Mexrrissey

Morrissey enjoys an exceptionally loyal following throughout Mexico as well as among Mexican-American communities in Los Angeles and across the broader United States. His appeal stems from an array of factors, among them his retro rockabilly appearance, his pervasive air of melancholy, and lyrics steeped in longing that echo the emotional intensity of Mexican ranchera traditions. These qualities have elevated him to an almost revered status among a substantial portion of Mexican music listeners. One such admirer is Camilo Lara of Mexican Institute of Sound, who received an invitation in 2015 from Andy Wood, director of London’s La Linea Festival, to assemble a tribute celebrating this deep-seated affinity. Lara responded by assembling Mexrrissey, recruiting a distinguished roster that featured Chetes on guitar, Sergio Mendoza and Jacob Valenzuela—both of Calexico—handling vibes, accordion, and trumpet, vocalist/keyboardist Ceci Bastida, bassist Jay de la Cueva of Moderatto/Titán, and Adan Jodorowsky on guitar. The musicians selected material either tied directly to Mexico, such as “Mexico,” or simply favored on personal grounds, after which Lara and Mendoza devised fresh arrangements that fused traditional Mexican instrumentation with electronic elements. The ensemble launched its performances with a triumphant Mexico City debut, proceeded to the United Kingdom for the La Linea Festival plus a poignant visit to Manchester, and subsequently delivered sold-out concerts in New York City and Los Angeles. Recording sessions took place across Mexico and Arizona, yielding seven selections drawn from various phases of Morrissey’s solo output; the resulting album, No Manchester, incorporated additional live cuts captured during the May 2015 New York City show at BAM and appeared on Nacional Records in March 2016.