The "Relationship Of Command" Era
Is there a greater metaphor for the final initial run of At the Drive-In than Icarus? The closer to the sun they flew the more their wings melted. The greater to success, the greater the chaos. Even for a band as notoriously energetic as At the Drive-In, the tours supporting Vaya and Relationship of Command were especially frenetic and dilapidated.
The work ethic these individuals had exuded for nearly a decade had finally caught up to them just as they were about to be successful. Endless years of playing shows for months straight to nearly empty rooms, traveling across the country over and over, sleeping in basements, and eating crummy food had finally bore fruit for them.
It is hard to really convey how much of a grind those years were, even through extensive research by dedicated fans we don't know every show they played over the roughly five years before things finally began to explode. Even then, that explosion wasn't particularly fast.
At The Marble Shrine we decided to begin the Relationship of Command era at the beginning of 1999. One could argue this is too soon, but we decided that it should include Vaya's era of relevance as well. Vaya is a clear turning point for the band, a shift from the so called "emo" sound with jangly guitar riffs and thinner sounds to a harsher, heartier, and fuller sound with sharp edges. The shift is significant and while they still aren't going to be headlining most shows, their fanbase continues to blossom. You also start to see venues you actually recognize like The Troubadour and fewer shows in VFW halls, illegal punk rock spots, or living rooms. 1999 is when the momentum starts to work on their side.
1999 starts much like 1998, and endless onslaught of cross country shows, but again, they are shows at places we recognize; real venues with the potential for real audiences. More recordings also begin to surface during this time and the upward shift in quality and cohesion continues much like in 1998. Yes, of course, the concerts are chaotic, this is not going to ever change, it is an expectation for an At the Drive-In show but the ballistic nature is paired with solid chops. The songs are performed well, although Cedric does sometimes choose to run around so much he has no air to sing, and Omar will also sometimes opt for chaotic guitar noises rather than performing the actual song.
In early Spring the band embarks on their second European tour, and again, the difference is significant with actually promoted shows with known venues instead of a bunch of show dates with a "venue to be determined.". They really seem like a proper band now.
They would return to the United States as Spring began to close, continuing their endless run of gigs including a performance at This Ain't No Picnic, a festival they would return