Omar And Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird review

 

Last night I was lucky enough to be one of the few who got to see the world premiere of the Omar & Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird documentary at the Raindance Film Festival and wow, I am still trying to process it all, as there is a lot in this film to ponder for any fan.

The Mars Volta at Troxy

The Mars Volta

Teri Gender Bender

Troxy, 18 June 2023

It's crazy to think I haven't seen The Mars Volta live since 2009, when I went absolutely crazy for them and saw them three times in one year including a super intimate gig (only 300 people!) at the ICA. Even though they released two more albums after that, I didn't venture to see them in the couple of years before they split up but I have continued to support the band's two members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in their other projects, At The Drive-In and Antemasque, seeing them live numerous times (as I've written about on this blog) so the last 14 years haven't been completely Volta-free at least.

At The Drive-In at Brixton Academy

At The Drive-In
Death From Above
Le Butcherettes
Brixton Academy, 9 March 2018

The last time I saw At The Drive-In it was six years ago on their reunion tour back in 2012. I can't believe it was that long ago, in fact when this show, once again at Brixton Academy, was announced I initially decided not to go because it felt like it hadn't been that long since I saw them. But fate intervened when two for one tickets popped up close to the date and it felt like I was meant to give the boys another visit.

Antemasque at the Electric Ballroom

Antemasque
Le Butcherettes
Electric Ballroom, 15 October 2014

When it was announced that Le Butcherettes were supporting tonight I was thrilled because I've wanted to see them live for ages, ever since I heard their debut album Sin Sin Sin three years ago. Not that it was too much of a surprise given that Antemasque's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez not only played bass for the band for a short while and formed another, Bosian Rainbows, with Le Butcherettes front woman, Teresa Suárez aka Teri Gender Bender, but the pair are apparently also a couple. That said, even if there wasn't a personal connection between the two bands, judging by tonight's performance they were a more than worthy choice and Teri has to be one of the most incredible frontwomen I've seen in ages.

At The Drive-In at Brixton Academy

At The Drive-In
Brixton Academy, 28 August 2012

"We consider this the last show of the Relationship Of Command tour,” guitarist Jim Ward, who has been silent for much of the show, tells us near the end. “It’s taken us 12 years to get here, but I love these guys more than life itself."

At The Drive-In is now operational...

Another of my favourite bands from the 90s, At The Drive-In, have announced they are reuniting for some festival dates. Not sure how I feel about this one since I actually have come to love Cedric and Omar's post ATDI band The Mars Volta more and they have a new, long-waited album called Noctourniquet coming out soon so hopefully it won't interfere with that.

The Mars Volta at The Forum

The Mars Volta
The Forum, 14 December 2009

You know how in the movies when someone goes to a rock concert they never queue up or stand there waiting for the opening act to finish, they just walk right in to a prime spot as the main act is playing? The only time that’s (almost) happened to me was last year in New York when I went to see the Drive-by Truckers. We walked up, bought our tickets and excitedly arrived in the venue as the Truckers were rocking the stage. It was a pretty magical moment.

The Mars Volta at Somerset House

The Mars Volta
Somerset House, 13 July 2009

A month after their incredible gig at the tiny ICA the Volta were back in town, this time taking part in Somerset House's annual series of open air summer concerts and once again they just about blew me away.

The Mars Volta at the ICA

 
The Mars Volta
ICA, 18 June 2009

The first time I saw The Mars Volta was as a fairly slim (compared to now) five-piece back in 2002, supporting Les Savy Fav. I was one of the few in the crowd specifically there for them, but despite the lack of a big crowd they were electrifying, combining all the energy of the At The Drive-In days with a new musical confidence (plus at the time they had a kick-ass female bassist - always a bonus). By the time I saw them again headlining their own show the following year they had attracted an army of dedicated fans since the release of their debut album De-Loused In The Comatorium, changed personnel, become even more assured and turned into this jazz-inspired, jam-friendly rock monster. It was a pretty epic transformation and, maybe because my fragile little mind couldn't take it, hearing my favourite songs from the album turned into sometimes pretty unrecognisable 30-minute jams was a bit much for me at the time.

Omar Rodriguez Lopez at Dingwalls

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group 
Zechs Marquise 
Camden Dingwalls, 11 March 2009

Before this show I had seen Omar Rodriguez-Lopez live in three other bands - At The Drive-In, De Facto and The Mars Volta (three times) - but I've never seen him as the star of the show and without right hand man Cedric Bixler-Zavala stealing a lot of the attention. Could he pull it off?