Good song, bad hair. I went round his house once - in Levenshulme, I think. He had a massive self-portrait on the wall of him in the nude holding his nob...
They played a gig in October 1989 at Manchester University student union building. I think Jon Ronson (now a writer/Guardian columnist) was the MC that night...anyway, I "stormed" the stage after they'd finished and met a girl I subsequently went out with for a few months...oh shit I'm drunk...
Used to have a VHS Video on that gig at the International 1/2, not sure and still got the live cassette from Thye Boardwalk, never got to see them live, shame, as the Video was one of the most ramshackle and exhuberant gigs I've ever seen ! Used to see Mike West walking the streets of Manchester.......
I've just spotted this video and it brought back great memories of over-crowded gigs and even more over-crowded stages! Has anyone got any Surfurbia stuff they can post up. I have the 4 track EP but that's it! Mike is now playing out of Kansas since the New Orleans storm as Truckstop Honeymoon
Back in the late 80's, being mid-30's by then I had grown very weary of and cynical about so much of the shallow and over-produced music of that decade - even the Smiths didn't do it for me back then, although I like 'em now - but a friend made me a mixtape of all the happenin' and/or obscure indiebands of the day and I fell in love with music again, a love which has lasted to this day. Mainly responsible for my reawakening was this lovely tune! I LOVE THIS TUNE!
Excellent stuff, Big Noise is still one of the first albums moved across to a new MP3 Player.. I have the Louise Video on VHS from the Chart Show and will try to get it on here too
I have a live video from a concert in Manchester Dec89...I was at it so great memories. will see if can convert....Lovely to see this video again in the meantime, it brings back warm fuzzy memories!
I still have ALL thier singles somewhere apart from Drive, Drive, Drive. Although I do have that on some cassette delmonte compilationn somewhere. sadsly i am useless with technology or I would upload them.
Raintree County? I've still got your demo tape at home but not got a cassette player anymore otherwise I'd dig it out tonight. Must go borrow one from somewhere, I remember loving it at the time.
Anyway, I heard today that someone was looking at this video so I thought I'd refresh myself, It's nice to know people still care. Sorry about the bad dancing, I know better now. Good harmonica though. eh?
The brittons protevtion gig was when the band was called SURFURBIA...i was at that gig...ive since seen mike play with someone called myshkin and he plays the banjo and also has a weired deep south accent...
Myshkin is Mike's wife, I believe - I lived with Mike and Catriona (and Saul Davies from James) in Longsight for a while and still miss Mike & Catriona dearly - shame we lost contact when he moved to New Orleans.
my word what great days they were...what a band...
ive seen mike more recently play at the roadhouse in town and some pub in hudersfield...different type of music though hillbillie i would describe it...the bloke is an absolute genius i remember dancing with him at the boardwalk after a gig at international 2...and also at the ritz...im also on the inside sleave of the big noise lp...can just see the back of my head...
Aww, so good to see this again, well, see the vid for the first time actually. nearly spat my coffee on the screen when I recognised Jon R larking about. Used to live in Manchester at the time, and a TMFD gig was always a cause to break out the party clothes. Used to fall out of the International ( 1 or 2, cant remember) sweaty and satisfied, chips and a bus back to Oldham, great nights.
Yeah. One of the best gigs I've ever been to. You can see me squashed against the stage in one of the photos in the initial cassette version of the live recording. Hot ain't the word for that night!!
hello jon you signed my t shirt,albert square mcr,"good evening wembley"promised you would not sign it ever again,i signed mikes t shirt jason remember?
also thanks for the aftershow buffet international 2 i have just got a copy recently it was my perfect night,got on stage,if only i could go back.top band top bloke. travel well mate. jason
Fabulous! I've been singing along like an idiot! Hello Jon! I met you and TMFD on a station platform on the way to see James in Blackpool, a loooong time ago, lol!
has anyone seen the vid for "Water in my eyes"? It was black and white and I'm sure it was set on a beach - looked home made - I'd love to see it again.
awesome song.... recently lost my albums!!!! anyone know where i can download / buy them???
rochdalepjh 4 days ago
one of my favourite songs of all time!!!
pepeverde 7 months ago
dunno what this is, but I cannae' look away!
tahbonius 1 year ago
I remember this song from Craig Cash's show on Signal Cheshire.
