single-shot, super-surrealist accompaniment to “Daisy” was one of the most memorable videos of 2009. It’s proof that sometimes, having no budget can produce magnificent results — even if they are totally absurd.  

2. Fang Island Doesn’t Sound Like Anyone Else
Fang Island sounds like a joyous, intoxicated choir letting its collective voice soar up to the heavens. A choir that contains a few acid casualties. A choir that is backed by an organist who’s forgotten the song — but is awesome at improvising. Fang Island’s music bubbles and shimmers and rushes along like a really beautiful fish in a particularly fast current. Fang Island is unpredictable and weird and unique and brilliant. Let’s give ‘em some props for that.

3. Fang Island Doesn’t Care if it Makes Sense or Not

That’s right, kids. Do you want a video that makes sense? A video that has some sort of beginning, middle, and end? A video with a clear, universal message? Well, good luck with that — that’s not what Fang Island is going to give you. Witness “Life Coach,” in which there are dudes dressed like a dog and a gorilla and a mouse, a guy with a castle stuck on his head, an angel, a man made of flowers, some sort of mutant thing, and a samurai Elvis who is mercilessly slaughtering everyone. We have no idea what the fuck is going on here. And that’s exactly why we love it.

4. Fang Island Has a Paper Mache Guy
If you watch the Fang Island music videos we just posted, you’ll notice a recurring character — a man with a huge, orange paper mache head, wearing a long grey hooded cloak thing. Who is he? What does he represent? Did they make the head themselves? Do they make anything else out of paper mache? And why can’t we find anything online about this guy? We love a bit of mystery, we do. So we’re hoping desperately that paper mache head guy makes an appearance tonight. 

5. Fang Island Looks Like This

The band you see above has somehow cultivated one of the hippest fan bases in the entire country, while quite clearly being massive nerds. And we’re pretty sure the nerdiness has not been contrived for irony-related reasons. Do you know how hard it is to do that? If there was a geek hierarchy, these dudes would be the overlords and Bill Gates would do their taxes. Just go see ‘em already.  

AND DON’T MISS FANG ISLAND ON TOUR ALL OF AUGUST SEE ALL SHOWS

Zechs Marquise will be keeping it live and on the road. Just finishing up their co-headline tour tonight, July 27th in Philadelphia with And So I Watch You From Afar the El Paso boys will get no rest and immediately will join up with more Sargent House family for some US shows with Fang Island and Adebisi Shank. Then they head off for their first Headlining European Tour in support of their latest release Getting Paid. Don’t Miss them folks they bring the serious funky riff laced grooves!

SEE ALL SHOW DETAILS, UPDATES, TICKET LINKS HERE

ZECHS MARQUISE USA
Jul 29, 2012 - Saint Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
Jul 30, 2012 - Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar *
Aug 01, 2012 - Denver, CO  @ Larimer Lounge *
Aug 02, 2012 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Vertigo at The Complex *
Aug 03, 2012 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux*
Aug 04, 2012 - Portland, OR  @ Hawthorne Theatre *
Aug 05, 2012 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
Aug 07, 2012 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
Aug 10, 2012 - West Hollywood, CA  @ Troubadour *!!
Aug 11, 2012 - Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS w/ Magic Wands,The Moth & The Flame
Aug 12, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room *!!
Aug 13, 2012 - Tucson, AZ  @ Club Congress *!!
Aug 14, 2012 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *!!
Aug 15, 2012 - El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace

