Alicia Wagner Calzada | 210SA Contributor

THEY ARE: Fin del Mar

THE MEMBERS: Rob Lucio (guitar); Jose Carrillo (guitar); Robert Cevallos (keyboard); John Cortez (bass); Johnny Hernandez (drums)

THEIR SOUND: Instrumental indie rock. Carrillo calls it “moody” and “soundtrack-ish.” Hernandez said, “It can be melodic at times, and chaotic at other times, and sometimes simple.”

THEIR ALBUMS: Rising and Crashing (2006)

THEIR STORY: Hernandez and Carrillo first got together on New Year's Day 2003; the current lineup has been in place for about a year and a half. The guys come from diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from jazz to folk to indie rock to metal.

Carrillo said the band's music comes from an organic creative process: “Whoever gets there first and picks up the instrument first starts playing, and the next person joins in. No one's judgmental of anyone else. We let it happen,” he said. “I enjoy the process of it, just seeing what the hell we're going to do.”

Although Fin del Mar didn't originally intend to make purely instrumental music — and they're toying with the idea of performing with guest vocalists from other San Antonio bands — it has made them stand out in the local music scene.

“It's good to provoke thoughts and moods. It's a full, ambient sound,” Hernandez said. “I've had people tell me they could come up with a story line in their heads or poetry (to the music). They've said they love cleaning the house to it or painting.”

THEIR WEB SITE: myspace.com/findelmar

WHERE TO SEE THEM: At Limelight on April 12 with Hyperbubble, Jason Trevino and DJ Lenyrd Spinyrd for the Rape Crisis Center's Sexual Assault Awareness Night.

THE 210 TAKE: Lyrics, shmyrics. This group of San Antonio natives proves you don't need a lead singer to make kick-ass rock. Standout tracks: the majestic “Chord on Chord Action” and the pensive “If I Could Drive to Japan.” Download those and “Letterbox Epic” at purevolume.com/findelmar.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA contributor