Review:
“Being largely known in the UK, At The Drive-In arrived here for the first time only recently. In Los Angeles, where the El Paso quintet now resides, fans (including Iggy Pop and Amen’s Casey Chaos) and critics are hysterically pursuing the band. But let’s return to England. Looking at At The Drive-In, they’re just a bunch of skinny, tattooed kids, including frontman Cedric and guitarist Omar, who wear afros and are dressed in tight clothes. Cedric spins and jumps in all directions as far as the size of the stage allows. But if that’s not enough, then he climbs the walls or attacks Tony’s drum kit.
At The Drive-In sound like no other band. They took hardcore, added hard melodies, keyboards, Moroccan stuff and in the end they sound like no other. Their music has more energy that they constantly emit. Bassist Paul and multi-instrumentalist Jim complete the mix perfectly. “This song is for Cliff Barton and Iya Barrett, without whom there would be no punk rock right now,” the singer announces before bobbing his head to the beat of “Metronome Arthritis.” Cedric energetically darts between two microphones while shaking a pair of maracas in his hand, which has a three-eye symbol tattooed on it. “Rascuache” and “198d”, taken from last year’s “Vaya” EP, give the crowd a good shake-up. The soon-to-be-released “Relationship Of Command” features the influence of producer Ross Robinson. Things have become more voluminous, large-scale, fast and very sincere. Amazing”
Another Review:
“They’ve the skills to start a revolution. Currently being lumped in with the turgid US ’emo’ college schlock scene, El Paso’s [a]At The Drive-In[/a]’s high-energy rock’n’roll music is closer in spirit to [a]MC5[/a] than dullards like Burning Airlines or Jets To Brazil.
Formed four years ago, the five-piece have made their name on the American underground with chaotic live performances, a handful of low-key EPs and one long-player. Now signed to BMG and with a Rage Against The Machine US tour support under their belt, [a]At The Drive-In[/a]’s reputation as one of America’s greatest unknown rock bands is growing fast.
It’s easy to see why. Tonight’s performance is jaw-dropping in its intensity and spirit, and they’ve even got a couple of tunes as well.
Afroed frontman Cedric – Rob Tyner‘s spiritual grandson – screams and high-kicks his way around the stage to 100mph tunes of punk rock genius – all three-minute blasts of jerky, roller-coaster rock. His fellow Drive-Ins are twisting, spinning and mangling their guitars around him, making for the kind of dynamism and choreographed chaos not seen since Nation Of Ulysses came to town.
If anyone can fire up the increasingly diluted US punk rock scene, then it’s these cute, Afro-haired firebrands, such is their steely-eyed belief in the powers of incendiary rock’n’roll.
Once you’ve heard and seen the pop punk whirlwind of [a]At The Drive-In[/a], there’s no need to listen to your Blink 182 records any more.
Are you ready to testify?”
