As part of a tour promoting B-sides compilation ‘Swords’ the setlist tonight has been influenced accordingly, making it a frustrating evening for those who have dipped in and out of Morrissey’s world for the last 25 years but a sheer delight for those who have been loyal. The wit, passion and spitting venom of ‘Is It Really So Strange?’ ‘Teenage Dad On The Estate’ and ‘Ganglord’ reinforce the theory that as a Smith and solo artist, some of Morrissey’s finest moments are on the flipside of many a single.
Not everything works tonight. The band struggle with Smiths classic ‘Cemetry Gates’ and Morrissey, himself, appears totally disinterested in singing ‘How Soon Is Now?’ by this point and the inclusion of ‘Death At One’s Elbow’ is a timely reminder that his former band did not always walk on water. ‘This Charming Man’ continues to crunch, free from Marr’s iconic guitar-riff, and as ever divides the audience. They unite in frenzy for the anthemic ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ and smooth rockabilly stomp of ‘The Loop’, and even ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’ gets a rapturous reaction in a week when all things Parisian have pierced the Irish heart.
He’s on top form as a raconteur, berating Aer Lingus (‘Aer Fungus’ he hisses); claiming he sent a lightweight Damien Dempsey home in a taxi after two drinks the night before and even dedicates a powerful ‘The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores’ to Eurovision King and McDonalds advert star, Johnny Logan!
But Morrissey will never be a jukebox. If he wished to be, The Smiths would’ve reformed long ago. Encore ‘Something Is Squeezing My Skull’ ends in high-spirited shirt-ripping drama as Moz waves farewell to his family’s city and yet another year of refusal.
Not everything works tonight. The band struggle with Smiths classic ‘Cemetry Gates’ and Morrissey, himself, appears totally disinterested in singing ‘How Soon Is Now?’ by this point and the inclusion of ‘Death At One’s Elbow’ is a timely reminder that his former band did not always walk on water. ‘This Charming Man’ continues to crunch, free from Marr’s iconic guitar-riff, and as ever divides the audience. They unite in frenzy for the anthemic ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ and smooth rockabilly stomp of ‘The Loop’, and even ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’ gets a rapturous reaction in a week when all things Parisian have pierced the Irish heart.
He’s on top form as a raconteur, berating Aer Lingus (‘Aer Fungus’ he hisses); claiming he sent a lightweight Damien Dempsey home in a taxi after two drinks the night before and even dedicates a powerful ‘The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores’ to Eurovision King and McDonalds advert star, Johnny Logan!
But Morrissey will never be a jukebox. If he wished to be, The Smiths would’ve reformed long ago. Encore ‘Something Is Squeezing My Skull’ ends in high-spirited shirt-ripping drama as Moz waves farewell to his family’s city and yet another year of refusal.
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