Come See My Dead Person

Come See My Dead Person is one of those bands people have constantly tried to get me into over the years, but the time never seemed right. Well, the release of their new self-titled album should be a good enough place to begin, I thought, and I'm very glad I did.

The sound is a mix of pretty much every single genre that has a set of nuts. Country, blues, jazz, klezmer, zydeco, psychobilly, rock, even a few little moments of Rasputina-esque goth, rock and ragtime weave themselves in and out of the 14-song funeral procession.

No, not a funeral procession. That's inaccurate. It's more like a wake, a proper Irish one where there's plenty of joking, good stories, as well as maudlin moments of mourning and probably even a good dive across the coffin. Alcohol, too, but I probably didn't really need to say that.


Things really get cooking with "John Doe" early in the experience. The track is a toe-tapping, high-paced road song that would sound perfect in an episode of True Blood as some vamper left a trail of passengers with ill-luck bloody and dead behind her. If there is another song that manages to be a rockin' ode to a corpse experiencing its own decomposition then there can't be many.

That playful morbid streak is probably the most defining aspect of Come See My Dead Person. It's certainly the parts that are going to garner the most comparisons to The Nekromantix and, more accurately, to The Creepshow. CSMDP, though, manages a subtlety in their approach that is less overtly ghoulish and closer to the darker moments of honky-tonk.

Take "Kidney in a Jar." If you're not really paying attention you might be able to hear it just as a dancehall tune, but there are deep-cutting turns of phrase that keep it well outside the Social Distortion "Ball and Chain" tone. Not to mention I still want to know why someone's granddaddy's left kidney was in a pickle jar in the first place.

It's not all upbeat, though, and I think it's in the Southern gothic moments that the album really rises to Heaven from a rotting corpse. Songs like "The Rose" are the kind of songs that change or ruin lives. A more hopeless set of lyrics can't be imagined than "But we're all gonna burn so it's our choice how we live our lives." The song is the musical equivalent of the silence in a car on the way home from a miscarriage. It just fucking aches all over.

Honestly, it's an almost impossible track to follow-up, but man, "End of All" pulls it off so close as to not matter. The Irish reel is at first near obscene in its liveliness after "The Rose," but, as seems to be the band's true gift, it pulls holiness out of a hat in the midst of the bloody aftermath.

What defines Come See My Dead Person best is how baldly it looks at death in its songs. She's real, personal, a little cruelly whimsical, sometimes tragic, but also something of a friend. We all hear the beating of her wings in the end, probably over the sound of our friends here tuning up.

Come See My Dead Person plays 4 p.m. Sunday, December 16 at Cactus Music, 2110 Portsmouth.
- Jef With One F (Houston Press)

It's that time of year -- or at least it has been since, like, November -- for rock writers to show everyone else how cool they think they are with their year-end best-of lists. How obscure can you get? How controversial can you be with your choices?

"If only Honey Boo Boo released album that I could put next to Frank Ocean!" says one blogger to himself as he makes his Top 50 that no one will ever read. Who the fuck is Grimes anyway?

This best-of list is geared towards my favorite local albums of the year, the ones that grabbed me and shook me for weeks and months on end. No beers. shots, or free merch were involved.

I swear.

10. Come See My Dead Person, Come See My Dead Person
This was a late-comer this year, releasing just a few weeks back. The gypsy-folk-rock-bleeders' self-titled album was heralded by lead single "John Doe," a grim and grimy bounce through the graveyard or the killing floor of a slaughterhouse. - Houston Press

Come See My Dead Person is an odd name for a large and somewhat amorphous musical collective that makes ethereal gypsy folk-rock music (emphasis on gypsy and rock). And while we quite like the band in all its forms, sometimes an acoustic five piece, sometimes a huge electric collection of stringed instruments and people, we still have to wonder just how stoned or drunk were they the night the light bulb came on and they decided to name themselves Come See My Dead Person.

Those who have had a personal brush with the band - and CSMDP has been around quite a while now - will know that they like to play with the possibilities when asked why they chose that name. It usually involves some vague story about a possible murder or accidental killing, and they usually are rather good at making the questioner feel a bit squirmy about the whole situation.

But at the end of the day, what has kept this Galveston County crew of cousins and high school friends together is music. And their music sweeps over a listener like Taurus Bulba of the Cossacks charging toward some blood-thirsty Russian hoard with his sword drawn and no expectation of any life beyond this battle. Seriously, these people make some pretty unhinged music to have been born so close to Gilley's and the Galveston Pleasure Pier.

