Claiming diverse influences such as Mano Negra, the Clash, Johnny Cash, Gogol Bordello, Bob Marley, bluegrass, flamenco, Eastern European folk, rockabilly and psychobilly, the Brooklyn-based septet Butcher Knives, are a self-proclaimed “gypsybilly” band — with the release of the EP’s first single, “Tell Me Why,” off the band’s forthcoming, Misery reminds me quite a bit of the work of another local band with a similar sound, Bad Buka. In other words we’re talking about a sound that’s exceedingly passionate yet danceable. …

The band’s latest single “American Dream” manages to mesh elements of punk rock, ska, and mariachi in a way that sounds at points alien and familiar in a way that could probably only happen here in New York; but no matter, there’s passion and energy in the song, which lyrically describes the illegal immigrant experience with vivid detail.