Known for their style of hardcore punk, mariachi is definitely an unexpected direction for The Bronx. And before you ask – no, Mariachi El Bronx isn’t a novelty album and yes, they really do tour as a mariachi band, the giant guitar, glittery costumes and all.
But you won’t be seeing them at a Mexican restaurant near you. The Bronx and El Bronx will embark on a national – œChampions’ tour this September, while the Bronx headline Coaster Festival in Gosford.
The Bronx’s lead singer Matt Caughthran confirms that going from punk to mariachi “makes absolutely no sense at all! But that’s been our MO from the beginning; it’s just a weird right turn that we took that just felt really good after we did it.”
And it’s hard not to feel really good when you listen to the album. Mariachi by nature is happy and Matt’s vocals carry an infectious charisma. He describes the music as “a definite celebration. It’s a great time live, it’s a great time on record, it’s a great party record, a great surfing record, a great relaxing record. It’s easy. You don’t have to do too much thinking at all…if it feels good go with it.”
I asked him what the live reaction has been like where mariachi isn’t a part of the culture. “We played London recently and I expected them not to get it at all. It’s London, you know what I mean? It’s London and it’s mariachi music, which just shouldn’t go together at all, but they went fucking nuts! We played and they just went berserk and that just gave me a lotta hope for playing it in places that aren’t accustomed to mariachi music.”
However, Matt accepts that not everyone will be as excited as he is. “I’m sure there will diehard punk dudes who just want to get nuts. There’s nothing wrong with that, I’m cool with that. If anything, if they can get behind the idea of the whole thing, then that’s the punkest thing any band’s done in quite some time.”
Matt talks a lot of being surrounded by the mariachi culture in LA, but not many other places in the world have any exposure beyond cheesy movies and TV gags. “When you get into the music and the culture there’s a definite real thing there,” he muses. “It’s not all a – œThree Amigos’ thing. There’s definitely a reality to it and if we can shed some light on that then it’d be cool.”
To complete the transformation to a mariachi, The Bronx has even brought out their own cologne – Barrio Sweat. I described a scenario to Matt: The bar is busy, I’m waiting for my friends, I sit down next to a guy at the bar wearing Barrio Sweat. There’s silence on the phone, then a voice whispers, “Your mind would go blank. Any thoughts would be replaced with some sort of extreme sexual excitement. And you wouldn’t be able to talk – œcos you can’t really talk when you get around that stuff. It’s a completely engulfing feeling – surrounding yourself with passion…”
After a deep breath and a drink of water, Matt explains why their Australian visit is under the banner of – œThe Champions Tour’. “Ya know, cos we’re champions,” he laughs. And does he think they’ve raised the bar for other punk bands who are thinking of putting out an acoustic album? “Goddamn right we raised the bar! That’s what champions do!”
The Bronx plays Coaster Festival and sideshows in September. Sideshow tickets are on sale through FasterLouder.
Wednesday 9 – Brisbane, The Hi-Fi
Thursday 10 – Sydney, The Metro
Saturday 12 – Coaster Festival, Gosford Showgrounds
Sunday 13 – Melbourne, Billboard The Venue
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