At the Drive-In : iSOUND.COM™

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Formed: 1994

Official Site: www.atthedrive-in.net/
iSound Site: www.isound.com/at_the_drive_in
Label Site: www.isound.com/label/fearlessrecords

Biography

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thebanditofRX	imkoolnurnot69
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Featured Video

Featured Album

	Anthology: This Station Is Non-Operational Released: 2005

Biography

It takes barely a minute into "Arc Arsenal," the first track of AT THE DRIVE-IN's Grand Royal debut, Relationship Of Command, for all but the most jaded and spiritually bereft listener to realize: Something authentic and vital is happening here. And it's not only that familiar revolutionary spirit that typifies generations of musical revolutionaries from Guthrie to Dylan to Scott-Heron to Rage to Fugazi... True, that fire burns bright throughout every second of Relationship..., but there's something different here. AT THE DRIVE-IN's furor is informed at nearly every turn by a unique innocence; where their spiritual forebears offered up reflections on backlogs of experience, AT THE DRIVE-IN are still compiling, observing, still in the midst of the conflict. Resolution does not factor into these songs.

"It's sort of cinematic," says vocalist Cedric Bixler of the record's narrative thread. "Not cinematic like a Roman gladiator movie, but like Fellini's Satyricon: Students on their travels taking in everything around them. Traveling, being apart from our loved ones, away from where we grew up... There are always so many elements against us: our age, language barriers, hostile crowds, unfamiliar places. It's as if it's always been a battle until the people finally see us play. But hopefully the record is just a document of how we feel during and after all the time we spend playing music and all the feelings that arise from being out there so much."

The first incarnation of ATDI emerged from its El Paso TX breeding ground in the alternative nation heyday of 1994, and steadily amassed a loyal following through (you guessed it) non-stop touring and early releases such as In/Casino/Out (1998) and Vaya (1999) on So. Cal. indie Fearless. As the band's following expanded, so proportionately did its musical scope, pushing beyond the confines and conventions of emo, punk or any number of genres. In keeping with this musical progression, life would ultimately imitate art, and AT THE DRIVE-IN would leave El Paso.

"The record still has a lot of El Paso in it," Bixler explains. "We definitely moved out of there for a reason; it was always a love/hate relationship but I really tried for a long time. We put a lot of effort into trying to build a community there, gained and lost a lot, helped promoters out... We all tried our best. We just needed to get away for a while, but the hometown is still in the music, this desolate area that still drives us to fight for a fair honest chance which we never got until now."

It is additionally ironic that the recent fin de siecle musical malaise--the polar opposite of the era in which they started--would be the point at which ATDI's identity and potential were fully realized. Indeed, today's numbing backdrop of pop culture mediocrity and straight-up greed renders Relationship Of Command's music that much more fierce, its lyrical themes all the more vivid: Revolution deferred ("Must have read a thousand faces/Must have robbed them of their cause"--"Arc Arsenal"), state-sponsored apathy ("Pacifier pacifies/And the emperor still wears no clothes"--"Sleepwalk Capsules") and the ever-deteriorating relationship between elders in authority and disenfranchised youth ("Are we just infants/That are ripe for the training... This institution/Limps with the cane of suspicion"--"Pattern Against User"). What better environment, one might ask, for the continuation of conflict?

"It's always been an uphill battle," Bixler comments. "Now that we've gotten a little more recognition, we're fighting the snootiness of the punk scene, scenester seniority... Sometimes you just want to be given a fair chance at playing rock 'n' roll and just overlook all the regulations. You can do things on your own or you can do things with the help of a label. Either way, it's just one big struggle"

No discussion of AT THE DRIVE-IN would be complete without mention of the live show the NME called "jaw-dropping in its intensity and spirit." "It's always just happened that way," Bixler says. "We'd be on some five-band bill in Houston or somewhere and there would be no one there, and we'd somehow break five microphones during our 20 minute set. Shit got destroyed. It probably has a lot to do with just dealing with comments from people everyday, which is pretty common for myself and Omar, if you know what I mean. I think if we don't play like that, then we've played a bad show. It's complete therapy."

With able assistance from producer Ross Robinson, Relationship Of Command may very well be the first record to harness the chaotic balance of adrenaline and intellect of ATDI's live performance. "Ross was instrumental in bringing out a lot of feeling from us," Bixler recalls. "We channeled a lot of emotion into this record. He pushed us farther than we thought we could go. I learned to cut loose the way we do live and not to be afraid to break something or whatever."

Beyond delivering on ATDI's evident promise, Relationship...--whether intentionally or not--shines most brightly on its most surprising and experimental tracks. These include a guest turn by Iggy Pop on "Rolodex Propaganda," the (ahem) closing ballad "Non Zero Possibility," and the stunning "Invalid Litter Department," which stretches swatches of eerie imagery over spoken-word verses in retelling a grim true story.