Saturday night at Walter's the band is having a CD release party for its first full LP, most appropriately titled "Come See My Dead Person." The single "John Doe" - which keeps repeating "bang, bang, snap, snap, oh another John Doe on the side of the road" - is a soundtrack for the waiting line to Hell. So, of course, we here at Houston Night Life love it!

- William Michael Smith

Come See My Dead Person w/ Knights of the Fire Kingdom, Vox and the Hound, Walter's, 1120 Naylor St., 77002, 713-862-2513, Dec. 8, 8:00 p.m.
- HoustonNightLife.com

By: Christopher Simth Gonzalez | The Daily News | 8/10/12

GALVESTON — For a band that references death in its name, Come See My Dead Person seems to be all about getting people to live it up.

Wherever the nine-piece band breaks into its unique blend of gypsy rock, blues, bluegrass and folk-influenced music, people will be dancing and jumping to the beat.

The group, which includes guitars, drums, a mandolin, banjo, bass and violin, has been together for six years now, said Mike Mejia, who sings and leads the band along with his brother Matt.

The band, based out of Galveston, has a demo album free to download on its website and is planning on releasing their first full-length album in the fall.

read the entire article
- Galveston Daily News

By: Christopher Simth Gonzalez | The Daily News | 10/12/12

GALVESTON — To say Galveston band Come See My Dead Person has a cult following would be selling the band short.

A cult is an exclusive group that shuts itself off from the rest of the world. Come See My Dead Person is much more like a rolling and rollicking tent revival that invites and adds to its congregation as it goes.

And with its first self-titled, full-length album about to be released, the group is hoping to add a lot more converts.

read the entire article
- Galveston Daily News

By: Craig Hlavaty | Houston Press | 12/07/12

The gypsy-punks in Come See My Dead Person have come out of hibernation to release an eponymous new 13-song set of songs. The manic pickin', the boisterous drinking anthems, and strange old-world stank are here in spades, with the proverbial fur really flying on standouts "Kidney In a Pickle Jar" and "God You Devil." If you wish the Zac Brown Band had more spook and less frat on their bones, then these Dead Persons are going to put a spell on you.

- Rocks Off Houston Press

Come See My Dead Person Being based in Galveston, does the ghost folklore of the island find its way into your music? Mike Mejia: I’m sure subconsciously it inspired some thought. I don’t know — we’ve always had a fascination for that sort of thing. Maybe that’s one of the things … [Read more...] - 002 Magazine

The expectations that come with an intriguing band name can be high – you have to earn it to own it. Few get it right and create music as good, or at least as interesting, as their name. In this respect, Come See My Dead Person delivers.

Formed in Texas City 4 years ago by Mike and Matt Mejia to play death metal, CSMDP evolved into what they describe as “folk, rock, bluegrass, gypsy, jazz, polka, punk, country, Latin, soul fusion”.

CSMDP is a band of 6-8 musical brothers, and occasionally, one sister. While actual blood relations exist (there are a few) it is the collective will to write and perform unique and inspiring music that binds these musicians.

Although the songs begin with ideas and lyrics primarily from the Mejia brothers there is no mistaking that CSMDP has a leadership life-force of it’s own – the conductor of this orchestra may just be the ghost of said dead person…

CSMDP seems to be learning as they go, with excellent results. To attempt an eclectic blend of sounds without becoming a sonic train wreck or undisciplined group of noisemakers is another rare quality that makes CSMDP a band worth listening to.

“It’s hard to hear 8 people live at once, and know that every piece is correct. When we went to record we learned a lot about who was doing what and what sounded good,” Mike Mejia said.

Lyrically, the band’s 5 song EP (available free on their website - they call it a “demo”) hovers around a theme close to their name. In many cases, bands writing about death find themselves in a literal, lyrical death trap. While trying to demonstrate depth, lyricists frequently end up in a shallow grave, sounding silly or melodramatic. The impact of growing up in Texas City, a refinery town with a surreal skyline of factories and toxic flames, is not lost on Matt Meija’s writing.

“There are always chemical blooms going over the whole damn town.... If you stay sad about it, if you don’t make a joke about it, it’ll drive you nuts. Gravedigger’s humor - whatever you want to call it.”

While the band is reaching a wider audience since their death metal days, they can’t help but be enthusiastic about inserting metal (and just about every other genre of music) back into their music. With a variety of early influences including Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Tom Waits, Buena Vista Social Club, Eazy E, Cannibal Corpse, Pantera, Phish (the list goes on) the band admits, without conceit, they’re fans of CSMDP as much as they’re participants.

“We’re also the audience for Come See My Dead Person. There are points in time where I wish I could experience this from the audiences perspective,” said lead guitarist, Roy Martinez.

