It has been an interesting semester here in D.C. for name-dropping. Gone are the constant references to "OutKast," "Le Tigre" and "Peaches" among the hipsters. The word is out: The Bronx is what's up this year.
After two shows (yes count 'em, two shows) in 2002 The Bronx was on the tips of the tongues, the tops of the wish lists and in the record players of every single record label executive in California.
Flash forward to 2004.
The Bronx's eponymous debut dropped in August of 2003, on its own imprint, with financial help from Island Records. Produced by Guns N' Roses Gilby Clarke, "The Bronx" was the most furious and explosive overlooked release of last year - at least on the East Coast. However, the tide is beginning to sway.
Comprised of Matt Caughthran (vocals), Joby J. Ford (guitar, backing vocals), James Tweedy (bass, backing vocals) and Jorma Vik (drums), The Bronx is a powder keg of late-70s So-Cal punk with the energy of Black Flag, The Circle Jerks, The Germs and The Dead Kennedy's all rolled into one blisteringly precise unit. However, what catapults The Bronx beyond its predecessors, besides the precision production of Clarke, is that somewhere between Caughthran's Marlboro-laden vocals there is an undeniable sense of melody not heard since Rocket from the Crypts first record "Paint as a Fragrance."
All but three of the tracks recorded on "The Bronx" were done live with no more than three takes. These kids are not a studio band. They don't lip synch. They don't shoe-gaze. They sweat blood live. This record sweats blood.
In a statement on The Bronx's Web site, www.thebronxxx.com, Ford reflects on the recording session that created "Gun Without Bullets," "I Got Chills," "They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy)" and "Cobra Lucha."
"The songs written for this session were the result of lots of frustration over people close to us passing away, seeing a person get shot seven times and trying to stop the blood gushing from bullet holes in his neck, a couple overdoses, having no money, not being able to drive anywhere because of warrants, unpaid tickets and no insurance, and basically having Los Angeles kick us in the teeth every day," Ford said.
The Bronx is Hollywood - bereft of hipsters stoked in filth. Throughout the 10 tracks Caughthran, Ford, Vik and Tweedy capture the essence and power, the grit and the grime of life and channel it into a hail-storm of honest rock, carried on the spastic thrusts of wild, stream-of-conscience lyrics.
If there was a live soundtrack to the most intense and caustic parts of life, The Bronx would be the headlining band. But For those of us without tickets, "The Bronx" is the best pay-per-view $10 can buy.
