Nobody Rocks Mariachi Quite Like The Bronx

In order to make the perfect record, bands have been known to make deals with the devil, snort enough white drugs to make an elephant levitate and engage in all sorts of ludicrous ritualistic behavior. The Bronx decided to make a mariachi record instead, while simultaneously recording The Bronx III, which we had the common sense to call the best album of the year in 2008.

One of the record’s best tracks is Quinceniera (listen below), a snappy tune with a hip-shaking Latin rhythm that’s spicier than Salma Hayek (well, maybe not quite). “The dead can dance if they want romance,” frontman Matt Caughthran sings.

Their musical alter-ego, Mariachi El Bronx – in full, authentic Mexican regalia, employ an assortment of traditional acoustic instruments and horns to play original mariachi jams with English lyrics – and they’re good. I had the good fortune of catching their opening set for the Hold Steady last week at the Troubadour, and what I thought would come off as a ridiculous joke immediately won over the raucous approval of everyone in attendance – and rightfully so; the performance was a swaggering, shit-grinning love affair, mostly between singer Matt Caughthran and the audience.

Their debut album, naturally titled Mariachi El Bronx, will see daylight on August 25. We got our hands on Quinceniera, the first track from the record. Check it out:

In an interview we did with lead guitarist/songwriter Joby Ford last year, he explained what the band was thinking:

“You’re at one end of the spectrum creatively, and then you flip to the complete opposite. I think it was really healthy to do both at once, cause we never got burnt out on one or the other.”

The band had a little help in adapting their hardcore/punk style to a mariachi flavor as well. “It was interesting cause we added a member to play the guitarro, and he’s the only Mexican guy in the band,” said Ford, referring to Vincent Hidalgo, son of Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo. “So it’s like… Have you ever heard white guys play funk? They’re trying to interpret something that just doesn’t work for them. We’ve been just trying to find our way within this mariachi thing, you know? We didn’t want to sing it in Spanish… It’s just like… we’re white. It’s about making the music your own, rather than trying to make it something that it’s not. So it was a hell of an interesting journey.”