Montello Headline Manchester Academy 3

Where did the name Montello come from?

Jacob Knowles: It came from a song I had written called “Kaleidoscope Montello”. I think they’re some Italian mountains.

Toby: We spent like 3 hours on facetime trying to come up with a name we all liked before our gig at the Factory.

Jacob Ratcliffe: Any name one of us would suggest, the others would say no to.

Toby: We were nearly called Delacroix.

Jacob Knowles: I liked the idea of it being named after a French painter.

(All the boys laugh)

Jacob Knowles: The name was actually going to be temporary, but we couldn’t imagine being called anything else now. Its stuck.  

The night of Montello’s Manchester Academy 3 gig, my train was delayed so badly that I had to sprint down Oxford Road to make it in time to meet them. Their music and chitchat was worth the run. 

Whilst their latest single “Class Act” boasts the soft indie of the noughties and is reminiscent of the times pre-Spotify and firmly “CD in a radio” territory.

Their debut, “House on Fire” hawks back to the late 80s alternative scene. In just the two songs released by the band they’ve demonstrated a familiar and imposing versatility, and Montello tick all the right boxes when it comes to Manchester indie. This is pure indie sleaze in all the right ways, the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stick on a pair of classic white reeboks or maybe a suit jacket with heavily padded shoulders.

How was the band formed?

A few of us met at a Lanthums gig here, at Academy 3. So, it sort of feels like a full-circle moment for us.

If the band were a film, playing here would be the end of Act 1.

This gig is no doubt the perfect venue for them, Manchester academy is a notorious venue and has housed some of the greats before they’ve jammed their way to fame. Just to name a few: The Cure, David Bowie, Dire Straits, Oasis, the Verve, the Velvet underground. You’re in good company Montello.

Standing on the stage of Academy 3 was an important moment for the band as they explained that without the venue, the band could never have formed. Though I was privy to this before the gig, they played with so much emotion and spirit, it would be hard not to notice the place in their hearts the venue holds. The guitar, drums, bass, and vocals came together seamlessly, but apart, they also held a high esteem. Liam Conway on the guitar playing guitar solos, delighting the crowd and his band members throughout.    

Montello lived up to the expectations of the musically historical building, selling 350 tickets despite the band being less than a year old. Frontman, Jacob Knowles, possessed a Tommy Yorke vocal range and let the instruments around him define his voice for each track. You truly cannot help but be awed by how well aligned they are as a fresh band.  

As for the comment of the gig being the end of Act 1, I am pleased to note that will inevitably result in an Act 2 and 3, where the band are already looking towards the future they’ve paved through their hard work.

Class Act came out last week, its brilliant. Is there a story behind the song?

Jacob Knowles: It’s about the aftermath of a relationship when you’re realising what they were actually like.

Its talking about someone like they’re a political view instead of a person.

“Class act” has this Brighton beach indie feel and anyone who has been clutching their “indie anthems of the 2000s” CD tight to their chest for the last 20 years has just wept in relief. This is a “running bare foot on a pebble beach” indie anthem. And under the fan-less ceiling, in the scorching room of Academy 3, this is a “fight your way to the barrier’s” song: a mosh pit, spill your drink, argy bargy “I’m trying to get to the front!” one at that. The audience was already alive when this tune played, chanting for “one more song!” in the universally well-known in-joke. Jacob Knowles sings “I’m such a bore” and we all have to fight with ourselves to not shout “No!” at the stage. The lyrics almost seem a criminal self-mockery to sing whilst bounding around after 45 minutes of captivating the crowd.

Which Beatle are each of you?

(They all begin to answer at the same time, then fall silent to allow the other members to answer)

Jacob Ratcliffe: I think we’re all the right ones. Like I’m definitely Paul.

Jacob Knowles: Yeah, I’m John. Liam’s George.

Toby: I have always loved Ringo. He wrote some of the best stuff. 

The band’s shared appreciation of The Beatles is put to the test as they play a rendition of The Beatles “All My Loving” during the set. Knowles voicing an uncanny Lennon, and Conway’s George Harrison impression reigning true. Much like one of their greatest inspirations, they play together like brothers in arms, bouncing off each other in a way that seems like it comes as a second nature to them. There is no leader in this band, it’s a democracy which pays off extremely well.  

We were given one month to prepare for our first gig at Retro.

How was it?

(They all agree it was life altering)

House on fire, their debut, brought everyone in the venue together in its cheeky outlandishness. It has this firm rooted Franz Ferdinand style to the riff and naughtiness that’s shared with the Talking Heads. A single to fall in love with and fun like a twisty staircase, live, it’s in own creature. Completely enrapturing even, the bar staff and lighting guys.

This sort of vocal play has long since been revered and as a debut single is a risk that’s already proved worth the bet. Much like the Talking Heads, this is cat-burglar music; it’s silly, it is doing something it isn’t supposed to, it sounds good doing it.

Toby Devereux on the drums leads the song into its chorus, sounding like It belongs at the start of a Stanley Kubrick film (though I do hope it isn’t Kubrick directing their Montello movie). It’s a nudge and a wink, and we’re all playing along. The perfect puppeteers to our enjoyment.

How does the band write its songs? You’re the lyricist Jacob?

Jacob Knowles: Yes, but sometimes I just come with an idea. Or a few chords.

Jacob Ratcliffe: Sometimes the way Jacob brings them to us, they end up totally different.

Toby: We write our own parts a lot. Jacob comes with lyrics, and we all work together to make it.

There was a masterful knowledge of each respective instrument on stage. Jacob Ratcliffe sliding his way to the top of the bass players hall of fame.  It was hard to distinguish if it was the band as a whole, or the individual musician’s that were so skilled as it all became a melting pot of layers that made good, solid music. Off-stage, the boys were down to earth, fond of each other and intelligent instrumentalists. On-stage, they were enrapturing, a beating heart of memorable music. Montello is a band to see before they move onto arenas and with the rate they’re going, you may already be too late.

If you were all trapped on a desert island, which member of the band would you eat first?

(Toby and Jacob Ratcliffe are decided between the boys as the victims. Though they expressed that they would probably end up in a Lord of the Flies situation, where no member would make it off the island alive).