"There was a gang at one time that was hired to kidnap maquilladoras," Bixler recalls. "They called themselves called the Rebels--I don't know what they were "rebelling" against. It's just an embarrassment to everyone there that these things could happen. To most people, this is El Paso: Richard Ramirez, the "Train Track Killer"... No wonder no one wants to play there. That has a lot to do with why we play the way we do.

"Maybe we can dispel the myth, the negative history. Maybe we can show people that something good could come out of such a desolate place."

Maybe they already have.

Bio written by: Record Label

Artist Forum


Discussion Topic	Creator
I am new to @the drive-in, & very much intrigued (intruiged? I am new to @the drive-in, & very much intrigued (intruiged?). Anyhoo, why can I find nothing about them- how long have ttey been around, and who sings, does Omar?	Dreadlocked_Rasta

Replys	Listener
Okay this is how it goes... Cedric Bixler-vocals Omar Rodrigues & Jim Ward-Guitar Paul Hinojos-Bass Tony Hajjar-Drums But when they split up... Cedric & Rodrigues-Mars Volta Paul,Jim, & Tony-Sparta	screamo87
Dude, Cedric Bixler can sing his ass off. His voice is so awesome.	Shoebox
you should her cedric in The Mars Volta, he kicks ass!	cerealkiller
Yeah..I have heard him in Mars Volta. He sounds so awesome. cries I wish they had a Mars Volta page..	Shoebox
No doubt, i wanna go see them live! I wish ATDI would start back up, how i miss them so.	cerealkiller
uhh hi	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
Hey hows it goin?	cerealkiller
Oh Yea, heres some stuff on the Mars Volta, www.thecomatorium.com and www.themarsvolta.com	cerealkiller
im bored.	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
Yay fun site time. clicks	Shoebox
Well I didn't click them. Copied and pasted. ..Yup.	Shoebox
I did attempt to click them. Nothing happened. I wonder why. I like typing in fragments. What about you?	Shoebox
fragments	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
are fun	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
and they	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
make people	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
mad	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
r	Shoebox
o	Shoebox
f	Shoebox
l	Shoebox
rolling	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
on	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
the	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
floor	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
laughing	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
my	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
ass	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
off.	Shoebox
oh, yeah...	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
no, waitt i was being sarcastic. i did say rolling on the floor laughing my ass. nevermind...	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
oh yes, fragments are fun	cerealkiller
no	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
its	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
"fragments	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
are	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
fun"	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
not	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
"fragments are fun"	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
i	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
like	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
flooded	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
this	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
forum	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
well at least it looks like lots of people are interested in this band, even if it is only three or four of us. But whutever keep it goin, i won't complain. But on another note, whuts everybodys favorite song(s) by ATDI?	cerealkiller
lol	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
yeah	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
i	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
like	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
to	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
flood	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
this	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
so	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
it	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
attracts	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
more	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
attention	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
damn that takes too long. ok, i dunno which song is my favorite because i dont know any of the names of the songs because i burned that cd so i dont know the names of the songs. i like to repeat myslef, can you tell? yes, myself.	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
My favorite song is ''Pattern against user''. I think that's the one that goes.. FREIGHT FREIGHT TRAIN COMING FREIGHT FREIGHT TRAIN COMING UN UN ...that's so great.	Shoebox
I'd have to say my favorite songs are 1 armed scissor Metronome Arthritis Arc Arsenal Emptiness is a Mule Quarentined Give it a name Cosmonaut Napoleon Solo Schaffino Instigate the Role Star Slight Speechless Raucuache Initiation i really could go on but i'd probably name all the songs but yea those are a few.	cerealkiller
you know whats sad? like, all of my messages are about at the drive in bu its like all fragments and stuff. i have a lot about trapt too, but those arent fragments i think.	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
