Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group

The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (ORLG) is an American experimental/psychedelic/prog-rock/fusion ensemble established by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in 2007 as a successor to his ORL Quintet. Featuring a rotating cast of musicians, ORLG co-existed with associated Quartet, Trio, and the "New" Group as one of Omar's core side projects outside The Mars Volta until 2012, touring internationally and releasing three albums. After a six-year hiatus, when Rodriguez Lopez was preoccupied with his new bands Bosnian Rainbows, Crystal Fairy, Antemasque, and At The Drive-In's reunion, the Group again started performing in late 2018. Their upcoming fourth album, announced for January 2024, will feature a live show recorded in November 2018 at Clouds Hill Festival in Hamburg, Germany. The band's first mention was in January 2007 on the back cover of Please Heat This Eventually collaborative 12" EP with Can's Damo Suzuki on Gold Standard Laboratories, which featured Money Mark (of Beastie Boys fame) on keyboards and three of TMV's recent members: bassist Juan Alderete, Omar's younger brother, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, on drums, and Adrian Terrazas on reeds and percussion. The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group performed at the 2007 Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, marking the first appearance of Cedric Bixler-Zavala as a vocalist and Thomas Pridgen, who became the band's core drummer for the next three years, with Marcel switching to percussion and second keyboards; Adrián Terrazas González quit both The Mars Volta and the ORL Group after 2008. The band toured Europe in March 2009, now featuring Omar's girlfriend, Ximena Sariñana, on vocals and Mark Aanderud replacing Money Mark as the lead keyboardist. The London concert came out as LP later the same year on Rodriguez Lopez Productions, Omar's new label co-founded in partnership with Sargent House — the first album fully credited to the Group. In September 2010, ORL Group gave its debut US concert at Highline Ballroom in New York, followed by several more shows in Chicago and the West Coast. The ensemble now featured Deantoni Parks on drums, who temporarily played with The Mars Volta four years earlier, and Lars Stalfors as a live sound manipulator. They toured internationally, appearing at Metamorphose Fest in Japan, performing with TMV in South America, and giving solo concerts in Russia and Europe. Concluding the tour, ORLG released the second album, どういたしまして (Dōitashimashite) CD, in late 2011 (the album's title means "You're Welcome"); initially only available in Japan on Sleepwell Records, it saw a limited North American re-release via Rodriguez Lopez Productions. In 2011, the Group primarily performed across the United States, participating in RLP's showcase at SXSW and other festivals; on several occasions, Cedric Bixler sang instead of Ximena. In the summer of 2012, the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group announced an upcoming international tour with over 40 shows in Europe, the USA, and Japan; right before the opening date, Omar revealed he'd front a new band instead, Bosnian Rainbows. In December of the same year, ORLG released its third album, 4694542, recorded in Spring 2008 and featuring two intermittent new members, Aarón Cruz Bravo on double bass and Hernan Hecht on drums. After staying dormant for five years, as Rodriguez-Lopez focused on filmmaking and other bands, the ORL Group re-appeared in November 2018 at the Clouds Hill Festival in Hamburg, Germany, followed by a December concert at the "Indio Catrina" Festival in Puebla, Mexico. Omar and Marcel were the only two founding members, sharing the stage with new drummer Audrey Paris Johnson and vocalist Virginia Alves. Current lineup (since 2018) Omar Rodriguez-Lopez — guitar Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez — keyboards, mellotron Audrey Johnson — drums Virginia Alves — vocals Leo Genovese — piano "Golden era" 2009–10 lineup Omar Rodriguez-Lopez — guitar, vocals Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez — keyboards & synths Juan Alderete de la Pena — bass Deantoni Parks, Thomas Pridgen — drums Mark Aanderud — keyboards Lars Stalfors — sound manipulation & engineering, keyboards Early 2007 formation Omar Rodriguez-Lopez — guitar Juan Alderete de la Peña — bass Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez — keyboards & synths, percussion Thomas Pridgen — drums Cedric Bixler-Zavala — lead vocals Adrián Terrazas González — tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute, percussion Money Mark — keyboards & synths Alfredo Ortiz (guest) — percussion