Ay Caramba! The Bronx – L.A.’s loudest, rowdiest, angriest, most rocking band has headed south of the border down Mexico way for their latest incarnation as Mariachi El Bronx. Yep, they ditched the warm pints of cider for bottles of Mezcal and swapped their mohawks for sombreros, albeit temporarily as The Bronx still tour alongside their new outfit.
As far as changes of direction go Mariachi El Bronx is not as unusual as it might at first appear when one takes into account the huge influence that Mexico has over L.A. and the cross pollination between the two cultures over the years. What could run the risk of being gimmicky and jarring is quite the opposite due to the band’s obvious respect for the music and culture that inspired it.
Listening to this record it is plain to hear that the band are enjoying playing the music and it rollicks along with all the care free spirit of a Speedy Gonzales cartoon. On first listen ‘El Bronx’ seems little more than an oddity, a pastiche, aping Mexican folk songs for the sake of a quirky musical side project. However, very quickly it becomes apparent that this is so much more besides. The songs are not tongue in cheek, there is no irony or the merest hint of a smirk. The songs are impassioned, the instrumentation is stirring, there is real heart and soul here and it comes across in spades.