tis a sad thing indeed..	cerealkiller
Enfilade <-- I meant that song. I need to pay attention to song titles more often.	Shoebox
what? im soo blondeee. wait. im not blonde...	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
I could have swore you were, thats weird..	cerealkiller
YAY. Cerialkiller person I made a Mars Volta page, but it'll take like 3 weeks till it opens up. So yeah...but. YAY.	Shoebox
Oh, and CerealKiller. I don't think ''Cerialkiller'' comes here anymore. ...I fucking hate typos.	Shoebox
cool, just let me know when your site gets goin, i'ma definitly check it out.	cerealkiller
Oh dammit. I messed up that sentence. I meant I added a Mars Volta page to bandhunt, so you will be able to look it up on here. Sorry I should of typed that more..like...clearly.	Shoebox
well whutever, thats still cool.	cerealkiller
yeah, how do you make those pages?	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
Right top corner where it says ''--site map--'' and then go down to add artist and click go.	Shoebox
OHHHHH I GET IT NOWWWW. BUT I DONT HAVE ANYONE TO ADD SO BLAH. why wont this stupid site accept my biographies and stuff??? fumes	JUKEBOXXXGIRL
weird	cerealkiller
Ariana, stop scaring strangers. Hahaha.	Shoebox
man this place sure did quiet down a lot.	cerealkiller
HELLO!!??	cerealkiller
im not about to read this whole thread, but i just downloaded a few At the Drive In songs and theyre really good. Too bad they broke up..	shadowbug26
well at least someone replied. and at least you like ATDI, thats always good. Well i hope you download more songs or maybe pick up a cd or two or three. this band is kick ass!	cerealkiller
at the drive in is goooooooooooooood stuff.	RancidSnow
since the people in this forum like redundancy....i like this band..its saf they broke up...but hionestly they are an awesome band..i wish i ahd seen them live	noah_b
redundancy, but whut can be said about a great band that has bisbanded....not much.	cerealkiller
well you can say their awesome...	noah_b
over and over again. it can be fun... at the drive in is awsome at the drive in is awsome at the drive in is awsome at the drive in is awsome at the drive in is awsome see? fun. you should join me.	shadowbug26
sure.... at the drive in is awesome at the drive in is awesome at the drive in is awesome at the drive in is awesome at the drive in is awesome	noah_b
at the drive in is awesome. their hair is.....well.......funky tall. but it rocks. intravenously polite it was the walkie-talkies that had knocked the pins down, as their shoes gripped the dirt floor, in the silhouette (however you spell that) of dying. i think i got that right, but i love that song.	RancidSnow
walking on the corpses ashes Yeah i love that song at the drive-in kicks it hardcore.	Mr_Krift
anybody heard omar's solo album? is it any good?	cerealkiller
Nope, but The mars volta is good.	Mr_Krift
yea the volta is great no denying that. i need to go see them live.	cerealkiller
They were in concert with A perfect Circle, wow that would have been awesome to go to	Mr_Krift
yea that would have been killer. but theres always next time.	cerealkiller
if you guys did at the drive in you should check out The Enora Shadow.They Cover alot of Mars Volta and ATDI.	the_enora_shadow
..umm ok?	Mr_Krift
I love ATDI... They are so awesome... I still have to get a few of their albums... But my fave song is "Arc Arsenal", And my fave Mars VOlta songs are "Concertina", "Wasting my Air", "Cicatriz", and Drunkship of Lanterns"... I currently have their De-Loused in the Comatorium album...	Mr_Vergoyginboot
Favorite ATDI song has to be...hrm...maybe Nopelen solo, or maybe Manequin Republic. My favorite Mars volta song is either, Roulette dares(the haunt of) or The widow.	Mr_Krift
"One-Armed Scissor" is also pretty awesome... I wish ATDI were still together though... "The Widow" is a great song...	Mr_Vergoyginboot
Agreed.	Mr_Krift
agreed	cerealkiller
Is anyone here at the mo? I just wana say that pattern against user is my fave song...and i saw them play it live at the big day out 2000 :D they are the fucking coolest band ever to rock my world. So what does everyone think about paul leaving sparta and joining the mars volta?	in_casino_out
dude if you buy their compilation cd :this station is non-operational" you will be entranced...it has all their best stuff...plus u get a bonus dvd with sum cool music videos	its_just_willy
i would say the anthology is pretty weak. not much rare stuff at all. that smiths cover and one other song i think are the only ones i can think of that are the rare tracks. dvd seems alright but could have been better. better than nothin i suppose.	cerealkiller
The other cover is a pink Floyd cover. Accuctly i would've really taken a live DVD over the anthology.	Mr_Krift
a live dvd would have been kick ass, they have quite a lot of shows so i don't see why they couldn't have done something like that. i heard the dvd with the cd was pretty weak too	cerealkiller
yeah.	Mr_Krift
i was disappointed with the anthology too but ATDI is my favorite band, and it is sad that they are defunct now...I have to get some fixes through the Mars Volta but can't seem to get into Sparta...it's strange...i wish they would come together for a benefit show or something, i would travel for days and be there......	amalgam-mode-drummer
At The Drive In Should Get Back Together For Some Gigs In The Future! I mean They are one of the most emotionally true bands i have ever seen ! any one´s who´s intrested should mail me and we can make a letter to send them i have lots of people allready and i want to make it bigger . They will play again !! Atdi Forever!!!!	Acidsmile