written by Robert Pollard
‘When Morrissey’s playing you fucking know about it’. Never has Noel Gallagher, one half of Manchester’s most overrated band, made so much sense. Last night was the latest proof that Noel was onto something when, during an interview for the documentary The Importance of Being Morrissey, he attempted to articulate the fervour created by the greatest artist of them all jetting in to play live. The anticipation for this gig at the Manchester Arena was tangible.
I’ve seen Morrissey countless times and this gig was right up there with the best. From pop classics such as You’re the One for Me Fatty to a painstaking version of Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want, it showcased everything that makes Morrissey the best. There were scenes of absolute pandemonium at the front of the stalls, proving that Morrissey’s hardcore following remains as dedicated as ever.
As soon as he entered the stage in his usual grand fashion and began an a cappella version of Patti Smith’s Horses I knew we were in for a treat. Morrissey singing my favourite non-Morrissey song a few yards from my face – ‘fucking yes’ I thought.
You Have Killed Me and Everyday is Like Sunday set the tone before all hell broke loose for Fatty. It was bedlam, making complaints about lack of atmosphere (more on that later) seem like blatant anti-Morrissey propaganda from sad bores who pine for the 2002 tour. The highlight, though, was I Know It’s Over. It’s still the best piece of songwriting I have come across and it was a pleasure to hear live. A crowd that had jumped around furiously earlier in the set stood transfixed by the lyrical genius of this truly great piece of art. It’s a song that, for me, defines Morrissey’s approach; poetic, sensitive and dramatic.
The band were clad in ‘We Hate William and Kate’ t-shirts as Morrissey proudly announced: “You’ll notice I wasn’t invited to the Olympics opening ceremony because my smile was judged to be too sincere.” Pouring scorn on the inner workings of the establishment is still one of Morrissey’s great strengths and marks him out from the ever-burgeoning set of musicians who toe the party line in return for an easy ride from the press and the music industry. It’s sad but Morrissey is pretty much alone in the music world as someone actually articulating an opinion. As he repeatedly argues, he isn’t that controversial, but in amongst the tidal wave of crashing bores, he appears outrageously outspoken.
What struck me most last night was the way Morrissey sung the really big lines. ‘It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate’, ‘if the USA doesn’t bomb you’ and ‘You won’t sleep until the earth that wants me finally has me’, were all sung with such gusto it took me aback. No matter how many times he sings those words, it seems they resonate with him as much as they do me. Far from turning up and painting by numbers as his career enters its twilight, Morrissey has the same passion as the guy who sang in The Smiths.
Morrissey’s fondness for risk taking will never subside, and this was evidenced by his decision to make Meat is Murder his set centre piece, with video footage of factory farms and abattoirs playing on the big screen behind for the duration of the extended version. It was full-on gruesome images exposing the mistreatment of animals in an undiluted way. Heavy stuff and not to the liking of some meat eaters in attendance. I heard people complaining it was too much as they left to have a McDonalds. My message to them is simple: what was shown on that video is real. You can hide from it and pretend it isn’t happening all you like but that helps no one. Morrissey, as an artist, is in a position to make statements and he never shirks the opportunity to further the cause of animals. I respect him massively for it. If you want sugar-coated pop, go and see Justin Beiber. Morrissey has opinions and he wants to share them through his art. The fact that they were ‘too much’ for some suggests they are not altogether sure that their meat-eating lifestyle is morally sound.
Perusing Morrissey Solo (which, of course, we all do less and less these days because of the bile and vitriol poured all over the forums there) one would think this gig was crap. Complaints about set lists and lack of atmosphere were posted with alarming regularity. Set list moaning is rife in Morrissey circles. A large number of fans seem to think that they have a divine right to hear the exact list of songs they desire on any given night. It’s ridiculous. A man with a career that straddles four decades and has accumulated an arsenal of songs that are so important to so many people is simply not in a position to please everyone. The whining about set lists annoys me far more than the omission of a song I may have fancied hearing.
The atmosphere gripe is an odd one for me, particularly after last night. At times it was absolute anarchy, as people felt every line and jostled for a position as close as possible to the man himself. Young girls were rescued from being trampled on after losing their footing during the mayhem. I’m not sure I could have taken any more ‘atmosphere’. Either those people want to see the death of a Morrissey fan, or they were simply stood at the back not getting involved when they clearly wanted to. Whichever it was it was daft and it led to inaccurate reports depicting a gig with motionless people not reacting to what was happening on stage. Utter rubbish.
The dissenters can try to derail Morrissey and detract from what was a wonderful gig all they like but most fans will remain steadfast because, in his own strange way, he’s always stayed true to us.