TheLinz78 1 year ago
Good song, bad hair. I went round his house once - in Levenshulme, I think. He had a massive self-portrait on the wall of him in the nude holding his nob...
They played a gig in October 1989 at Manchester University student union building. I think Jon Ronson (now a writer/Guardian columnist) was the MC that night...anyway, I "stormed" the stage after they'd finished and met a girl I subsequently went out with for a few months...oh shit I'm drunk...
Chessingtonian 1 year ago
This has to be the most twee song ever.
Excellent.
RHutton2710 1 year ago
Used to have a VHS Video on that gig at the International 1/2, not sure and still got the live cassette from Thye Boardwalk, never got to see them live, shame, as the Video was one of the most ramshackle and exhuberant gigs I've ever seen ! Used to see Mike West walking the streets of Manchester.......
partridgezombie71 1 year ago
Yeah I saw you support them in The Boardwalk Jan 1989. In fact it must have been the Big Noise Live recording gig.
doa67 2 years ago
nope
charliebad 2 years ago
Truckstop honeymoon are fantastic and Mike West has some brilliant solo albums, a great Songwriter
Rootsfran 2 years ago
anyone got sun serious 2 post. love it
leeckay 2 years ago
I've just spotted this video and it brought back great memories of over-crowded gigs and even more over-crowded stages! Has anyone got any Surfurbia stuff they can post up. I have the 4 track EP but that's it! Mike is now playing out of Kansas since the New Orleans storm as Truckstop Honeymoon
madmurds 3 years ago
Back in the late 80's, being mid-30's by then I had grown very weary of and cynical about so much of the shallow and over-produced music of that decade - even the Smiths didn't do it for me back then, although I like 'em now - but a friend made me a mixtape of all the happenin' and/or obscure indiebands of the day and I fell in love with music again, a love which has lasted to this day. Mainly responsible for my reawakening was this lovely tune! I LOVE THIS TUNE!
bobgreen623 3 years ago
Excellent stuff, Big Noise is still one of the first albums moved across to a new MP3 Player.. I have the Louise Video on VHS from the Chart Show and will try to get it on here too
mjblue00 3 years ago
I have a live video from a concert in Manchester Dec89...I was at it so great memories. will see if can convert....Lovely to see this video again in the meantime, it brings back warm fuzzy memories!
boosmyname 3 years ago
Anyone got a copy of Water In My Eyes? Still one of my favourite songs...ah happy days in Manchester
alynnash 3 years ago
I still have ALL thier singles somewhere apart from Drive, Drive, Drive. Although I do have that on some cassette delmonte compilationn somewhere. sadsly i am useless with technology or I would upload them.
blumphy 3 years ago
Got the 12" Water in my eyes, one the my favourite songs
dmgluc 2 years ago
Am I the only one experiencing problems with this video? I miss it
bambamanofir 3 years ago
Raintree County? I've still got your demo tape at home but not got a cassette player anymore otherwise I'd dig it out tonight. Must go borrow one from somewhere, I remember loving it at the time.
JennyCide 3 years ago
what a band me and my mate watched them all the time at the boardwalk in manchester do u remember us martin angela and janet
emmanana1 3 years ago
arrr the memorys top tune thanks
mancsakacarl 4 years ago
Whoops, sorry about those two postings.
Anyway, I heard today that someone was looking at this video so I thought I'd refresh myself, It's nice to know people still care. Sorry about the bad dancing, I know better now. Good harmonica though. eh?
MartinDelmonte 4 years ago
Great Harmonica!! ... can you get anymore videos that can be put on youtube?..You guys were exeptional
pfishy69 4 years ago
If I ever work out how to do it then maybe.
sunserious has put a tune from the live video we did on, so you could ask him to put the rest up.
MartinDelmonte 4 years ago
loihoiu ho9uho
MartinDelmonte 4 years ago
loihoiu ho9uho
MartinDelmonte 4 years ago
What a great track I've got it on vinyl, but does anyone know where I can download it as an mp3 file?
