A natural talent for psychedelia must be as common as Y chromosomes in the Rodriguez-Lopez family DNA. That gene pool has produced a trio of rockers - Omar, Marcel and Marfred - that has proved its mastery of the genre in more than one incarnation.
The most notable, of course, is Omar, co-mastermind of post-hardcore act At The Drive-In and its (now Grammy-nominated) experimental spawn The Mars Volta. Brother Marcel lends his keyboard to the latter but splits his time with other brother Marfred in Zechs Marquise. Each of these acts - along with the guys' numerous other side projects - always hint at an influence of groups like Pink Floyd and King Crimson.
El Paso-based Zechs Marquise is jammier, jazzier and calmer than the Volta, but don't discount its ability to command attention. Revered for live performances where energy is as readily supplied as never-before-heard expansions of original hits. The instrumental quartet takes the accessible features of rock and funk - easy-to-follow timing, danceable beats - and infuses them into improvisational live performances.
Fans who snapped up copies of this year's debut, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare will likely hear their most-played tracks psyched out into solo-friendly, once-in-lifetime jam sessions. - Dusti Rhodes
With the Goods and Female Demand, 8 p.m. Sunday, December 7, at The Mink, 3718 Main, 713-522-9985.
