The Mariachis #2

Once again I am drinking extortionately-priced Mexican beer in a venue that's a cross between a theme bar in Disney World and the karaoke scene in "Boys Don't Cry". The venue is Borderline, and the supporting act are the Mariachis.

I will say it again: you have got to see this band. Richard Evans, their front man, seems to have the persona of Steve Harley and the dress sense of Adam Ant and the drummer looks a bit like he's studying Physics at Imperial College, but their skill is hard to match. Their keyboard player is amazing; their lead guitarist is even better; their singer is charisma incarnate (I like a guy who says "We're now going to play "Friday's Heroes"...Er, I was trying to think of something clever to say there, but I can't. So here it is.") Their talent stands out all the more on account of the fact that they're supporting Mogul. We are all supplied with Mogul stickers which we all diligently wear on our arms, making us look a bit like members of some Nazi division or other. Then the band comes on, and we surreptitiously take them off and discard them. Mogul are from the Barfly school of music and produce what can only be defined as "noise". Organised Noise, admittedly, but still noise. Unlike the Mariachis, though, they have a massive marketing operation behind them, including £3 off entry with one of their flyers and a table full of CDs and T-shirts. But if i heard their sound on radio one (who are currently plugging them) I wouldn't recognise it.

I cannot stress enough how much you must see the Mariachis. They have moved on from their country sound and are now much more rock, and just eclectic enough to suit everyone.