The last time I critcised Morrissey in public was after The Smiths ill-fated gig at
aired my views on a local radio phone-in which the great man heard and quoted verbatim on the Janice Long Show. Quite a claim to fame that has not deterred a review of this, the final leg of his three nights in
The Bridgewater Hall is acoustically wonderful, aesthetically beautiful, but as a venue for rock n roll it is about as lively as the Southern Cemetery. Previous Morrissey homecomings have been evangelical affairs but in the sterile home of the Halle Orchestra only the grasping front row could claim to have been touched by the hand of God tonight.
Misjudgement has lingered around Morrissey since the 90s and the choice of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as his entry music is greeted with boos and jeers. A deeply unpopular song round these parts, the pallid arena is suddenly turned into a football stadium as the association with arch rivals
The next eighty minutes sees him deliver a mixed bag. Certainly there are moments of brilliance when, gliding like Vegas crooner in his flowing shirts and polished shoes, he reminds us of just how good his work can be. First of The Gang to Die, his best song in nearly twenty years, leads in to Still Ill, but when he sings “it just wasn’t like the old days anymore” he is so right. It wasn’t like the old days at all and the rest of the set meanders on taking us through the generally tedious Ringleader of The Tormentors. A blast of The New York Dolls’ I’m a human Being and the glorious How Soon is Now briefly spark life into the show, but the evening is enveloped in a flatness that never gets shaken off. Suedehead and other favourites are left ruefully in the dressing room and the night fizzles out long before ninety minutes are up. “He’ll be off to his hotel for a coco now” observes one fan. Perhaps they know him better than he knows them.
Cheers for that Andy, after last weeks nonsense in Liverpool it's a good time to post it. That place looks a bloody stupid place for a rock n roll show.
ReplyDeleteI should point out that he means "good" Andy and not the other one - the trouble causer
ReplyDeleteAlthough I suspect Palmer may be a bigger trouble causer given a few Stellas
ReplyDeleteI think he is quite entitled to clear off if people are lobbing stuff at him, whether it be sharpened coins, drinks or links of sausages.
ReplyDeleteGood to see another reviewer though, particularly one with a name likely to cause confusion.
very nicely written review.
ReplyDeletePalmer you're not supposed to comment on your own reviews
ReplyDeleteYes,nicely written, but a bit confusing
ReplyDelete