I traveled to Manchester on February 25. Took a train from London Euston station to Manchester Piccadilly in the early morning. Previously I had taken a plane from JFK airport in New York City to London Heathrow.
The goal? It was to be at The Man from Delmonte reunion gig at Band on the Wall on February 26. On that Wednesday I was to see one of my favourite bands ever. Something I never thought was possible. Mike West, the vocalist, had been living in the US for a long time, decades, and there hasn’t been much attention to his old band.
Of course, there was The Man from Delmonte facebook group. I’ve been there for so long. And the last year or so it became more active. More fans that had seen them during they heyday were sharing photos, demos, and all sorts of memorabilia. And it seems at some point, one of those fans decided it was time to connect with the band and organize a reunion. A wonderful idea indeed. And suddenly it started to become a reality.
First time they announced the gig it was to happen on March 15 at Night & Day Café in Manchester. My birthday. I was going to make it. I had too. It was just perfect. But a problem or another made they change the venue and the date. It was going to be sooner, February. Maybe less exciting for me, no birthday to celebrate, maybe a colder, rainier, Manchester, but it wasn’t going to matter. I was going to be there.
The tickets sale started 10am UK time. I had to put my alarm at 4:55am US time so I could make it. I didn’t had a clue the tickets were going to sell out so quickly. I just thought I had to get the ticket as soon as possible and then go back to sleep. So I did that. Later in the morning I would see that many people missed tickets. The gig had sold out immediately.
Good news for fans is that the band will play the Academy in Manchester and another gig in London soon. But I had to be at the first gig! And I was going to do so. I bought plane tickets. Got in touch with friends in London and the whole trip was planned.
Traveled to Manchester with my friend Miguel from the mighty Felt Tips. And we were tourists for a few days in the north visiting Liverpool and Chester too. We saw friends, Rich from The Suncharms and Simon from The Jeremiahs. And on that Wednesday 26 we went to The Man from Delmonte gig!
I went upstairs of the venue, it had 2 floors, and there was a merch table. Bought a t-shirt (a white one, I don’t like white t-shirts but had to get it) and a double CD with songs I have already (sans the BBC session). And then suddenly Mike West appeared. I had to say hello.
He was so nice, so friendly. We chatted for a bit, not too long. Told him I had come from NYC. Asked me my name. Told him I was from Peru. And he told me he had a very good Peruvian friend from his Manchester days. He seemed so genuine and humble. A true indiepop hero to me!
After the opening band, The Mudd Club, which featured Mike’s kids. And Edward Barton doing a fun sort of poetry/comedy show (and no, no “It’s a Fine Day”), it was time for The Man from Delmonte! AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!
On stage Mike West, Sheila Seal, Martin Vincent and Howard Goody. We are ready for the best time!!
I sang the songs, top of my lungs, happy, giddy. It was just wonderful. The band went with a hit to start “Water in My Eyes”. The venue went nuts. Then “Australia Fair” and “Big Noise”. It was time for a favourite of mine, “My Love is Like a Gift” (a video I had uploaded aeons ago to Youtube, maybe the first video ever by the band on there, from a rip from my friend Roger), I was dreaming. “Like a Millionaire”, “Mathematically SPeaking”, “Good Things in Life” and “Drive Drive Drive”.
Then came a song I wasn’t familiar with “Dig up the Dirt” which is from some demos the band recorded in 1990 (and I’m sharing it in this post). “Take Me to the Country”, another favourite came next”, and afterwards was “Ugly Part of Town”. I didn’t know this song either. It is a song from Mike’s time in the US.
In between songs Mike would tell us to be grateful to our bar tenders, to tip them. To remember that The Mudd Club was Mudd with two ds. And also a few little stories about the songs.
“Lasha Me” and the brilliant “Sun Serious”. “Waiting for Ann” and then “Pink” and “Neighborhood” medley, a mix of a Man from Delmonte demo song and one from Surfurbia, Mike’s band after the demise of The Man from Delmonte (which makes me think would make a good post in the blog as it is such an obscure band).
Then we continued with “Stop”, “Bored By You”, “Lebanese American”. It was time for encore. “Ave Maria”, “Buddy Holly” (another from Truckstop Honeymoon, Mike’s US band), “Armchair Valentino” .. and more encores. Now everyone is on stage, half of the fans maybe. Time for “Nobody Save Louise”!
And that was it. Time to go. Leave with the spirits high. Time for some takeout. Go to sleep happy. The happiest.
And yeah, people ask me why I have never reached out and asked for an interview about the band. I don’t know. Maybe I should. I’d love to learn more about the band for sure. But sometimes I feel with bands I know the songs by heart, that I am too familiar with them, that I want to keep that magic. Don’t even know if that makes any sense. But that’s how it is for me.
But yeah, I am so thrilled. And I honestly would say everyone to go check their gigs if you can. They were perfect. So much fun. They play superbly. The songs sounded powerful. One of the best gigs I’ve ever been. Please don’t miss them!
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