7 March 2026 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words by Lucas Bell – pictures by Bec Harbour
Punk music is an interesting thing. For years, it has felt gatekept and like an exclusive club. Sometimes, if you don’t fit the look, you don’t belong in the scene. But one band has been brave enough to challenge the scene, and question the elitism within it, while making it accessible to more than just punk rockers. California’s The Bronx are a band six albums deep into a twenty three year career, with no signs of slowing down. Not only that, they formed another entire band, in an entirely different genre, with Mariachi El Bronx. A band in its own right, who are just as incredible as the hardcore band from which it derives. And for the first time ever, Australia is the host for The Bronx and Mariachi El Bronx Supershows. And we were so stoked to be invited to cover this insane show, that by the end, will guarantee you develop FOMO if you weren’t there.
First band out on this technical quadruple bill was Brissy Supergroup, Total Pace. With DNA from DZ Deathrays, I Heart Hiroshima, Violent Soho, and Tape/Off all within the project, it was to be expected that this four piece would be insane live. And they were. Lead vocalist Matthew Somers didn’t expect the show out either from Brisbane, as he was floored by how many people were there for them as the opening band, just two songs into the set. They ripped through about 30 minutes of material, which even included a SCUL HAZZARDs cover, and an unreleased track that should be dropping soon which was also a banger. Matt talked about how it was a dream for him and Simon to open for The Bronx one day, and they were living their high school dream tonight, which is inspirational stuff.
Total Pace – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
Keeping the fun alive were another Brisbane band called Wizz. I have very specific niches of music that the moment I hear them, I just fall in love. And Wizz doing a mix of garage rock, psychedelic grooves, and Rage Against The Machine level riffing piqued my interest from song two. It was basically punk rock King Gizzard. The band didn’t do a lot of talking, and let their 30 minutes of stage show wow the crowd, and wow the crowd it did. There were times where the crowd were stuck in amazement at what they were witnessing, and then the next minute, Wizz had the entire crowd doing movement at times that was harder than later in the show when The Bronx came out. And two drummers? It was flawless work from this five piece. Keep an eye on this crew in 2026. I’m predicting big things for them.
WIZZ – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
As soon as the clock hit 9:45pm, the lights dimmed inside The Tivoli, and a speech played over the speakers that I couldn’t hear too well, but it was Australian accents talking so it might have been from an Australian film or something. And as the intro music hit, the crowd went mental as California punk rock icons walked out onto the stage. Lead singer Matt Caughthran looked absolutely thrilled with how erratic and packed in The Tivoli looked, as he hyped the crowd up for a gnarly show. Opening the show with ‘White Guilt’, the energy did not dip below 90% from the crowd all night, as The Bronx delivered one of the best sets I’ve seen in the last twelve months.
The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
Caughthran made a point to talk about living in the present and having fun as ‘Shitty Future’ kicked in. You can tell the band loves coming back here. The band has a lot of history in Brisbane, as Brisbane was the first city in Australia they ever played. After we got ‘The Unholy Hand’, Caughthran spoke at length about how the next song they were about to play was dedicated to the fans that have been down with The Bronx since day one, and how their 2023 Australian tour was a celebration of 20 years of The Bronx. After a few 1, 2, 3, fuck yeah chants, we got the original song, ‘Heart Attack American’, which the crowd went mental for, before doubling down with another throwback in ‘False Alarm
The best part about the show (outside of the encore) was next through, as Caughthran demanded anyone over 35 years old had to do a mandatory crowd surf to the final song of The Bronx’s set, which was ‘Curb Feelers’. And while I was too fat and broken to get in on a surf, I have never seen so many bodies pile over the barricade before. I recorded footage so if you jump over to our Tik Tok or Instagram page, it should be up. The band also said for every body security catch over the railing, they would donate $2 per person to Happy Tails Animal Rescue. On lady got on shoulders and flashed her boobs as well, which Caughthran said “okay there is a four dollar donation we have to do as well” which made the crowd laugh.
The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
After ‘Curb Feelers’ finished, a long, drawn out instrumental section began, as the stage and band started to begin their transformation into Mariachi El Bronx. One by one, the Mariachi El Bronx members came on stage and got a little solo within the instrumental, as the members of The Bronx returned in full mariachi gear to match the rest of the stage, and the transformation was complete! Caughthran yelled into the microphone that “the transformation is complete. The portal is closing. The punks have become mariachis” as the crowd roared in approval. With a simple “are you fucking ready”, Mariachi El Bronx began their set with a track from their latest record, ‘Bandoleros’. Caughthran spoke about how the Australian tour has been too short, and that he and the band are so appreciative that the Australian audiences have taken in the concept of doing a split The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx show.
The next song was dedicated to the lovers, as ‘48 Roses’ played, and the dancefloor was then activated for ‘El Dorado’. The crowd that were moshing and throwing their bodies around not 20 minutes ago, had transitioned into a dance pit, with everyone shaking hips, grooving along, and singing as loud as they could. The energy was off the charts. Caughthran spoke about how Mariachi El Bronx haven’t had many opportunities to play Australia, outside of Big Day Out and Bluesfest. So doing Mariachi El Bronx in this fashion was super fun and cool for them.
The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
The next song was then talked about as for the OGs of Mariachi El Bronx, as ‘Cell Mates’ played. Mariachi El Bronx compared it to ‘Heart Attack American’, in that both of those songs started each band’s careers and sounds. It’s cool to see that little acknowledgement about two very important songs in each band’s discography. After wishing he could swap his mariachi hat for a beer helmet, Caughthran spoke one more time about how both bands have worked their asses off, and they closed the Mariachi El Bronx set off with two songs from their new record, with ‘Songbird’ and ‘Revolutionary Girls’.
As the start of the transformation song began to play once more, the entire band left the stage. The crowd, begging for more, got three more, as Caughthran, Joby J. Ford, Ken Horne, Brad Magers, and Joey Castillo returned to the stage in their The Bronx gear from earlier, as the Mariachi El Bronx band joined them on stage for an insane three song encore, that incorporated the energy and spirit of three of The Bronx’s best songs, with the attitude of Mariachi El Bronx.
The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx – Tivoli – photos by Bec Harbour
Opening the encore with ‘Knifeman’, the energy from the crowd hit the roof, and the sound of these two bands coming together has me convinced we need a The Bronx studio reinterpretation album with Mariachi El Bronx underscoring these songs. Up next was my favorite song, and I think all of Brisbane’s favorite song, ‘History’s Stranglers’, as the crowd were louder than Matt at times during the track. After the band introductions, we got the final song of the night, which of course was going to be ‘Around the Horn’. If you caught any show on this tour, you know how special it was. But if you missed it, you missed the best 90 minutes of live music I have seen in the last twelve months. From Total Pace and Wizz crushing, to The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx delivered a greatest of all time set, this was a show that will live in my memory until the day I die.
