VIVA MARIACHI EL BRONX!
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 10:37am by Vince Neilstein
Way back in December on the eve of the brand new Bronx record Bronx III, frontman Matt Caughthran told me in an interview about a mariachi record the band had recorded concurrently with Bronx III. At SXSW this past March, Kip and I witnessed a very special Mariachi El Bronx performance in which the band performed a full mariachi set in full mariachi garb, and it was nothing short of spectacular. And finally 5 months later we get to hear said mariachi record (listen on MySpace), which came out yesterday. Reports Noisecreep:
The idea to release an entire album’s worth of authentic mariachi music came to the Bronx following an on-air appearance they did for Fuel TV. “It was kind of an acoustic thing,” says Caughthran. “The treatment for rock bands doing acoustic music is so horrible, and so generic. And it was something that we really wanted to stray away from. So we got some friends involved and did a mariachi version of ‘Dirty Leaves.’ And when we did that — the transformation, creatively — it was super inspiring, and it was something that we wanted to explore further.”
Guitarist Joby Ford and Caughthran began working on mariachi tunes, coming up with melodies and lyrics. “Before you knew it, we had three or four songs in one day. It happened real organically, and it started taking off and snowballing, and we kind of just went from there.”
The Bronx had to do some research on mariachi music before recording the tracks, the singer says. “We had a basic knowledge and an inspiration there for the music ourselves, but for the first time in our creative lifestyles, there were actual rules,” explains Caughthran. “There’s no rules in punk music. You just plug in and make as much noise as you can. In mariachi music, there’s definite rules … there are rhythms you have to obey and things you have to do right, or else you can’t call it mariachi, and you’ll just look like an a–hole.”
I actually haven’t heard the record yet but I’m beyond psyched for it. The SXSW Mariachi El Bronx performance was a truly special experience — there was an energy between the band and the crowd, a mutual excitement, that you just don’t see at many shows. Above and beyond the WTF factor of a punk band performing mariachi music, the tunes and execution were both fantastic — you could tell The Bronx really worked hard to get it right, and get it right they did. Mariachi El Bronx is available for order for only $12, or as part of a bundle with the band’s own “Barrio Sweat” cologne for $29 — seriously. Someone needs to order the cologne and tell us what it’s like, just because.
-VN
Are you serious??? The ‘nads, man. I’m all over this…
i have heard this album and i must say….it’s…unique. if you block out the fact that your’e listening to a punk band that writes songs about coke, meth, and booze and pretend it’s genuine mariachi then it’s pretty awesome…still very weird though
i met Matt in hoboken one hell of a guy great show they did at Maxwell’s
As a Mexican myself…. I gotta say that this record is now at the top of ” gotta check this one out ” list..
So far, this sounds awesome……….
VIVA MEXICO CABRONES !!!!
I’m a huge fan of mariachi. I may have to check this one out. I’m not a fan of punk though.
This record is actually really, really good. The Bronx is one of the best bands out there.
I’d rather listen to the dudes playing in the subway cars. And tip them $1.
grotesquely overrated band…
Really? How exactly overrated? Have the platinum record sales and unbelievable mainstream media hype gone to their heads? Overrated because they are selling out arenas and are signed to not one but two major labels? Or did you mean the small, independent mags, sites and fans that find them to be a breath of fresh air for making four organic and original albums that stand truly separate from each other yet each represent a facet of their collective personality?
I’m not throwing stones here, it’s just that maybe you are not a fan of their style(s) of music, which would disqualify you to label them overrated…
bravo….
more comments displaying this restrain and intelligence would confirm that this site is the thinking man’s blabbermouth.net, as the creators wish it to be
This is some seriously beautiful music.
Gracias
They “opened” for the real Bronx at a show in London back in May … I have now seen them twice in London this year, and the crowds seem so much more into them their than in the States.
they just played london again on saturday apparently. couldn’t go as i was at the severn bore, but if i’d been able to go that would’ve been 3 times i’d seen them in london since march. fucking awesome!
but, for some reason i can’t get into this marachi el bronx. i was fairly disappointed by what i heard when they did that opening set for themselves in May, and hearing the record confirms it. it’s weird as i have quite varied tastes and fucking love the 3 bronx records…. maybe time will help….
Can I called it MariJuana Punk music? give a joint a go home piss of shit
I’ve been listening the fuck out of The Bronx III lately, and listened to the mariachi album yesterday – it’s fucking awesome. Completely different from The Bronx’ regular music, but soo damn good.