LIVE REVIEW: Mariachi El Bronx + Tijuana Panthers + Pounded By The Surf @ El Rey Theatre, LA 11/5/14
A few months ago FYF Fest announced the triumphant return of Los Angeles’ Mariachi El Bronx. Little did enthusiastic fans know, they’d be blessed with even more shows sprinkled throughout the remainder of the year. And the icing on the cake, a new album of all new material, Mariachi El Bronx (III), released November 4th. As a side project of The Bronx, the original lineup of Matt Caughthran, Joby J. Ford, Jorma Vik, Ken Mochikoshi-Horne, and Brad Magers are accompanied by Vince Hidalgo, Keith Douglas, Rebecca Schlappich to round out the mariachi lineup. New songs like “Great Provider”, “Wildfires”, and “48 Roses” filled the El Rey with a festive vibe as fans danced in the aisles.
Long Beach’s own Tijuana Panthers drew their own faithful crowd and in the process won over many fans there for the headliners. With the material from their latest album Wayne Interest, the Panthers have gone a bit darker than their surf rock beginnings. With richer bass lines and chugging drums akin to Joy Division, the threesome still manage to keep things upbeat with those early surf undercurrents.
Opening act Pounded By The Surf featured familiar faces Joby J. Ford and Brad Magers. Their surfy instrumentals could easily soundtrack a film about a beach bound gunslinger.
