At the Drive-In
Backgound information:
Origin:
El Paso, Texas
Genre(s):
Post-hardcore
Alternative rock
Punk rock
Melodic hardcore
Years active:
1993–2001
Label(s):
Fearless Records
Associated acts:
The Mars Volta
Sparta
De Facto
Dios Kilos
Former members:
Cedric Bixler-Zavala
Jim Ward
Omar Rodríguez-López
Paul Hinojos
Tony Hajjar
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At the Drive-In were an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, that was active from 1993 to 2001.
During their career, At the Drive-In crafted off-kilter,
unconventional songs laced with cryptic and strongly metaphoric lyrics.
Influenced equally by music from the likes of Pink Floyd, Fugazi, Bad Brains and The Smiths,
the band was founded in 1993 by guitarist Jim Ward and vocalist Cedric
Bixler-Zavala. At the Drive-In’s first studio recording was Hell Paso (Western Breed), an EP issued in 1994.
They played their first live show on October 15, 1994 at the Loretto
High School Fair in El Paso, Texas. Much touring would quickly develop
a following as intense in loyalty as the band was on stage. The band
aggressively sought shows and publicity in its early days, even going
to the point where members pretended to be a polka chapel band in order
to obtain an appearance on a local television show called "Let’s Get
Real". This reputation for hard work, the release of perhaps their
best-known album (Relationship of Command) and their minor hit
radio single "One Armed Scissor" (which had a music video in
circulation on MTV) received positive attention in the rock press
towards the end of their career. The band’s first nationally televised
performance was on FarmClub, a now defunct television show which aired
late at night on the USA network. After that performance they also
appeared on Later with Jools Holland, Late Night With Conan O’Brien and The Late Show With David Letterman, performing their single "One Armed Scissor" on national television.
Not only notoriously energetic and wild at shows, At the Drive-In were noted by the music press for the afros of Cedric Bixler-Zavala and