* w/ Fang Island
!! w/ Adebisi Shank

ZECHS MARQUISE EU TOUR 2012
Oct 19, 2012 - Oberhausen, Germany @ Druckluft
Oct 20, 2012 - Stuttgart, Germany @ Zwoelfzhen
Oct 21, 2012 - Hamburg, Germany @ HafenKlang
Oct 23, 2012 - Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix
Oct 24, 2012 - Arnhem, Netherlands @ Willemeen
Oct 25, 2012 - Offenbach, Germany @ Hafen 2
Oct 26, 2012 - Terneuzen, Netherlands @ De Pit
Oct 27, 2012 - Basingstoke, UK @ Bang Bar
Oct 28, 2012 - Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
Oct 29, 2012 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Oct 30, 2012 - London, UK @ The Old Blue Last
Oct 31, 2012 - Paris, France @ Espace B
Nov 1, 2012 - Aarau, Switzerland @ Kiff
Nov 2, 2012 - Basel, Switzerland @ Hirscheneck
Nov 3, 2012 - Delemont, Switzerland @ SAS Club
Nov 4, 2012 - Tarbes, France @ Le Celtic Pub
Nov 5, 2012 - Toulouse, France @ Le Saint des Seins
Nov 6, 2012 - Torino, Italy @ Blah Blah
Nov 7, 2012 - Seregno, Italy @ Tambourine
Nov 8, 2012 - Rome, Italy @ Init
Nov 9, 2012 - Florence, Italy @ Viper Theater
Nov 10, 2012 - Zagreb, Croatia @ Kset
Nov 11, 2012 - Vienna, Austria @ Rhiz
Nov 12, 2012 - Budapest, Hungary @ A38
Nov 13, 2012 - Berlin, Germany @ Marie-Antionette
Nov 14, 2012 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ KB18
Nov 15, 2012 - Trondheim, Norway @ Blaest
Nov 16, 2012 - Oslo, Norway @ Parkteatret
Nov 17, 2012 - Kristiansand, Norway @ Haandverkeren Live
Nov 20, 2012 - Brno, Czech Republic@ Fleda
Nov 21, 2012 - Graz, Austria @ Forum Stadtpark
Nov 23, 2012 - Dublin, Ireland @ Workman’s Club
Nov 24, 2012 - Galway, Ireland @ Roisin Dubh
Nov 25, 2012 - Belfast, N. Ireland @ Speakeasy Bar

And So I Watch You From Afar and Zechs Marquise both trade in intricate instrumental music that often gets lumped into post-rock by default.  However, one listen demonstrates how different these bands are from each other, as well as the rest of the post-rock world.  Those with the luxury of catching their current summer co-headlining U.S. tour can witness this firsthand.

Given how intricate and layered the music of these bands is, it would be a shame to see this show at a venue with inferior sound.  Luckily, the host on July 17th was Headliners in Louisville, the standard for sound in Kentuckiana.  Opening was Interstates, native Louisvillians who specialize in playing very compelling, tight, typical post-rock.

Zechs Marquise was up next, and they immediately let everyone know that things were going to be a little different.  Distinctly more funky than anything else that could be called post-rock, their sound bore at least as much resemblance to Frank Zappa having a circus music phase.  In reality, it is likely that the only reason that they have ever been called post-rock by anyone is due to their instrumental nature.  ‘Prog’ is much more fitting, and not surprising considering that more than half the band are brothers of The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodríguez-López, including drummer Marcel Rodríguez-López, who is himself a member of The Mars Volta (QRO album review).  Despite the music being very complex, their playing was as tight as could be, often coming forth in one deep, layered timbre instead of sounding like the work of multiple instruments. -See full review & Photos by Aaron Fath for QRO Magazine

DON’T MISS ZECHS MARQUISE ON TOUR WITH FANG ISLAND - SEE ALL DATES

Fang Island will be headlining across our great land - bringing the good times and their new tunes from their album Major to all. Joining up with them will be friends and Sargent House family Zechs Marquise and then the Irish lads, Adebisi Shank. Man, if ever there was a tour that could be called Party Rock. I deem it this one.

SEE ALL SHOW DETAILS, TIX & UPDATES

FANG ISLAND ‘MAJOR’ 2012 TOUR
07/19 Hartford, CT @ Arch Street Tavern - SOLD OUT
07/20 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
07/21 Philadelphia, PA @ Morgan’s Pier (Free) #
07/22 Washington DC @ U Street Music Hall #
07/23 Columbus, OH @ The Basement #
07/25 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop #
07/26 Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot - Pike Room #
07/27 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen #
07/28 Chicago, IL @ Wicker Park Music Festival
07/29 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
07/30 Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar *
08/01 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
08/02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Vertigo *
08/03 Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
08/04 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre *
08/05 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
08/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
08/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour * !!
08/11 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar (EARLY SHOW) !!
08/12 Phoenix, AZ @ The Rhythm Room * !!
08/13 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress * !!
08/14 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad * !!
08/16 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada !!
08/17 Austin, TX @ The Mohawk !!
08/18 Volente, Texas @ Beachfront Boat Studios
08/19 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live - Studio !!
08/20 New Orleans, LA @ Parish at House of Blues !!
08/21 Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree !!
08/22 Gainesville, FL @ High Dive (formerly called Double Down) !!
08/23 St. Petersburg, FL @ The Local 662 !!
08/24 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits !!
08/25 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade !!
08/26 Asheville, NC @ Asheville Music Hall !!
08/28 Raleigh, NC @ Kings !!
08/29 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter !!
08/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg !!

# w/ Dinosaur Feathers
* w/ Zechs Marquise
!! w/ Adebisi Shank