The Bronx (band)

The Bronx
The Bronx performing on the Warped Tour in Chula Vista, California on August 14, 2008. Left to right: Joby J. Ford, Matt Caughthran, Jorma Vik, Brad Magers, and Ken Horne.
Background information
Also known as	Mariachi El Bronx
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Hardcore punk, hard rock, mariachi
Years active	2002–current
Labels	Island/Def Jam, White Drugs
Associated acts	The Drips, Sunday's Best
Website	www.thebronxxx.com
Members
Matt Caughthran Joby J. Ford Jorma Vik Ken Horne Brad Magers
Past members
James Tweedy

The Bronx is an American hardcore punk band from Los Angeles formed in 2002. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Matt Caughthran, guitarists Joby J. Ford and Ken Horne, bass guitarist Brad Magers, and drummer Jorma Vik. They have released three eponymous rock albums, and two additional albums of mariachi music under the alter ego Mariachi El Bronx.

History

The Bronx formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. The initial lineup of the band consisted of singer Matt Caughthran, guitarist Joby J. Ford, bassist James Tweedy, and drummer Jorma Vik.^[1] At their first performance they impressed Jonathan Daniel, manager of American Hi-Fi, who became their manager, and as early as their second show had attracted the attention of A&R representatives from major record labels.^[1] After only twelve live performances the band signed a contract with the Island Def Jam Music Group.^[1] However, feeling as though they were not yet ready to record for a major label, the band opted to form their own label White Drugs to put out their first few releases.^[1] They recorded a demo entitled Sure Death in 2002, followed by their first single "Bats!" in 2003. Their debut album The Bronx was released in August 2003, followed by the EP La Muerte Viva that November. To support the album, singles and music videos were released for the songs "They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy)" and "False Alarm". The band toured the United States and Australia in support of the album.

The Bronx's major-label debut was The Bronx (2006), a second eponymous album that was supported by singles and music videos for "History's Stranglers", "White Guilt" and "Shitty Future". Ken Horne of The Dragons played some guitar parts on the album and soon joined the band as second guitarist.

In April 2007 the band announced that they would record two new albums, which like their first two albums would both be eponymously titled. The Bronx was planned as a punk rock album, while El Bronx would be a mariachi album.^[2] They entered a recording studio in March 2008 to begin work on both albums, with Brad Magers (formerly of Christiansen and Your Highness Electric) replacing Tweedy on bass guitar, and Vincent Hidalgo (formerly of The Drips) also joining the group.^[3] That June they posted the new song "Knifeman", from The Bronx, on their Myspace profile,^[4] followed by the premier of "PR Rules" from El Bronx.^[5] During summer 2008, The Bronx played the entirety of the Warped Tour.^[6] They also appeared in the film What We Do Is Secret as Black Flag, performing the Black Flag song "Police Story".^[7] Beginning with preparations for the release of El Bronx, the band has performed as "Mariachi El Bronx" when playing their mariachi set and as "The Bronx" for rock sets.^[7] The Bronx was released on November 11, 2008,^[8] with El Bronx following on August 17, 2009. The band toured North America, followed by a festival performance in the United Kingdom. A second album of mariachi music, Mariachi El Bronx, was released in August 2011.

Several members of the band also appear on the debut EP by Armistice, a Canadian indie pop band consisting of Coeur de pirate and Jay Malinowski.^[9]

Band members

The Bronx lineups

2002–2008 La Muerte Viva The Bronx (2003) The Bronx (2006)	Matt Caughthran - vocals Joby J. Ford - guitar James Tweedy - bass guitar Jorma Vik - drums
2008–present The Bronx (2008) Mariachi El Bronx (2009) Mariachi El Bronx (2011)	Matt Caughthran - vocals Joby J. Ford - guitar Ken Horne - guitar Brad Magers - bass guitar Jorma Vik - drums

Current members

• Matt Caughthran - vocals (2002–present)
• Joby J. Ford - guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
• Jorma Vik - drums (2002–present)
• Ken Horne - guitar, backing vocals (2006–present)
• Brad Magers - bass guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)

Past members

• James Tweedy - bass guitar, backing vocals (2002–2007)

Discography

Main article: The Bronx discography

Albums

• The Bronx (2003)
• The Bronx (2006)
• The Bronx (2008)
• Mariachi El Bronx (2009)
• Mariachi El Bronx (2011)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Steininger, Alex (September–October 2003). "Interview: The Bronx". In Music We Trust. http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/62h02.html. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
2. ^ "The Bronx: News". thebronxxx.com. 2007-04-05. http://www.thebronxxx.com/. Retrieved 2008-10-01. "We have begun working on 2 albums worth of material. We will be making 2 different records this time... (and yet both will still be self titled). Record #1 will be mariachi music (El Bronx). Record #2 will be dead punk (The Bronx) Both go well with hot sauce, but yet each has a different bouquet. We are aiming for an end of summer release date. Nasty!" 
3. ^ "The Bronx: News". thebronxxx.com. 2008-03-13. http://www.thebronxxx.com/. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
4. ^ "Media: The Bronx: "Knifeman"". punknews.org. 2008-06-23. http://www.punknews.org/article/29391. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
5. ^ "The Bronx: "PR Rules"". punknews.org. 2008-06-23. http://www.punknews.org/article/29391. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
6. ^ "Warped Tour unveils final band lineup for 2008". punknews.org. 2008-02-06. http://www.punknews.org/article/27868. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "The Bronx: News". thebronxxx.com. 2008-08-20. http://www.thebronxxx.com/. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
8. ^ "The Bronx News - Without The Bronx, I'd be dead or in jail!". idiomag. 2008-10-14. http://www.idiomag.com/peek/44598/the_bronx. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
9. ^ "Bedouin Soundclash's Jay Malinowski + Coeur De Pirate + El Bronx = Armistice". chartattack.com, January 12, 2011.

External links

• Official website
• The Bronx on Facebook
• The Bronx on Myspace
• The Bronx on Twitter