Up-and-coming band suffer from equipment theft: It's a story that's becoming (sadly) ever more familiar. The Spinto Band can probably count themselves lucky that just a mandolin got nicked. But! Look closer and the whole thing gets a bit weird: someone's pulled some serious Ocean's 11-style shit here.
For one thing, the thief lifted the thing right off the stage during the freakin' performance. Not only that, it was taken from Manchester's Academy 3 — a microscopic, scummy dive on the third floor of the city's student union. To get an idea of the audacity of the thing, open up the icebox in your fridge, stuff five of your best buds inside, and fill your kitchen with screaming drunks. Now try pulling the ice-cream out without anyone noticing. Hard, wasn't it?
I mean, yeah, sure, the robber's probably just some asshole, but you've gotta have respect for hijinks like that. Dude's probably sipping martinis in a tux on a pedal-powered plane right now, trailing a banner reading "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME, THE SPINTO BAND!"
"This instrument has little monetary worth, but provides a wealth of sentimental value to us," the band stated on their website. "It is a Kay electric mandolin with a wood sunburst finish, white pickguard, 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." Sadly, the Reading and Leeds festivals have passed, no doubt leading The Spinto Band to shake their fists impotently at the sky and yell, "DAMN YOU, MANDOLIN MARAUDER!"
If you're still pissed at the robber, try imagining the Spinto dude's "wuh-wuh-WUH?" as he goes for the mandolin and grabs at empty air.