At the risk of this turning into a Spinto Band fan blog: after playing a not-so-secret gig at Manchester’s Urbis, the band returned again this week to play at Academy 3. Sadly, they were treated to that great Mancunian tradition, a mugging:

Dear friends,

Tonight we experienced a tragic loss. During this evening’s performance at Manchester Academy 3, somebody stole our Mandolin from the stage.

This instrument has little monetary worth, but provides a wealth of sentimental value to us. It is a Kay electric mandolin with a wood sunburst finish, white pickgaurd, and a crack in the headstock.

We are prepared to offer healthy reward upon its return. In addition, if the Mandolin is received before we play Reading / Leeds, the person who delivers it will be offered tickets to those events.

This is truly a sad day for the Spinto Band. If you have any information regarding its whereabouts or wish to express your sympathy, please contact us.

Yours sincerely,
The Spinto Band.

The NME quickly pounced, as did local blogs like Black Country Grammar and Entertainment Manchester. On The Spinto Band’s own blog, Shark Dance, their appeal soon received a response:

Ok here we go, the full story, first and for most we did not smash up the mandolin, and as far as we know it should still be in perfect condition.

Basically this “incident” was an act of pure drunken stupidity. We felt ashamed. Embarrased and basically like twats, the spinto band did not deserve that sort of treatment.

So after the crowd died down, I personally went back to the academy in search of the band. No-one was around except a few members of “My Morning Jacket”. I explained what happened to them and they asured me that the mandolin would be in safe hands with them until it could be returned to the spinto band. They said something about a promoter being able to get it back to them, along with our deepest regrets.

Were really really really really really really really really really really really really sorry!

I hope the Spinto Band and the rest of the Spinto community can forgive us.

Sorry :(

So there we go. Either My Morning Jacket have pocketed the loot, or it’s back in The Spinto Band’s hands. Either way, a happy end to this sordid tale.