Emo From Unlikely Places: At the Drive-in

Juniper Wolff

Local Music Journalist

When you think about locations where emo truly flourished, high-profile locations like Seattle, San Francisco, or Washington D.C. likely come to mind. Upsetting the expectations of where emo thrives, At the Drive-In originated from El Paso, Texas in the mid-90’s. Known for their hard-hitting melodies, At the Drive-In has garnered a cultlike following after releasing their third full-length studio album, “Relationship of Command”.  

Leadup to “Relationship of Command” 

Founded in 1994, At the Drive–In was most notable for its intense underground performances. Their first tour across the Lone Star State began in basements and small venues. With little-to-no advertising, their popularity skyrocketed through word of mouth and their heavy tour schedule. As their popularity grew, they began to tour primarily around the western United States. Although their first few albums were widely regarded for their high energy, “Relationship of Command” stood out from the rest. With the release of “Relationship of Command”, At the Drive-In began to tour worldwide, with performances in Europe, Japan, and the United States. The unique, innovative sound from “Relationship of Command” stretched the definition of emo and post-hardcore. 

Sound and Influences 

At the Drive-In is often described online as post-hardcore, emo, post-punk, and art punk. However, I believe they stretch, bend, and even combine some of these genres throughout “Relationship of Command”. In songs like “One Armed Scissor” and “Pattern Against User”, their punk vocals and emo instrumentals blend seamlessly into one beautiful cacophony of sound and adrenaline. Sharp, pungent guitars blare throughout the masterpiece while the aggressive, defining vocals pick up where the guitar leaves off. To balance everything off, the drums brought and kept a distinctive pace to the already arrhythmic album. Overall, the sound of “Relationship of Command” can be described as harnessing punchy vocals, emotional melodies, and a fast, relentless tempo. ATD-I is more notable for their impactful sound rather than their lyrics.  

Lyrics 

At the Drive-In is less known for their lyrics, often being described as “cryptic”. Because of their heavy tour schedule and shorter studio sessions, ATD-I focused more on the sound rather than the lyrics. For example, in their most popular track, “One Armed Scissor”, it opens with “Yes, this is the campaign,” referencing their constant touring. This is one of the more understandable lyrics contrary to their less coherent and metaphorical lyrics such as “a neutered is the vastness, hallow vacuum, check the oxygen tanks.” As a whole, “One Armed Scissor” is a description of their tour and the events that transpire with it. The lyrics from track-to-track do not seem to follow a single story, but a random assortment of events. In their seventh track, Enfilade, the lyrics refer to victims being kidnapped and left on railroad tracks. The title itself refers to a French word used in military tactics.

Recommendations 

Fans of At the Drive-In might be interested in bands that inspired the El Paso quartet. Some of the bands that inspired the group are Numero Group’s Indian Summer, Swing Kid, and Sunny Day Real Estate. However, for fans that want to hear some albums closer in style to “Relationship of Command,” “Emergency & I” by The Dismemberment Plan aims closer to the sharp guitar and impactful vocals. Another similar album that is oriented closer to the post-hardcore side is “Repetition” by Unwound. As a whole, if you enjoy “Relationship of Command”, check out the second and third waves of emo and post-hardcore itself as they are noted for being pioneers of the genre.