The Mejias and Martinezes, Come See My Dead Person Michael Mejia says there is one foolproof way to know whether his band, Come See My Dead Person, is doing the right thing.

"Having a sibling in it with me keeps things fresh," he says. "We always say we were lucky to have each other growing up because we had someone to tell us if what we were doing was stupid or not."

Mejia and his brother, Matthew, share guitar duties and vocals in this Galveston-based band, which is made up of not one but two sets of siblings.

"My earliest memories of music are my dad getting drunk and singing country and folk tunes around the house," says Roy Martinez, whose sister Jodi Lynn (vocals) and brother Sean (drums) are also in the band.

"My brother and sister and I share pretty much the same taste and sensibilities about music," continues Martinez. "We all want to do similar things, so we end up working really well together. I mean, we each have idiosyncratic tendencies that may be challenging to one another, but in general our relationship makes working together easier for us. We've been playing music together for so long it's pretty hard to imagine not doing it."

Matthew Mejia agrees.

"Telekinesis is the best part of being in a band with a sibling," he says. "The worst part is I can never phone it in. I always have to perform top-notch."

"Playing in the band with my brother and the Martinezes keeps me focused," Michael echoes. "There really is no telling what would have come of us if we weren't doing this. I can't imagine a life without it."

The Martinezes and Mejias grew up in different households, with one thing in common. Music. Lots of it, playing frequently, and always something different. They collectively list their influences as Frank Zappa, Slayer, Enigma, Cannibal Corpse, Jon Secada and lots of other stuff in between. That wildly diverse mix gives CSMDP a great blend of soulful, bluesy, rocking funkiness.

Roy says CSMDP's songwriting process for the band has been crafted to an art, of sorts. The Mejias -- to whom he lovingly refers as "our compatriots and unknowing arch-rivals" -- do the majority of the band's songwriting, but the creative process allows for all band members to be involved.

"The lyrics usually come from my brother or myself, but the task of putting music to it comes from the entire band," says Michael. "As a band we work with the same process as my brother and I... but, with the band, there are nine people there to tell you if what you are doing is working or not."

Roy might be the band's comic relief. He assuredly doesn't allow anyone to take it all too seriously.

"The best part is being able to look over and see my bro and sis having a blast and maybe making an inside joke on stage in the middle of a song. The worst part is realizing that we are sharing the stage with the Mejia brothers," he says, jokingly. " Every night that I play a show with my brother and sister it saves my ass. If not for them, I would have to perform with lesser quality musicians, which is a very dismal prospect. Also, my sis has gotten me laid a lot."

"I believe my brother and I understand what each other is trying to accomplish without too much explanation," Michael offers. "We know when is a time to push and when is a time to lay off of each other. I think a 30-year relationship with anyone would create these advantages when working on a project. We have disagreements like any siblings, but when the music starts all that goes away."

"I have tons of friends that hardly know their siblings or don't get along with them at all based on personality or interest differences," he continues. "I am very lucky to love what my brother loves and vise versa, so we can fight for it together with the same passion."

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