The Bronx Offer to Play Free House Parties for Haters

After seven years, Los Angeles punk band the Bronx are still pissing off folks from, well, the Bronx. "People go 'Are you guys from the Bronx [New York]?' 'No.' 'Oh, that sucks,'" guitarist Joby Ford tells Spinner. "There are a lot of people that are irritated by it that grew up there. The left coast is sort of different pride-wise."

But the quintet is an amicable lot, despite its scream-heavy brand of punk, and Ford has a solution to keep the peace. "People are born and raised there and we definitely lifted [the name], but we're really cool about it. When people are jamming our signals, we're like 'Hey, we'll play a free show at your house,'" he says. "They're like 'whoa, really?' And then we're cool again."

One would assume that plenty of lucky fans have hosted the Bronx in their backyards, but that's not the case. "They always wuss out," Ford says. "People will talk s--- and then they're like 'That's so awesome. I love the band.' I'm like 'Cool. Next time we pull through, let's do a gig.' They say, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah!' and then I'm like 'I just need to know you're 18 years old and you don't live with your parents.'" Ford then mimics the sound of a record needle's screech, the stereotypical noise signifying the death of all things fun.

Just in case any Bronx residents are wondering, Ford and Co. hold much love for the borough that hosts the Yankees, the Bronx Zoo and the birthplace of hip-hop. "We were signed to a major label at one point and they took us to a Yankees game," he says. "I've been there twice and both times, incredible memories. One label bought us all those New York City subway t-shirts that have the line with the Bronx on it, you know? I was like 'Man, that is corny!'"

Sure, those can look corny, but having the Bronx play a gig at your house certainly wouldn't be. So, if anyone out there makes this happen, you totally owe us one. We'll settle for an invite.