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Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group

The [b]Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group[/b] ([b]ORLG[/b]) is an American experimental/psychedelic/prog-rock/fusion ensemble established by [a=Omar Rodriguez-Lopez] in 2007 as a successor to his [url=https://discogs.com/artist/1049586]ORL Quintet[/url]. Featuring a rotating cast of musicians, ORLG co-existed with associated [url=https://discogs.com/artist/1895911]Quartet[/url], [url=https://discogs.com/artist/1860853]Trio[/url], and the [url=https://discogs.com/artist/1408893]"New" Group[/url] as one of Omar's core side projects outside [a=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 [a=Bosnian Rainbows], [a=Crystal Fairy], [a=Antemasque], and [a=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 [l=Clouds Hill Festival] in Hamburg, Germany. The band's first mention was in January 2007 on the back cover of [i][m=324817][/i] collaborative 12" EP with [a=Can]'s [a=Damo Suzuki] on [l=Gold Standard Laboratories], which featured [a=Money Mark] (of [a=Beastie Boys] fame) on keyboards and three of [url=https://discogs.com/artist/96218]TMV[/url]'s recent members: bassist [url=https://discogs.com/artist/408658]Juan Alderete[/url], Omar's younger brother, [a=Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez], on drums, and [a=Adrian Terrazas] on reeds and percussion. The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group performed at the 2007 [l=Fuji Rock Festival] in Japan, marking the first appearance of [a=Cedric Bixler-Zavala] as a vocalist and [a=Thomas Pridgen], who became the band's core drummer for the next three years, with Marcel switching to percussion and second keyboards; [url=https://discogs.com/artist/320854]Adrián Terrazas González[/url] quit both [a=The Mars Volta] and the ORL Group after 2008. The band toured Europe in March 2009, now featuring Omar's girlfriend, [a=Ximena Sariñana], on vocals and [a=Mark Aanderud] replacing Money Mark as the lead keyboardist. The London concert came out as [i][m=2094643][/i] LP later the same year on [b][l=Rodriguez Lopez Productions][/b], Omar's new label co-founded in partnership with [l=Sargent House] — the first album fully credited to the Group. In September 2010, ORL Group gave its debut US concert at [l=Highline Ballroom] in New York, followed by several more shows in Chicago and the West Coast. The ensemble now featured [a=Deantoni Parks] on drums, who temporarily played with [a=The Mars Volta] four years earlier, and [a=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, [i][url=https://discogs.com/master/832198]どういたしまして (Dōitashimashite)[/url][/i] CD, in late 2011 (the album's title means "You're Welcome"); initially only available in Japan on [l=Sleepwell Records], it saw a limited North American re-release via [l=Rodriguez Lopez Productions]. In 2011, the Group primarily performed across the United States, participating in [url=https://discogs.com/label/162544]RLP[/url]'s showcase at [l1601792] 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, [a=Bosnian Rainbows]. In December of the same year, ORLG released its third album, [i][r=4694542][/i], recorded in Spring 2008 and featuring two intermittent new members, [url=https://discogs.com/artist/4278588]Aarón Cruz Bravo[/url] on double bass and [a=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 [l=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 [a8037094] and vocalist [a=Virginia Alves]. [b]Current lineup (since 2018)[/b] [a=Omar Rodriguez-Lopez] — guitar [a=Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez] — keyboards, mellotron [url=https://discogs.com/artist/8037094]Audrey Johnson[/url] — drums [a=Virginia Alves] — vocals [a=Leo Genovese] — piano [b]"Golden era" 2009–10 lineup[/b] Omar Rodriguez-Lopez — guitar, vocals Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez — keyboards & synths [a=Juan Alderete de la Pena] — bass [a=Deantoni Parks], [a=Thomas Pridgen] — drums [a=Mark Aanderud] — keyboards [a=Lars Stalfors] — sound manipulation & engineering, keyboards [b]Early 2007 formation[/b] Omar Rodriguez-Lopez — guitar Juan Alderete de la Peña — bass Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez — keyboards & synths, percussion Thomas Pridgen — drums [a=Cedric Bixler-Zavala] — lead vocals [url=https://discogs.com/artist/320854]Adrián Terrazas González[/url] — tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute, percussion [a=Money Mark] — keyboards & synths [i][a=Alfredo Ortiz][/i] (guest) — percussion