The Bronx @ Cafe Campus

April 13 2010 // Magazine // Concert Reviews
You know what's kind of shitty?  When people get to dismiss something because it's not "good enough" for a genre. How many times have I heard people say "Well, that band's not metal. Remember that one slow song they released?" Or "That's not indie rock enough because other people like it."  Punk music is the worst for this kind of jugment. "Oh, you like Green Day?  They're not punk because they write songs that have more than three chords.  And Rise Against aren't punk either because they have melody, and everyone knows that punk can't have that." Well, I say that at this point, doing one or two non-punk things is more punk than trying to make a note-for-note copy of a Subhumans or Operation Ivy album.  I think a one-off slow song, thus not conforming to the genre's standards, is the most punk you can get, and with this being the case, The Bronx have just gone as punk as they could be, or as the kids might say, "Punk as fuck!"

Now, I know there's some contention as to whether The Bronx are actually a punk band or if they're straight hardcore or if they're just some kind of rock group.  Regardless, they have just released a new album and it is decisively different than any of the others they have put out up until now.  What's so different?  It's a mariachi album.  I will repeat that, because it bears repeating.  The Bronx, a punk/hardcore band, released an album containing ENTIRELY mariachi music.  I don't know about you, but to me, that's too awesome to describe. 

So, when I heard that they were going on the road with this, I was so excited that I nearly peed myself... that's too much sharing isn't it?  Moving on...

The show was at Cafe Campus, so I knew that I'd get to see them in a small venue too, which made me even more excited.  As I got ready to leave on Tuesday, I checked the website for the venue to make sure I'd be there at the right time, and the site informed me that "doors were at 7PM", and that "show starts at 8".  Knowing how late things seem to start in Montreal, I didn't want to get there too early and have to sit around for a while twiddling my thumbs as I waited for a band to go onstage.

So, I showed up at the 7:50, fully ready to see every band perform. As it turns out though, when it was said, "Doors at 7.  Show starts at 8," that means, "Show starts before 8, and you had better be able to read minds to know that".  Apparently the band that played was called Dead Country, and I would love to give you a full review of them, but I can't. Maybe I'll get to see them again sometime, possibly when the show doesn't start before the show start time.  I did get there in time to see Mariachi El Bronx, which I would have been super pissed if I would have missed, but since I didn't, no rampage was necessary.

And so it was that I saw seven men walk up on stage in full mariachi gear, and immediately began to do the same thing I did when I heard that The Bronx had released a mariachi album: laugh. I mean, come on, the whole thing is funny.  Sure it's well done, and original, but man is it funny.  To think that a punk/hardcore/whatever you want to refer to them band releases a mariachi album, and are now going to tour at very least North America in full mariachi gear... that's funny, no way around it. 

After the laughter stopped, I was surprised as to how good the mix was.  I think I can say that it was the best mix I've ever heard at a concert, and this was no easy feat.  I've done some mixing before, and when you have a trumpet on the same stage as a violin, it can easily become a... I believe the term is "clusterfuck", but this was not like that.  There was seven guys all mixed so well together that I could discern each one of them as they played.  I will say that I wish every song didn't begin with the lead singer saying, "...and it goes something like this."

After they left the stage a three piece band called Violent Soho from Brisbane, Australia came on.  At first, I thought they seemed kind of punk-esque in that spastic Blood Brothers kind of way that’s sort of obnoxious but its okay because its meant to be... or something. As they continued though, it seemed less punk and more of something I haven't heard in a long time: grunge. And, after looking at the long hair, the "I don't give a fuck about anything" demeanours, I realized... "Oh dear Lord, the only thing missing is flannel shirts".  Still, it was pretty rocking – so if this is the next wave of grunge, which, the way music cycles back every twenty years or so, we're a bit overdue for, then I suppose it could be worse.

Then The Bronx came back on as... well The Bronx and proceeded to rock all of our faces off.  I was amazed at how the lead singer is able to get such inflection on a scream. There's something about the tone of his voice that is pretty amazing on record and even better to see live. The band was as high energy as it can get, and really managed to draw everyone into the show. They also requested that the bar provide them with a shot known as a "Juicy Pussy", and all of them as a collective unit did them onstage.  Thanks to a dance party happening at the venue directly after there was no encore, but I was satisfied with their set, even if it was a bit short.

In conclusion, it's nice to see a band actually take a chance and branch out into a realm that they're uncomfortable in.  Furthermore, it's even better when the band actually kicks ass while doing it, so anyone that thinks The Bronx isn't "punk enough" now that they've put out a mariachi album, here's what I have to say: "Maybe The Bronx don't want to be punk, and with fans like you, I can see why."