"I am very proud to have written and recorded songs that I have been able to share with our fans and friends through concerts, albums, and even some radio and television shows." Dusk falls and the Bar gets livelier. Manolo Navarro smiles, sipping a glass of Albariño, while enjoying what's playing in the background on Radio 3, "which never ceases to surprise me with a good song or band I don't know, and with which I can go to sleep having learned something new."
Passionate about music, numismatics, and traveling the world, this "viejoven" (as he defines himself) decided thirty years ago to form his first band and, since then, has not stopped getting on stage, recording albums, and writing songs that reflect his love for the immediate shot of rhythm and blues, punk, and 60s-inspired pop. For those three minutes that separate nothingness from the frenzy of guitars with rhythm, a bass with character, drums with punch, and backing vocals with a lot of soul. Pure love for art. Pure militancy that, like good militancy, lasts a lifetime.
He debuted leading Les Cactus, who lasted seven years and with whom he honed his skills at countless parties in the national and international 60s and mod circuit. All this, while he was engrossed in Computer Engineering studies, faced with a training offer that did not attract him at all. "More than anything, it was the degree my brother was studying, but I stumbled through several faculties and, after joining as an intern and getting a work contract in the company where I still work, I understood that that nightmare was going nowhere. I decided to put an end to it even though I only had six subjects left to finish the degree," he recalls.
He sips some wine. "What marked me then about that decision, and even today I haven't fully overcome, was not so much not having completed my studies, but feeling that I had failed my parents." He takes a deep breath. "On the other hand, I have to say that they encouraged me at all times and never held anything against me." And, in saying so, a half-smile, shy and sad, but full of an unshakeable affection for his family, appears on his face.
Still a lot of rope left
Tras la disolución de Les Cactus, en 2003 vio la luz el siguiente proyecto musical de Manolo Navarro, The Canary Sect, por donde pasó la flor y nata del underground barcelonés. Especialmente el añorado músico y dandy Alfredo Calonge, con el que el cantante trabó una profunda amistad que los llevó a viajar juntos por gran cantidad de países. "He estado en unos 70 países distintos, en Europa, Asia, América y África. Y todo lo que he visto, experimentado y aprendido en esos viajes hace que me sienta muy afortunado", explica a propósito de periplos dignos del mejor libro de aventuras. En unos cuantos de aquellos viajes, le acompañó su amigo Alfredo a quien iba a dedicar la emotiva canción Calle de la Conquista.
Finalizada la etapa de The Canary Sect, formó The Ratkellers, que duraron hasta 2022 y con los que atestiguaba su amor hacia el rhythm and beat de bandas como The Kaisers o The Neatbeats. "Entre todo, he tenido la suerte de editar una decena de discos y poder actuar en gran parte de la geografía del estado y en algunos países como Alemania, Holanda, Italia y Reino Unido", reflexiona. Pero todavía queda cuerda y el parroquiano no ha tardado mucho en arrancar un nuevo proyecto musical: Thee Nameshakes.
Muy bien rodeado por músicos veteranos de la escena barcelonesa, con esta nueva banda Manolo pone de manifiesto su amor por el R&B pasado por el tamiz de unos Flamin' Groovies o unos Dr. Feelgood. Acaban de sacar su primer disco, el EP Baila con Merlucifer (Sweet Groove) "y la verdad es que estamos muy contentos con el resultado obtenido y la aceptación por parte del público". La presentación del disco está prevista para el sábado 29 de marzo en El Llaminer, de Vilanova del Vallès, y el 9 de mayo en la Freedonia de Barcelona, en la calle Lleialtat.
Una relación esencialmente lúdica
Nacido, crecido y vecino de Caldes de Montbui, la relación del músico Manolo Navarro con Barcelona siempre ha sido lúdica y basada en la asistencia a fiestas y conciertos. "Nunca me he planteado seriamente la opción de trasladarme a vivir aquí", explica este gran amante de su pueblo, donde tiene sus amigos de siempre: ese ecosistema de afectos y complicidades tejidas a menudo en largos aperitivos, en primera línea de barra o a pie de escenario.
Of the city, he is bothered by "pollution, noise, traffic, overcrowding, partly due to disproportionate tourism. But above all, I am disgusted by housing speculation that makes it very difficult to live here," he laments. Although that does not detract from the majesty of the city. The parishioner smiles. "Can you believe that, until relatively recently, I had never been to the Sagrada Familia?" He finishes his Albariño and continues: "I remember the day I finally entered to visit it as one of the most impactful moments I have lived. It seems like a cliché, but with all I have traveled, I think it is one of the most impressive things I have seen!"
--- What you are going to find one of the most impactful things you have tried is the gastronomic offer of this Bar, it's already dinner time and we have a menu, à la carte, tapas, sandwiches… everything. And delicious.
Manolo Navarro laughs heartily. "Well, the truth is I have a certain intuition for successfully choosing the bars or restaurants I decide to enter to eat. And when I get it right, I am of the opinion that the menu is usually the best quality-price option," he replies.
--- You sure know!
"Then let it be the menu," he decides. And, after a few seconds, he adds: "And if you have apple pie for dessert, save me a piece, I love it." And his smile intensifies at the imminent feast.