Back when I was a wee lad, 15 or so, At The Drive-In was by far my favorite band ever. Even today their music is on my top all-time list of kick ass bands next to groups like Fugazi and Faith No More. I remember in my pubescent years always thinking, whoever got to see those early At The Drive-In shows are some lucky mofos. I mean, the dirty things I woulda done to bear witness to an early ATDI gig at backyard party to ten kids, or the ones where they demolished their neighbors’ garages with their insane stage spectacles. All I knew was whoever got to see those first ATDI shows would be influenced to go on to do some crazy cool shit. Man, was I right.

Meet Zechs Marquise, one of the most badass bands to come out of the Southwest since At The Drive-In. Now let me tell ya, these guys experienced albums like "Acrobatic Tenement" first hand. In fact, two of the dudes in Zechs -- Marcel Rodriguez Lopez and Marfred Rodriguez Lopez -- are the younger siblings of the famous ex-ATDI/Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez (it should also be noted that Marcel plays percussion in the Volta as well). These gentlemen, along with their childhood chums Matt Wilkson and Marcos Smith, have joined forces to create an instrumental aphrodisiac for your ears that will make your mind cream its medulla.

But despite being forever linked to their ATDI/Volta kin, these dudes know that the way to a person’s heart is through the ears, and the way to many ears is through consistent touring. While the guys were on a layover in L.A. at Matt from Rx Bandits’ house, I met up with them in Mr. Embree’s backyard for a little afternoon chat on life, music, touring, and of course to find out what the hell those first At The Drive-In shows were like.

(From left to right: Marcel, Marfred, Matt, and Marcos)