Morrissey

Whoa-now! Three nights at the Palladium on consecutive Sundays, picketed in the midst of a thirty date UK tour calling in at venues that even Chaz & Dave would turn their noses up to? Morrissey, the new-born philanthropist (IT’S TRUE!), is out to show people just how happy he really is.

It’s amazing what a good holiday can do for you. Recorded in romantic Rome, ‘Ringleader Of The Tormentors’ (his latest LP) is, in case you haven’t heard, one of the most original records that the revered ex-Smith has ever released during his solo career and, thus, this tour really is a cause for celebration.

But there have been rumours from tour dates prior of bad set-list choices, forgotten encores and general bad vibes and boredom. If it’s true, then fair be it, but for the final night of the tour Manchester’s finest is cutting no corners.

As thrilling as it is surprising, opening with Smiths-classic ‘Panic’ sends the devoted crowd wild. From hereon the Palladium becomes an irreversible Morrissey love-in… the great man could have burped the alphabet backwards and everyone (this writer included) would be impressed. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past him – his childish and, really, not very funny jokes ‘I thank you from the very bottom of my… bottom’ manage to get the whole room laughing and although a cynic might abhor such sycophancy, anyone caught up in the middle of such euphoria will understand what a –sigh, prepare for the cliché– religious experience a Morrissey show is. So much so, that you’ll willingly laugh at toilet humour.

Thick and fast, new and old songs meld effortlessly together to make for a thoroughly crowd-pleasing set. “First Of The Gang To Die” and current single “The Youngest Was The Most Loved” capture the crowd’s excitement, whilst lesser-known tracks like b-side “Ganglord” give the super-fans singing along their chance to shine.

The greatest reverence is saved for the epic “Life Is A Pigsty”. An easily-mockable title from the Mancunian Miserablist, but it’d be unwise to underestimate the power of this eccentric, seven-minute wonder. Capturing perfectly the musical development of his latest album, Morrissey trademark lyrical poignancy is given a vast, sonically transcendental backdrop upon which to reign, making it the most grand and atmospheric song of the performance.

People think they’re doing well as he rounds off the show with “How Soon Is Now?” and “Irish Blood, English Heart”, but when the band walk back on and kick out the opening notes of “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”, it’s the icing on the cake for the insatiable crowd.

Rarely does a live show feel at once so personal yet so grandly important. Love him or hate him, Morrissey has overcome the odds of fatal fame. People may say his peak ended in 1986 with the demise of The Smiths, but ask anyone stood proudly in the Palladium tonight what they think and you can be sure they’d argue he’s still unbeatable.

FUTURE GIGS

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