It was 8.15pm and I had never seen the Metro Theatre so packed for a support band before. Of course, this was no ordinary support - it was Mariachi El Bronx, the headlining band in traditional mariachi garb. Someone who had never seen this configuration might think, "Sombreros and fake moustaches? Is it a joke?"
But that's where you'd be wrong, amigo. A quick glance as the band came on stage revealed no sombreros and only one moustache (and from what I could tell, it was authentic.) After they began playing it became perfectly clear that Mariachi el Bronx is the real deal. Armed with guitarron, trumpet and guiro, they weren't just wearing the charro costumes - they were mariachis. It was impossible not to smile listening to songs such as 'Clown Powder', 'Slave Labor' and 'My Brother the Gun' (mi hermano!) because you could tell they were enjoying themselves too.
The crowd were impatient and rowdy, hungry for The Bronx like a pack of ravenous wolves. (This is not an overstatement - the audience started a circle pit before the band even came out). There was a chant of "Bronx! Bronx! Bronx!" until at last the curtains opened and the main event began. Everything about Mariachi El Bronx had been so refined - watching them return to full force as The Bronx-proper was like they'd never donned the red bow ties.
Singer Matt Caughthran grabbed the microphone and declared, "I feel like a wild f**king animal!" and the crowd roared its appreciation in response. The Bronx tore through a set of all of their hits including, 'Heart Attack American', 'I Got Chills', 'White Tar', 'Los Angeles', 'Sh*tty Future' and 'Young Bloods'. Caughthran never stopped moving, throwing himself around the stage like a man possessed. About 50 gig-goers crowd-surfed at various points of the show and Caughthran briefly serenaded each one before they were dragged out by security. Still, the rawness and honesty of the lyrics and music was not unlike the honesty found in the mariachi music. Perhaps punk rock and mariachi have more in common than we'd imagined.
Bella Crea
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