Death may be a theme with CSMDP but the punk energy, violins, banjos and mandolins over Latin and country rhythms, along with some catchy vocal melodies, make this band’s music more like a celebratory soundtrack to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) than anything sad or morbid.

Mike and Matt recently moved to Galveston, CSMDP’s new home base, and claim a spiritual connectedness to the city.

“Galveston has a nostalgic feel to it. It looks like… a hundred years ago you’d find someone sitting on the sidewalk with an acoustic guitar playing you some good music,” co-lead vocalist, Mike said.

Look for CSMDP at various venues around Galveston and Houston or check www.CSMDP.com for complete concert listings.

CSMDP are:
Mike Mejia - acoustic/electric guitar; vocals
Matt Mejia - electric/acoustic guitar; vocals
Dave Thomas - violins
Martin Johanson - mandolin
Ray Herod - bass
Brian Green - banjo; accordion
Roy Martinez - electric guitars; backing vocals
Sean Martinez - drums; engineering
Jodi Martinez – vocals

Watch the video interview and see a live performance by CSMDP CLICK HERE
- The Galveston Parrot/ Zach Tate

The Walking Dead
Texas City's Come See My Dead Person is very much alive.
Texas City seems like an unlikely place for an eight-piece neo-folk, indie-rock, gypsy-influenced musical conglomerate to form. Even more unlikely is the name: Come See My Dead Person.

Jesus Navarro
Dead on Arrival: Come See My Dead Person keeps their name's origins shrouded in mystery.
Details
Come See My Dead Person
GalvestonRoy MartinezMike MejiaTrina (Rapper)Texas CityFirst brought to our attention by George Banks, the Humble architect who did many of the original 13th Floor Elevators posters and saw CSMDP at Wrecks Bell's Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston, CSMDP have been playing area venues ranging from Rudyard's and Under the Volcano to Clear Lake's Scout Bar. Saturday marks the band's first time to headline at the Continental. We talked with singer/guitarist Mike Mejia and guitarist Roy Martinez.

Chatter: You're probably tired of answering this one, but why this band name?

Roy Martinez: We've got five different answers and we'll let you choose one if you want. But none of them are true. Let's just say the name is shrouded in mystery.

C: Worst reaction to the name?

Mike Mejia: The length of the name is sometimes an issue, but we've never really had a negative reaction. We try to stick to bars that would be open to original, eclectic music, so the band name just hasn't been an issue.

C: Where does this amalgam of styles come from?

MM: It started with my brother and I, we were writing songs. Then as we met the rest of the guys, each of us listened to and played different types of music. It came together like a puzzle, but fairly easy. And we liked the way it meshed without rules attached to it.

C: So what are your musical influences?

MM: Gentle Giant, Phish, big jam bands like that.

RM: I come from a prog-rock ­background, Frank Zappa and stuff like that. And I used to be way into death metal.

C: Obviously, splitting $300 eight ways is not a get-rich-quick scheme. How does such a large band work financially?

MM: We play as different acts, and we cut down our thing for acoustic gigs, etc. But we love our full rock sound with the whole band, so we really just want to keep this band together right now. We've got modest ­immediate goals.

RM: I've got an eight-to-five job, so just to hear music I've written performed more than makes up for any band money ­issues. I still get a thrill when we play our music and it comes together well.

C: Worst day job in the band?

RM: Sean is washing and cleaning cars all day, that's gotta suck. But I sit in an air-­conditioned office staring at a computer all day, so in some ways mine's just as bad.

C: Best day job in the band?

MM: I work in a smoke shop here in Galveston, so all I do all day is talk about smoking, drinking, music and songwriting. Pretty sweet.

C: Worst gig ever?

MM: It sounds kinda geeky, but we ­really haven't had any bad gigs. It's hard for us not to have a good time, even if we get to some gig thinking, "Aw, this is a sucky place." Actually, we ought to make that our motto: "If you've got a sucky place, book us there and we'll fuckin' rock it."

- Houston Press

There's a scene in Peter Jackson's King Kong--holy crap, the subtle "I have a huge dong" undertone in that movie title literally just struck us we typed that sentence; well done, Mr. Jackson--where Kong battles down three T-Rex's at once. It's remarkable. He just straight-up strong-arms all three of them, roaring and stomping and beating on his chest and whatnot. We saw Z-Ro at the photo counter at Walgreen's once. He did the exact same thing when his pictures weren't ready.

Anyhow, we mention this because Come See My Dead Person has to be the band name equivalent to that Gorilla vs. T-Rex scene. It's just an awesome name. Which is a small part of the reason that they're this week's Artist of the Week. Of course, the grander part of why they're AotW is because their brand of folksy, bluegrassy rockery might be without match in the greater Houston area.

