by Israel Gallegos

photographs by Joey Lozano

Last Friday, at the Take II Lounge, Zechs Marquise jammed out for an eager El Paso audience.

The opening act was Frontera Bugalu, a local group that you can find out about right here. I had never seen this group live before, but I really enjoyed them a lot. Their cumbia rhythms are off the hook, and Amalia Castro was definitely my favorite part of the show. She took turns playing a variety of instruments and singing without missing a beat. The lead singer reminded me of old school cumbia singer Celso Piña. The group had everybody in the place dancing.

And then there was Zechs Marquise…

The band consists of Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Marcos Smith, and Matthew Wilkson. The bassist and the drummer are both brothers of the Mars Volta’s Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.

But the prog rock group as a whole is very seasoned and plays a solid set. When you hear them at first, you think, “Oh, this is the Mars Volta Jr.”  But they definitely have their own musical language that just happens to be as loud as the MV’s. I like that they don’t get too carried away with their songs.

As I drank from my beer while riffs, vamps and fills were being blasted at my face I began to realize that they’re really good. I have to say that the drummer, Marcel, is a standout player. His fills are solid and I think he puts his own twist on Thomas Pridgen’s style.

check out the vid below: