No matter which psychedelic collective Omar Rodriguez-Lopez finds himself in, they all contain a few essential elements: blistering jams, howling Spanglish and spine-bending dance moves. It certainly seemed to be the case during their 45-minute sonic tirade at the Gobi Tent. Joined by vocalist Cedric Bixler Zavala, the founders of the Mars Volta ignited Coachella fans with a barrage of heart-pounding prog rock. The spindly, clean-cut Zavala went all theatrical on the crowd during jams like “Broken English.”

Reptilian poses and creepy jazz-hand gestures added a spark of eccentricity to the big rhythms and Lopez’s rapid-fire arpeggios. Whether he was attempting an ankle-breaking James Brown pose or attempting to swallow his microphone (hands-free), the nimble frontman made certain that his presence was broadcast load and clear.

Lopez’s strained facial expressions matched his bent guitar notes during sprawling solos. Bassist Juan Alderete looked permanently spaced out, and Lopez’s brother Marcel maintained a shaggy-haired zen as he plodded along on synth with stoic sound manipulator Lars Stalfors. Then there was drummer Deantoni Parks’ face, plastered with a gangsta grimace. If nothing else, those unable able to hear the sound too clearly from the back got the gist of their passion from the body language blaring on the big screens near the stage.

Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group on Tour,  New Orleans - House of Blues - March 22, 2011

Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Juan Alderete De La Pena, Ximena Sarinana Rivera, Marcel Rodriguez Lopez and Deantoni Parks all performed together as ORL Group at this years Metamorphose Festival in Tokyo, Japan, a big thanks to Katoman for all his help in bringing them over to play the Festival.

The Newest album from Rodriguez Lopez Productions  どういたしまして
Made up of Live Recordings from the US Tour in September 2010 featuring: Deantoni Parks (drums) Juan Alderete De La Pena (bass), Marcel Rodriguez Lopez (keyboards) Lars Stalfors (sound manipulation), Ximena Sarinana Rivera (vocals) & Omar Rodriguez Lopez (guitars, vocals). Art by Sonny Kay DOWNLOAD or LISTEN

A great live performance video of ORLG:  Omar Rodriguez Lopez on guitar and vocals with Deantoni Parks on drums and Juan Alderete on Bass  at East Brunswick Club in Melbourne, Australia, 2011. - Damn these guys can play.

Sometimes surprise/secret shows are truly just that. What was billed as a headlining showcase for the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group turned into an impromptu Mars Volta performance when Volta vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala joined co-founder Lopez for the show. Even before the addition of Bixler-Zavala to the group, the line was one of the longest seen at the festival with fans without badges lining up for the 12:50am show at around 2pm for the small chance that they would have the opportunity to get in. Once the show started and it was clear what the show really was crowds gathered in the alleys and fences lining the makeshift Emo’s Annex venue to hear a taste of the new Mars Volta sound.

What made the whole affair odd was that Bixler-Zavala didn’t just pop out as soon as the band was ready, he went through his own soundcheck telling jokes and taping his own mic and when the soundcheck was over he said, “I don’t know what we are calling ourselves tonight” (legal reasons may have prevented them from calling this an official Mars Volta gig) and the band launched into what is assumed to be new Mars Volta material, which upon first listen had a different feel than previous efforts and will be an album to watch for this year.

** CORRECTION: it was NOT a secret show of The Mars Volta. It was an Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group show, just as we billed it. The fact that Cedric Bixler Zavala performed should not be strange as he is part of the ORLG collective and sings on a bunch of Omar’s other albums. - Rodriguez Lopez Productions

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF ORLG & FANG ISLAND courtesy of LAist

If you are going to make a Best & Worst list and have something in the Worst category, be glad it was for the Line to get in being too long !

WORST LINE: OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ GROUP
When Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s solo show turned into a Mars Volta gig with the addition of singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala onstage, the crowds amassed – and nowhere are the Mars Volta and their predecessor, hardcore legends At the Drive-In, more revered than in their homestate. The lines wrapped the blocks, and some fans even climbed the trees for a peek in. Inside, it was the spastic, Spanish-flavored prog meltdown synonymous with their names: Rodriguez-Lopez summoned mind-bending sounds from his axe, while Bixler-Zavala held the mic stand like a boa constrictor, delivering his socio-political screeds about the parental system and not supporting children’s aspirations, in song. – WILLIAM GOODMAN

Upon there return from performing in Japan at the Metamorphose Festival on Sept 4th Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group featuring Ximena Sarinana Rivera, Juan Alderete De La Pena, Marcel Rodriguez Lopez & Diantoni Parks will be playing shows in San Francisco, LA, NY and Chicago with Le Butcherettes opening. Look for news on Russia Tour with Le Butcherettes in November to be announced soon

OMAR RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ GROUP / LE BUTCHERETTES
Sept 13 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall (tickets)
Sept 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubador  SOLD OUT
Sept 17 - New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom  SOLD OUT
Sept 18 - Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater (tickets)

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