On Tuesday June 28th, Brooklyn Bowl hosted a special concert promoted by Sailor Jerry rum. It was a strange bill, each act perfectly compatible with the image of the Sailor Jerry brand, but having very little in common with one another.
The Two Man Gentleman Band opened the show. Their snappy little set consisted of tunes about love and controlled substances and deceased presidents, all delivered in a rooty-tooting jazz style. The music was catchy and finger-snapping, the performance stylish and whimsical, and the crowd was greatly entertained… A pleasant way to begin the evening of music.
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers hit the stage next, and they nearly tore the room apart with their set of no-nonsense honky-tonk thrash. Frontman J.D. Wilkes strode the stage like a man possessed, crooning and screaming and sneering while the band cooked away behind him. Harmonica and banjo and screaming guitar filled the air, a gothic twang amplified to an unholy degree. It was a charismatic and unhinged performance, a transmission from a world of electrified tobacco farms and rockabilly swamp zombies, a set that had the entire room on the edge of their figurative seats.
After a pause to reset the stage, the final set of the evening began. The Bronx are a rock band from Los Angeles, renowned for their their hardcore punk stylings and energetic live performances… But unbeknownst to many, they also lead a second career as this evening’s headlining act: Mariachi El Bronx. Their debut album in this guise is one of my favorite records of the past few years, brilliantly melding three-minute Brill Building pop with traditional Mexican arrangements. I was excited to see them perform, but a bit skeptical of how well they could present their material in a live “rock show” setting.
Fortunately, I need not have worried. From the moment they appeared onstage in matching embroidered suits, El Bronx shone. Songs of friendship and hardship and lost love burst forth, tugging at the heartstrings with horn flourishes and violin lines, vocals floating between the rapid strumming of vihueala and guitar and guitarron. Soaring ballads and storming percussive numbers held equal sway, the melodies and rhythms holding the audience rapt, momentarily transforming the Brooklyn venue to a far-away land of sunshine and romance. It somehow made perfect sense, the mix of pop melody and latin arrangement reminding me of how much chicano influence is woven into rock and roll. And when the last note faded and the crowd roared approval, I was thrilled to realize that, side project or full-time endeavor, Mariachi El Bronx are the real deal.
And thus, the rumtastically sponsored show drew to a close. A fine evening of music, three bands that I enjoyed greatly, a fantastic mish-mash of styles and sensibilities.
[portfolio_slideshow]
Photos © 2011 Marnie Ann Joyce. Additional photos from this event can be seen here.