“How’re you motherfuckers doing tonight?” Matt Caughthran’s opening words are not exactly the welcome you’d expect from a mariachi band, but then Mariachi El Bronx are not quite your typical mariachi act.

Schizophrenic in their musical output, Mariachi El Bronx is the four-year strong endeavour of punk quintet The Bronx. Comprised of a nine-piece band – made up of trumpets, accordion, charango, gritos, drums and a viola – all members’ trademark tattoos are covered and swapped for full-on traditional costumes. Beginning with ‘48 Roses’, Caughthran dedicates the song to Craig David. And the banter continues throughout: ‘Matador’ is dedicated to “all the sex shops,” then ‘Great Provider’ is played in honour of “Big Ben… and Chevy Chase,” much to the audience’s delight. Both albums’ material is equally represented, yet the best crowd reactions are saved for the immensely brass laden ‘Slave Labour’, ‘My Brother The Gun’ where group vocals are employed to supreme effect, the evident instrumental skills of ‘Cell Mates’ and ‘Silver Or Lead’, where Tim Kasher of Cursive joins the band on stage.

Returning for an encore with the rarely played ‘Fallen’, Caughthran prolongs the song’s ending, revelling in the applause. This is a front man who knows exactly how to fire up his rapturous crowd: “This is dedicated to all the punk rockers out there,” he yells as they start their final song ‘Quinceniera’, rather aptly considering the band are set to continue their night across London as The Bronx. This initial performance is sold out, and the elated crowd are clearly here for both shows, proving that four years down the line, Mariachi El Bronx is certainly no hoax.

Heather Steele