Mariachi El Bronx

Mariachi El Bronx started in Los Angeles in the early 2000s as a side project for members of the punk band The Bronx. They took the traditional mariachi sound, trumpets, violins, guitarrón, and played it with punk energy. Their self-titled debut came out in 2006, and they followed it with albums like 'II' in 2009 and 'III' in 2014.

Songs like '48 Roses' and 'Holy' show how they handle both the romantic and darker sides of the mariachi tradition. The lineup has stayed pretty steady with Matt Caughthran on vocals, Jorge Herrera on trumpet, Mike Kennedy on bass, and James Cruz on drums. They don't really sound like anyone else, which has drawn both fans and some skepticism from purists.

They put out another album called '48 Roses' in 2018. The band has mostly stuck to playing live and recording when they can, keeping the project separate from their main punk work. It's less about fusing cultures in a grand way and more about four musicians playing mariachi music the way they want to hear it.