So we reached out to the boys and asked co-lead vocalist/co-guitarist Mike Mejia about the name, their standout track "Mr. Rickety Bones" and what bands you shouldn't have wasted your time seeing at Summer Fest. Booyah.

Rocks Off: First, the name of the band is just great. Please tell me there is an interesting story behind it. And if there isn't, please just make one up.

Mike: The name of the band is a tough story to tell. I could probably show you better than I could tell you. Here, follow me to the garage. There's something in my trunk you should see.

RO: [laughs] "Mr. Rickety Bones" is probably my favorite song from you all. A couple of questions about it: It seems like you're talking about something important in "Mr. Rickety Bones," like there's an underlying theme in there or whatever. True or False?

M: True. The theme is that it is sad when your dog dies. Also, drink milk.

RO: The musical hodown that takes up the last thirty or so seconds, was that put in there specifically to make people want to speed through a small town while a somewhat clumsy and oafish sheriff haplessly chases them?

M: First of all, what are you, psychic? Second, who doesn't want that? Third, no.

RO: Is that the proper way to spell "hodown"? It looks like it's spelled way wrong; less like a something to do with music and more like something a pimp would smarmily say after he clocked one of his femmes.

M: I believe the correct spelling is "hoedown" but, admittedly, we do discipline our girls from time to time.

RO: Who were the three acts at Summer Fest that you absolutely, positively would not miss?

M: I am most looking forward to seeing MMW, Mix Master Mike and Perseph One --I could have sworn Golden Axe was on this bill, but I'm not seeing them.

RO: The three that you won't really try that hard to see at all?

M: Pleading the 5th.

See CSMDP online at www.myspace.com/comeseemydeadperson2. - Houston Press

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?

Roy Martinez:Every year the scarecrows gather to celebrate the harvest. They celebrate new crops and rejoice in dance and song and drink. The music playing at that celebration is what we do.

When you guys play a show people can’t help but to move around and dance. As a band, how do you convey that energy so well to your audience and why do you think people connect with your music in the ways that they do? -

Martin Johanson: The energy and emotion in our sound is contagious in many ways and I believe that is what translates to the audiences excitement.

Dave Thomas: I think we just feel the music we play so much, it transfers naturally to the audience. It’s a great exchange of energy.

RM: I believe you’d get your ass kicked if you didn’t.

What is your favorite song to perform live? Why?

RM: Right now my fave is Irish Maiden. I’m a bit of a metal head on one hand and a prog fag on the other. This song satisfies both of those sides of me. On one hand I can bang my head to it and it’s a cool and challenging little run of arpeggios and melodic lines. Super fun!

MJ: Another Goodbye is one of my top fav’s. It has an epic and huge sound to it when played live that I think is unforgettable for the listener.

What can your fans expect next from CSMDP?

MJ: More tracks, touring, csmdp sponsored events(Halloween etc.) and maybe some new instrumentation
and styles.

RM: I think it’s safe to say they can expect us to roll even harder in the coming seasons. From a technical perspective, they can expect more delicately orchestrated compositions. Speaking for myself, I plan to focus more on the arrangement possibilities with our line up; try to exploit the diversity of the voices a little more in terms of composition. I’m also going to start practicing my guitar so I can play more face-melting solos.

Who are you looking forward to watching perform at Summerfest 2010?

RM: I hope I’ll get to see Medeski, Martin, and Wood to completion, but I believe the schedule will prevent it. Otherwise, Mix Master Mike will be super dope as will Perseph One. Hoping to catch the Golden Axe set as well. Those guys roll hard. Other than that, I don’t really know. To be honest, Houston music is pretty bland in my opinion. It comes off pretty shallow to me. Style over substance.

MJ: It’s a toss up between Slim Thug/Bun-B and The Flaming Lips on one stage or 30footFall, Cro-Mags, Municipal Waste and Dead Prez on another, Whoa! But their is alot of top notch talent that I would like to check out. It’s gonna be something most Houston area music lovers should not miss.

DT: I’m looking forward to hearing bands for the first time. Discovering some great local acts.


See Come See My Dead Person perform live at Summerfest - www.prettyriot.com

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?

Roy Martinez:Every year the scarecrows gather to celebrate the harvest. They celebrate new crops and rejoice in dance and song and drink. The music playing at that celebration is what we do.

When you guys play a show people can’t help but to move around and dance. As a band, how do you convey that energy so well to your audience and why do you think people connect with your music in the ways that they do? -

Martin Johanson: The energy and emotion in our sound is contagious in many ways and I believe that is what translates to the audiences excitement.

