Even as a die hard Bronx fan I’ve never quite managed to catch their much-lauded Mariachi set but have heard amazing things about it and judging by the demand for tickets on this Monday night show following Glastonbury, I’m unlikely to be disappointed.
The opener for tonight’s extravaganza is the oddly named Hyperpotamus from Spain. Intriguingly a circle of 5 microphones at head height are set in the middle of the stage and Mr Potamus enters and stands in the middle of them. All I can say is this, “How the heck is he doing that?!” He sings bass lines and layered harmonies into some sort of sampler and then sings over it. The effect is astonishing, rather beautiful and the songs are pretty decent too. Take a look at the man in action on www.myspace.com/hyperpotamus
Next on are Little Death, (another expression for an orgasm according to LB), who are okay but perhaps suffering from the heat in the room not allowing the crowd to go for it. Mostly I think they’re a band in the way of the main event, so to speak and I wont judge them on this occasion. Definitely worth another look.
So to the main event. I think music should be about having a great time, jumping around and generally getting off on the mood set by the band, be it Cock Rock, dark moody introverted indie or big gay hi-energy pop, I don’t care as long as it’s the best of its kind. Mariachi El Bronx might well be the best of all of these things rolled into one bizarre and beautiful ball of effortless jolliness.
Great anthemic songs, delivered in an authentic Mariachi style complete with outfits and instruments and the kind of smiles that guarantee a top night out. The band themselves are enjoying it more than us (if that’s possible) and tonight they have a guest bassist, Drew McConnell of BabyShambles, to whom frontman Matt dedicates a tune relating to the consumption of drugs, big surprise!
Bottom line? If you don’t go and see them you’re a daft sod or a misery guts.
Words by Wayne Capri
