Dressed as a vicar, MORRISSEY is on the comeback trail with revitalising million selling album, "You Are The Quarry"and his name illuminated in letters behind him. You immediately feel some of the Hollywood lifestyle may have rubbed off if in a slightly ironic way,but even allowing for that, there in no mistaking who’s on stage, even from the very back of this soulless arena.
Steven Patrick Morrissey set starts with the crowd pleasing "How Soon Is Now?"having attracted younger fans and older Smiths aficianados alike. Inevitably, Earls Court is a sell-out tonight. The crowd responds with football chants of Mo-rri-ssey, to which Moz replies with “Yes,it's a good name isn't it? “
"First Of The Gang To Die" is a highlight but the quality rarely dips all night. Indeed, all of the singles taken from You Are The Quarry whip the crowd into a frenzy as much as efficiently as any of the more celebrated older material
His quiffness is in great, dry-witted and cerebrally-inclined dry form, announcing “I'm happy to be in Earl's Court. What does that mean? I don't know”.Just before 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' he lets rip with another inscrutable quip:'I used to be associated with three miserable people - oh well,at least the songs were good!.'
"Big-mouth Strikes Again" as Joan of Arc now melts her "IPod",the cover of Patti Smith's "Redondo Beach", and new album highlight "Let Me Kiss You", are startling vigorous and the great man's ageless vocal still sounds unbeatable. Morrissey's already masterful performance is interspersed with sharp verbal introductions to songs such as "We've got a charity single out this christmas, the charity is me.." when he
wheels out his new single "I Have Forgiven Jesus." "I don't think the feeling's mutual," he concludes darkly.
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The Smiths digs continue throughout the set. “The past is a strange place” mutters Moz prior to "Shoplifters Of The World Unite." It's dispatched viciously, but doesn't easily outclass "Irish Blood, English Heart" or "You Know I Couldn't Last"as the unwelcome conclusion nears.
"There is goodbye and there is farewell, and this is farewell" is the consluding address before the encore of “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”unravels as tearfully as ever. It's a glorious ending to an amazing and emotional night for new and old fans alike.
The house lights switch on to Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way” blaring out of the speakers. So was tonight the biggest comeback since Old Blue Eyes himself?? ...Well it was like he was never away.
Set list:
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How Soon Is Now?
First Of The Gang To Die
November Spawned A Monster
Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice
Bigmouth Strikes Again
I Like You
Redondo Beach
Let Me Kiss You
Subway Train (into) Munich Air Disaster 1958
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
Friday Mourning
I Have Forgiven Jesus
The World is Full of Crashing Bores
Shoplifters Of The World Unite
Irish Blood, English Heart
You Know I Couldn't Last
encore......
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
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