Sadsfan 4 years ago
jon ronson used to manage them and he directed this video.
geepsoid 4 years ago
In the wedding dress ....Gina Morris!
popeye100 4 years ago
i was at that gig...and can swear it was behind central library...may of been a different one though...
great days!
blumphy 4 years ago
I remember the free concert behind the library, happy days, I also remember them playing upstairs in The Britons Protection
jstandtid 4 years ago
The brittons protevtion gig was when the band was called SURFURBIA...i was at that gig...ive since seen mike play with someone called myshkin and he plays the banjo and also has a weired deep south accent...
the man is a genius...
blumphy 4 years ago
Check out Interstate 10 if you ve not heard it already, The wedding song is west at his best, i got mine of amazon.
jstandtid 4 years ago
Blumphy - still got my surfurbia t-shirt here!
Myshkin is Mike's wife, I believe - I lived with Mike and Catriona (and Saul Davies from James) in Longsight for a while and still miss Mike & Catriona dearly - shame we lost contact when he moved to New Orleans.
JennyCide 3 years ago
Mike is no longer with Myshkin, he is with someone else, not sure of her name but they go by the name of Truckstop Hoonymoon.
Chech em out.
GENIUS.
blumphy 3 years ago
The best band of the day. Certainly the most enjoyable to see live. Remember the free gig outside Manchester Town Hall many summers ago.
rotherhams 4 years ago
my word what great days they were...what a band...
ive seen mike more recently play at the roadhouse in town and some pub in hudersfield...different type of music though hillbillie i would describe it...the bloke is an absolute genius i remember dancing with him at the boardwalk after a gig at international 2...and also at the ritz...im also on the inside sleave of the big noise lp...can just see the back of my head...
blumphy 4 years ago
ah the memories of Mackenzie Street come flooding back.
for more recent stuff see mikewest dot net
ps - is that gavan whelen in the video?
uptight77 4 years ago
Aww, so good to see this again, well, see the vid for the first time actually. nearly spat my coffee on the screen when I recognised Jon R larking about. Used to live in Manchester at the time, and a TMFD gig was always a cause to break out the party clothes. Used to fall out of the International ( 1 or 2, cant remember) sweaty and satisfied, chips and a bus back to Oldham, great nights.
EarlGreyIII 4 years ago
I was there too. Anyone go down on the bus to the gig at the Powerhaus in Islington? Those were the days!
fairycake1973 4 years ago
I organised that bus trip! Mancs on tour, happy days indeed. Steve C :-)
interstevio 4 years ago
Anyone go to the Big Noise gig at the Boardwalk ?? Hottest gig ever - had to bail to the gents cos i was on the verge of passing out in the pit !!
7kopite7 4 years ago
Yeah I was there! Got a badge for appearing on the video on stage. Happy days-David T
doherty967 4 years ago
Yeah. One of the best gigs I've ever been to. You can see me squashed against the stage in one of the photos in the initial cassette version of the live recording. Hot ain't the word for that night!!
doa67 2 years ago
i loved this band. big noise was the soundtrack to the best summer of my life. i have so much affection for this brilliant, underated group.
THEMARKFROMDELMONTE 4 years ago
hey jon you must still know Howard the dummer...well i'm his son....
ShroomsIsOnFire 5 years ago
that guy with the drums son must be sexy!!!
doodlebugxXx 5 years ago
wonderfully fruity
charmtrap 5 years ago
i really loved these guys ...
there was a video for waiting for anne i'm sure
with them all sat round a breakfast table ...
never saw them on number 73 tho ...
cochranlover 5 years ago
I directed that video! Nice to see it again after so many years.
jonronson 5 years ago
did you used to managed them as well Jon?
chriszanf 5 years ago
bah - that was meant to be:
"didn't you used to manage them as well, Jon"
chriszanf 5 years ago
yes. i was just 20, and i managed them into the ground
jonronson 5 years ago
hello jon you signed my t shirt,albert square mcr,"good evening wembley"promised you would not sign it ever again,i signed mikes t shirt jason remember?
ds2408 4 years ago
also thanks for the aftershow buffet international 2 i have just got a copy recently it was my perfect night,got on stage,if only i could go back.top band top bloke. travel well mate. jason
ds2408 4 years ago
I LOVE The Man From Delmonte!!!! (Hi Jon!!)
AndyW001 5 years ago
Fabulous! I've been singing along like an idiot! Hello Jon! I met you and TMFD on a station platform on the way to see James in Blackpool, a loooong time ago, lol!
kath971 5 years ago
has anyone seen the vid for "Water in my eyes"? It was black and white and I'm sure it was set on a beach - looked home made - I'd love to see it again.
seaurchin18 5 years ago