You Have Killed Me
Everyday Is Like Sunday
You’re The One For Me, Fatty
How Soon Is Now?
I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Ouija Board, Ouija Board
Maladjusted
When Last I Spoke To Carol
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
People Are The Same Everywhere
I Know It’s Over
To Give (The Reason I Live)
Scandinavia
Black Cloud
Action Is My Middle Name
I Will See You In Far Off Places
Meat Is Murder
Let Me Kiss You
Speedway
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
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Still Ill
Passions Just Like Mine 
EBess
July 29, 2012
big assumption you’re making that carnivores are exclusively turned off by the meat is murder accompanying footage. i’m vegan and i couldn’t watch the footage at the three shows i went to. i don’t need horrifying images to understand horror and i don’t think being forced to view it at a pop concert necessarily brings anyone to the cause.
Rob
July 29, 2012
Fair point. But surely as a vegan you appreciate the reason he shows that footage? I think it’s an excellent way of making people think when otherwise they might not.
Connor Devine
July 29, 2012
Good review, Rob. I agree with almost all of your points but I’m afraid there was a distinct lack of atmosphere in the standing section from everyone but that small active contingent at the front. Everyone I have spoken to who was sitting says the atmosphere was great but I feel I didn’t get the true Morrissey experience I’ve enjoyed in the past down in the standing section. We were trying our best to get forward but people weren’t letting us and we got more than a few complaints from people as we tried to get past so we just gave up in the end. Even during the encore, which was by far the liveliest part of the gig, I found myself stuck behind a group of motionless, unsinging forty-somethings who refused to let us past. It was quite frustrating as I felt I was being denied full enjoyment by people who might as well have been in a seat for all the difference it made to them.
That’s not a criticism of the muscians. The performance was great, but there was definitely a subdued feel down in the standing section that you might not have picked up on up in the seats.
Rob
July 29, 2012
Hi, I was in the standing section – I picked one up in the week. i was a few people from the front, dead-centre and it was crazy. Brilliant atmosphere. One of the best, if not the best, of all my Morrissey gigs.
Connor Devine
July 29, 2012
Definitely the worst of mine, what a difference a few meters make.
Johnboy
July 29, 2012
Brilliant review – finally the truth about solow is encapsulated. A pernicious website which doesn’t deserve to have the audience it does. Connor Devine – people are entitled to stand and watch Moz without having to jump around – there is nothing wrong with motionless people watching a concert. I don’t sing at Morrissey concerts – strangely, I’ve paid to hear HIM sing. And that’s without people forcing themselves through the crowd to get to the front – if you want the front get there on time.
With regard to the Meat is Murder footage – Morrissey has been using this for some time – I’m not vegetarian, I don’t like the film but I absolutely accept his right to show this at his concerts .
Liam Brightman
July 29, 2012
I completely agree that it was amazing, this review states it all, I loved it. As for the Meat Is Murder footage, that just topped the atmosphere of the song off, bringing it too life unlike the meat!
Elusive Doo
July 30, 2012
If Moz didn’t show footage like that well that would be shocking. In a previous life I kept geese, chickens and a couple of pigs. I had no qualms about killing them because they formed part of my meagre diet. In this life though I just pop to Tesco’s because I don’t have the space for livestock and the butchers make my meat eating life simpler. Plus they do a nice range of cheeses and chutneys which I don’t have the time to produce myself. Another nice piece though, always good to read a passionate review by a fan. ED.
Johnboy
July 30, 2012
By the way, on setlist – we don’t issue commands to Morrissey to come and play in front of us for bags of gold. If we did, and he agreed, then we could dictate what he played. Morrissey comes to a venue near us with his band, his show and the songs he wants to sing. We decide if we want to go. On his terms. I am more than happy to go along on that basis and see the world of Morrissey – MorrisseysWorld is the only place to be. Hint hint.
Rob
July 30, 2012
Morrissey Solo is becoming almost unusable. Agree with you on set list choice – totally his. I also look back over my 20 or so Morrissey gigs and I have seen pretty much every one of my favourite songs, so complaints seem misplaced to me anyway.
Connor Devine
August 1, 2012
Johnboy, I’m glad you enjoyed the gig. I did to. Of course people don’t have to jump around and sing at a concert if they don’t want to but that doesn’t change the fact that it does detract from the atmosphere for those of us who enjoy the holistic concert-going experience.
Ian
August 5, 2012
The highlight, though, was I Know It’s Over. It’s still the best piece of songwriting I have come across and it was a pleasure to hear live. I’m afraid this statement is unjustified! Really the best songwriting you have ever come across?? Hardly!!