The Audio Perv

Mariachi El Bronx (II) – the second full-length studio album from Mariachi El Bronx, the alter ego of acclaimed Los Angeles-based punk outfit The Bronx – was released today by White Drugs/ATO Records. The band will make its network television debut on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tomorrow, performing the album’s first single “48 Roses.” For a limited time, fans can get a free download of “48 Roses.”

The band’s in-store performance at Amoeba Records in Hollywood will be streamed live at 6 p.m. today. Tonight and tomorrow night, August 2 and 3, they’ll perform at record release parties at La Cita in downtown Los Angeles. The band will then embark on a series of European dates – including five shows with Gogol Bordello and appearances at the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK. Mariachi El Bronx will be joining Foo Fighters on the road this fall. The North American tour kicks off on September 14 and includes two nights at The Forum in Los Angeles (October 13 & 14). The band will also play the Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 18. (See below for itinerary.)

“Mariachi El Bronx (II) triumphs because not only does it treat the West Mexican musical idiom with respect, it raises the bar for future directions and possibilities,” said Alternative Press in a four-star review. “It’s a lively, and surprisingly kitsch-free, take on music that’s steeped in tradition,” noted NPR’s “All Things Considered” in a review of Mariachi El Bronx (II). “There’s really only one way to play mariachi, even if you’re a punk rocker — you have to mean it, right down to the last neatly chopped acoustic-guitar chord….On II, inside the tales of lost love and other tragedies, there’s plenty of tradition balanced by shots of pure joy and irreverence.” “On ‘48 Roses,’ Mariachi El Bronx shows they did their homework with an upbeat tune filled with tasty string runs and just the right dose of melodrama,” observed WNYC.org.

Mariachi El Bronx – comprising Matt Caughthran (vocals), Joby J. Ford (vihuela), Jorma Vik (drums), Brad Magers (trumpet), Ken Mochikoshi Horne (jarana), Vincent Hidalgo (guitarrón) and Ray Suen (violin) – was conceived in 2006, after The Bronx was asked to perform unplugged on Fuel TV. They did so as a mariachi band and discovered what they describe as “a second soul within.” Touring the world as The Bronx, they simultaneously began writing songs for Mariachi El Bronx, which was released in 2009. Both their debut album and II were co-produced by the band with former Oingo Boingo member John Avila.

Tour Dates:

Mariachi El Bronx
8/2 – Los Angeles, CA – La Cita
8/3 – Los Angeles, CA – La Cita
8/9 – Nurnberg, GER – Hirsch with Gogol Bordello
8/10 – Luxembourg – Den Atelier with Gogol Bordello
8/14 – Budapest, HU – Sziget Festival with Gogol Bordello
8/15 – Wien, AUT – Arena Open Air with Gogol Bordello
8/17 – Jena, GER – Kultur Arena Festival with Gogol Bordello
8/18 – Gampel, GER – Open Air Gampel Festival
8/19 – Biddinghuizen, NL – Lowlands
8/26 – Glasgow, UK – Rock & Roll Damnation with The Bronx
8/27 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
8/28 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
9/18 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival

Tour with Foo Fighters and Rise Against
9/14 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9/16 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
9/17 – St. Louis, MO – Scottrade Center
9/19 – Auburn Hills, MI – Palace of Auburn Hills
9/20 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
9/22 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
9/23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center
9/25 – Buffalo, NY – HSBC Arena
9/26 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center

Tour with Foo Fighters and Cage the Elephant
10/9 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Arena
10/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center
10/13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
10/14 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
10/16 – Phoenix, AZ – U.S. Airways Center
10/17 – San Diego, CA – Valley View Casino Center
10/19 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
10/20 – Sacramento, CA – Power Balance Pavilion
10/25 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
10/27 – Calgary, AB – Scociabank Saddledome
10/28 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

The Bronx
8/7 – Lympne, UK – Hevy Festival
8/8 – Kingston, UK – The Peel
8/20 – Ludinghausen, GER – Area 4 Festival
8/21 – Grosspona, GER – Highfield
8/23 – Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje with OFF!
8/24 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg with OFF!
8/26 – Glasgow, UK – Rock & Roll Damnation with Mariachi El Bronx
8/27 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
8/28 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival

More On Mariachi El Bronx:
Official Site
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