It happened. We all joked that it couldn’t possibly happen, but Morrissey actually showed up for a show in the Bay Area!
Morrissey puts a lot of effort into music/visuals pre show, and the San Jose show was no exception. For this tour, we were treated to a video montage of the heroes of Morrissey’s youth: The Ramones, Allen Ginberg, James Cagney, Nico, Mott the Hoople, Charles Aznavour, Chris Andrews, Edith Sitwell to name a few.
Moz was completely present, and played for over an hour before retreating for an encore. During his set, he reached out to the crowd on numerous occasions to accept notes and cards. He was a man of few words; the banter was limited to a an excited mention of his upcoming album. I’m still a bit miffed that there was no apology (or even a mention) of the four no-shows over the past five years. No matter, any Morrissey fan knows Moz does what he wants, when he wants, if he wants.
Moz’s voice was in fine form, and we were lucky enough to hear the first performance of “Asleep” in over twenty years. That was really all I needed, but he delivered so much more, including several songs off his forthcoming LP, “World Peace is None of Your Business.” I don’t know how it really fits in this review, but I just have to mention – I’ve never seen a pair of jeans with such a blousy cut. They looked like they came from an oversized denim wide-legged zoot suit.
Unlike Morrissey, the South Bay crowd was surprisingly flat and low energy. That all seemed to change in the second encore, when fan after fan began hurling themselves towards the stage like salmon swimming and leaping upstream to spawn. Clearly almost everyone got the memo that, one at a time, a gentle hug was appropriate. Unfortunately, a couple of yahoos turned it into a violent ballet, and mid-bar, it was all over.
Setlist:
Hand in Glove
That’s How People Grow Up
Ganglord
Speedway
I Have Forgiven Jesus
World Peace Is None Of Your Business
I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Yes, I Am Blind
The Bullfighter Dies
Life Is a Pigsty
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Earth Is The Loneliest Planet
Trouble Loves Me
Meat Is Murder
First of the Gang to Die
The Youngest Was the Most Loved
I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday
The National Front Disco
–
Asleep
One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
