Machel Montano wows Melé with Unplugged show
One of the high points of Melé Destinations was Machel Montano’s Unplugged concert.
Raw, authentic and without the high-level production that usually goes into his shows, the Unplugged concert was a fun and unforgettable affair.
Held on one of the beaches fringing the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, the concert catered for a much more intimate connection than Montano’s concerts usually allow.
Large cushions were laid out on the beach for the smart patrons who got there hours before during his rehearsal to snag a comfy seat. Waiters ensured cups were filled while pit fires were lit to enhance the ambiance.
Montano, accompanied by his Monk band at some points, played drums, shook a tambourine, and showed off his ukulele skills as he entertained the patrons for two hours of what was intended to be a 50-minute show.
He regaled the small crowd with stories that inspired some of his songs such as “One More Time” which was based on an actual encounter with a girl he met at Zen nightclub. The song, “Miss Good Reputation”, he said was inspired by his mother, Elizabeth Montano, who sat beaming at the side of the stage.
With the Unplugged session, Montano pulled back the curtain on his songs to prove that they were more than just party songs. Digging into his crate of hits, he showed that many of them are actually sexy love songs like “Night Shift” released in 2023, “She Ready”. “Fast Wine” and “Endless Wuk”.
He dusted off the “Make Love to Me” remix he did with Buju Banton that they never performed live. The plan, he said, was to perform it with the dancehall star at his show the night before but Buju didn’t remember his lyrics.
He also revealed the spiritual component to some of his songs which he said start off as praise but are adjusted for the Carnival space.
Throughout his performance, the patrons, many of them diehard fans, sang along lustily to songs such as “Vibes Can’t Done”, “Epic”, “Possessed”, “Come Dig It”, “Haunted” and “Bottle of Rum” among many others.
His set also included a medley of reggae songs as well as a guest appearance by upcoming Dominican singer Séj, who dueted with him on the song “Come Back” which he sang with Destra Garcia.
We met up with Montano the next day to discuss the Unplugged show and his plans to make it a staple in other places.
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