Dave Thomas: I think we just feel the music we play so much, it transfers naturally to the audience. It’s a great exchange of energy.

RM: I believe you’d get your ass kicked if you didn’t.

What is your favorite song to perform live? Why?

RM: Right now my fave is Irish Maiden. I’m a bit of a metal head on one hand and a prog fag on the other. This song satisfies both of those sides of me. On one hand I can bang my head to it and it’s a cool and challenging little run of arpeggios and melodic lines. Super fun!

MJ: Another Goodbye is one of my top fav’s. It has an epic and huge sound to it when played live that I think is unforgettable for the listener.

What can your fans expect next from CSMDP?

MJ: More tracks, touring, csmdp sponsored events(Halloween etc.) and maybe some new instrumentation
and styles.

RM: I think it’s safe to say they can expect us to roll even harder in the coming seasons. From a technical perspective, they can expect more delicately orchestrated compositions. Speaking for myself, I plan to focus more on the arrangement possibilities with our line up; try to exploit the diversity of the voices a little more in terms of composition. I’m also going to start practicing my guitar so I can play more face-melting solos.

Who are you looking forward to watching perform at Summerfest 2010?

RM: I hope I’ll get to see Medeski, Martin, and Wood to completion, but I believe the schedule will prevent it. Otherwise, Mix Master Mike will be super dope as will Perseph One. Hoping to catch the Golden Axe set as well. Those guys roll hard. Other than that, I don’t really know. To be honest, Houston music is pretty bland in my opinion. It comes off pretty shallow to me. Style over substance.

MJ: It’s a toss up between Slim Thug/Bun-B and The Flaming Lips on one stage or 30footFall, Cro-Mags, Municipal Waste and Dead Prez on another, Whoa! But their is alot of top notch talent that I would like to check out. It’s gonna be something most Houston area music lovers should not miss.

DT: I’m looking forward to hearing bands for the first time. Discovering some great local acts.


See Come See My Dead Person perform live at Summerfest - www.prettyriot.com

The first question for a band with a name like Come See My Dead Person always is: Where did that name come from?

There were so many ways that this story could have gone. They could be a band of funeral directors. A band of murderers. A band of people who think dead people are funny (indeed, there was talk of Weekend at Bernie's). Instead, it's a band of people who think death metal bands with long names are funny.

"We used to be a death metal band and then we stopped that. We thought of it for that band to make fun of the bands with really long names. It just stuck," says guitarist/singer Matt Mejia.

It's an unwieldy name for an unwieldy band. Come See My Dead Person is a nine-membered band with no genre affiliation. They play folk, rock, bluegrass, Irish jigs, blues, country and whatever else they can conjure with a few plucks of a few dozen strings. In short: whatever comes out and sounds like a party.

"We never set out to write songs in a certain style. We just want it to be fun. We want everyone to have a good time, listen to some music, and dance," offers drummer Sean Martinez.

It is this rejection of structure and boundary that allowed the band to grow to nine people. The band tells the story of member Brian Green, who saw CSMDP at a show and wanted to be in the band. As a joke, they told him to go get a banjo.

"He showed up the next day with a banjo and I was like, 'oh shit, this dude just went and bought a banjo,'" Mike Mejia says. "'Now I have to let him in the band.' He's been playing two years now and he blows me away."

Matt Mejia says there's a method to that madness.

"It has changed the way we write music. When you don't know how to play an instrument, or the way you're supposed to play it, you freestyle it."

While this sounds like a jam-band approach, the music Come See My Dead Person creates isn't anything like the rambling fields of jam band territory. Rat Song is as gypsy and as grounded on earth (as opposed to some peaceful jam in the sky) as the swirling insanity of Gogol Bordello. Sunday Morning Dreaded Day is dirty blues vocals set to the beautiful twirls of the only classically trained musician in the band, violinist Dave Thomas. For a bunch of people without formal training, this is technically proficient, interesting stuff that elevates party music, much in the way the Sideshow Tramps has done, but with a more growling, guttural take.

The band claims Galveston as its home, with Gravity Bar on the Strand its home base until Hurricane Ike.

"We could play there and draw 500 people a night. Then Ike came and destroyed all of that. Ike pushed us out here, where we're still trying to find our footing," Mike Mejia says.

CSMDP has taken strides in that direction, sharing bills with Spain Colored Orange, Two Star Symphony and B L A C K I E. And if that tactic doesn't work, the band is giving away its EP at shows.

"We encourage people to torrent this disc, give the songs to their friends," Martinez says. "If you can sell this CD and make money at it, let us know how to do it. T-shirts are $10, but the music is free." - www.29-95.com