After suffering injuries and finding themselves in sketchy situations, L.A. punk rockers the Bronx are certain they're cursed. "We have this theory that there is a black cloud following us," guitarist Joby Ford tells Spinner. "I'm pretty superstitious about getting hurt. We've been in a lot of accidents and strange, strange situations."

Though the band only has a handful shows currently booked in support of their latest album, 'Mariachi El Bronx,' Ford is still reluctant to discuss the topic. "None of us really talk about it. It's like the no-hitter in baseball. You don't mention it until after the game," he says. "We go into tours not really talking about people getting hurt or accidents happening. Then when we finally get home we all breathe a sigh of relief and high five each other, like 'nothing happened!' I think it's good because we really haven't been talking about it and we've had a pretty good run. Maybe that means that disaster is coming. I don't know. I hope not."

Despite breaking this tradition and risking life and limb, Ford is still a very superstitious guy. When it comes to equipment, he changes his guitar strings before every show, cleans all the inputs for his cables and uses the same amp. But while many musicians might be just as careful, Ford also has one ritual that he won't break. "I don't wash my pants or change them on tour," he says. "That comes from my background in baseball where I would never wash my jockstrap. It's sort of a superstition thing because it's the grit that follows you and the grit that has been with you from the night before and the day after. The band complains because I never wash my pants. They can go f--- themselves."

Just like he brings superstition into his music career from baseball, Ford also played the sport with the aggression that can be heard on the band's non-mariachi albums. While playing in college at Tabor and then Biola, Ford has a permanent injury from a scuffle on the diamond. "I got into a fight with a dude I shouldn't have," he says. "I got kicked in the face and got three holes punctured in my retina so I'm partially blind. I deserved every ounce of what I got."

Whereas Ford only used his jock on the field, his tour pants -- usually Levi's Sta Prest, if you're wondering -- are always on. "I sleep in them. I don't even take them off," he says. "I'm definitely a creature of habit."

'Mariachi El Bronx' and its accompanying cologne, Barrio Sweat, are in stores now.