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MARIA
Story: Monica Cady
Maria frontman Mike Roderick loves film. He is remarkably well
versed in cinema history and gets incredibly enthusiastic when
discussing his favorite flicks. He and I have made this appointment
to discuss his band Maria. But our conversation is otherwise
dominated by big screen talk – something I soon learn
goes hand-in-hand with the group’s music. When asked about
his top directors, Roderick chuckles, saying there isn’t enough
time to name them all. But the short list includes Stanley Kubrick,
Fritz Lang, Abel Ferrara and Ed Wood.
Movies are such a passion of his band mates and him that they
even named their group Maria, based on the lead actress from
Metropolis (a 1926 silent sci-fi film). “We were very influenced by
the film because it was extremely ahead of its time on many
levels. It was the first film to use mapped photography (large
painted backgrounds) and at the same time use miniatures,”
Roderick continues. “Another unique aspect of Metropolis is
that a female is featured in a dual role. It was a very powerful
statement and [the movie] was about free thinking and freedom
to do what you want to do.”
When he finally takes a breath from the flick speak, it’s fitting to
ask - why aren’t these guys trying their luck with the Hollywood
big screen? “Sometimes what you love may not necessarily be
what you’re good at, or meant to do,” he explains. “I know it
sounds a bit odd to say that. But you probably know someone
who is doing something, but is actually really good at something
else and they aren’t doing it. That’s not necessarily good because
maybe there is something they are meant to do that would
benefit the world.”
He sighs and describes how this message was not easy to
digest, but he and best friend Paul Molina found music to be
another suitable, fun outlet. “We were a cover band first. [We’d
play] at high school parties, pep rallies. We learned about arrangements
from doing covers. One day we just decided, let’s
try this.”
Roderick is joined by fellow Maria members Molina (guitar), Brett
Cosmo Thorngren (drums) and Dameon Holmquist (bass).
Formed in 1998, the band has achieved an impressive résumé,
including performances at the Orange Bowl and ZetaFest, as
well as Roderick being named “Best Male Local Rock Vocalist”
by Miami NewTimes – proving that perhaps music is exactly
what Maria should be doing. In addition, the foursome recently
joined with Los Angeles-based Union Entertainment Group
24 • RAG MAGAZINE • APRIL 2004