At The Drive-In | Artist
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band formed 1994 in El Paso, Texas, by Jim Ward (guitar, keyboards) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals). Additional members came and left over time with Cedric being the mainstay member. The most recent lineup consisted of Cedric along with Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, bass), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums) and Keeley Davis (guitar). Their music is described as post-hardcore, with elements of punk, emo and art-punk. In their early days At the Drive-In began developing a large underground following by mostly playing in basements and small venues across the western United States, with their popularity spread by word of mouth among fans. One such show that changed the course of history for the band was in a now defunct bar in Los Angeles, where the band put on an explosive performance for just nine people – some of them employees of the Flipside record label. The staffers were so enthralled by the show that they offered to put out At the Drive-In's record then and there. Accepting the offer, the band recorded their debut full-length album titled Acrobatic Tenement for $600, which was released 1996 on Flipside Records. Their next album In/Casino/Out (1998) was a big step up from the debut, as was the excellent EP Vaya from 1999. Their third album Relationship of Command was recorded over a seven-week period and featured Iggy Pop with minor parts on a couple of the album's songs. It was released September 12, 2000, to critical acclaim, and catapulted At the Drive-In into the mainstream musical spotlight. Also worthy of mention is the excellent compilation This Station is Non-Operational released in 2005. After the release of their fourth studio album, inter alia, in 2017, the band announced an indefinite hiatus of activity, with members now working on new projects. Cedric and Omar formed The Mars Volta in 2001, which went on to become one of America's most successful progressive alternative rock bands. Jim Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar formed post-rock indie band Sparta. At the Drive-In is considered one of the most influential post-hardcore artists of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Accolades for their album Relationship of Command include being ranked 47th in the 50 Greatest Albums of the 21st century in Kerrang!, 83rd on Spin Magazine's 100 Greatest Albums 1985–2005, and 90 on MTV2's greatest albums ever list.
Artist Website: atthedriveinmusic.com
Featured Albums: At The Drive-In
Related Artists: The Mars Volta, Sparta
