Concert review: Morrissey

Photo by Rich Sugg/The Star

One day into his 49th year on this planet, Morrissey still acts like a man half his age.

Wednesday night at the Uptown Theater, before a hearty and, at times fawning, crowd of about 1,200, he played the role of entertainer, band leader and melodramatic curator of his own wounded psyche and perpetually broken heart.

Though the setlist favored more recent material a bit too much,  he kept the vibe crackling, usually by dropping in a Smiths tune or a solo classic. Or by shedding his sweat-sopped shirt and baring his chest. (He works out.)

After a preamble that included provocative "Imperfect List" by Big Hard Excellent Fish through the sound system, Morrissey and the band emerged. He immediately established his proper sense of geography and warmed up his wry sense of humor by chanting: "Missouri, Missouri, Morrissouri, Morrissey .." (Or something like that.)

Then he dropped a bomb, "The Queen Is Dead," a Smiths' standard. For the rest of the show (more than 90 minutes, nearly two dozen songs), he sustained a pace that never fell below a brisk trot. Even the newer tunes prompted a good response from the fanatics up front, especially "Life Is A Pigsty" and "In the Future When All's Well."

One of the biggest moments came early: "Panic" detonated a gale of shrieks and cheers and then a monster sing-along. Later, he started another storm with three classics in a row: "Girlfriend in a Coma," "Every Day Is Like Sunday" and "The Boy With the Thorn In His Side." "Sunday" was especially thrilling -- a joyous expression of melancholy and fatalism.

The other heavy punch: "How Soon Is Now?" which ended the initial set, and the first encore, "The Last of the Famous International Playboys," which, if you believe the buzz in chatrooms, he rarely plays.

His band, dressed in matching red shirts and denim-blue vests and pants, was lean and efficient all night. During "How Soon," drummer Matt Walker banged a large bass drum with big furry mallets, as if he were playing a snare. Nice touch.

Morrissey worked hard all night: He chatted a lot between songs, slapped and shook hands with the diehards up front and changed shirts at least three times. After the final encore, he mopped himself with the shirt he'd been wearing and tossed it into the ravenous crowd. Security intervened and someone walked away with it, covetous eyes on her, as if she were holding the Shroud of Turin. We hate it when our friends get Morrissey's dirty laundry.

Setlist: The Queen Is Dead; First of the Gang to Die; The Youngest Was the Most Loved; In the Future When All's Well; You Have Killed Me; Disappointed; Panic; Let Me Kiss You; I Just Want to See the Boy Happy; The National Front Disco; I Will See You in Far Off Places; All You Need Is Me; Girlfriend In A Coma; Every Day Is Like Sunday; The Boy With the Thorn in His Side; Irish Blood, English Heart; At Last I Am Born; I've Changed My Plea to Guilty; Life Is A Pigsty; How Soon Is Now? Encore: The Last of the Famous International Playboys; You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side.

Comments

[Kae Ri]

That was me that caught the pink Shroud of Turin, (actually it was lavender). I wish I could thank the man himself!

[Heather]

you could charge to let people smell it.

[Gary]

No comments on the opening act Kristeen Young? I'd be curious to read how she was.

[Tim Finn]

I missed her (was detained until about 9 p.m.)

[Karl Hungus]

Damn that American Idol.

[Tim Finn]

Yep.

[Kelly]

The last time I saw Morrissey was November 5, 1997 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. I have loved him for over 20 years now. I'm not a crier, but I wept through the first three songs. What a fabulous show.

[marie lodikins]

He just turned 48 NOT 49. I know he's sexy.

[Tim Finn]

I was at that Liberty Hall show. Frankly, that one was better -- better venue, better set list. He's still a killer, live. I'd see him again tomorrow if I could.

[Tim Finn]

Right... he just turned 48, which means he just started his 49th year ("One day into his 49th year ...")

[marie lodikins]

don't try to confuse me. just say he's 48 years old. GAWD!

[marie lodikins]

@tim finn: that doesn't make sense. today would make him 48 years and two days old. don't confuse the reader.

[Tim Finn]

You need to watch that Paul McCartney video.

[DaveKCMO]

i saw him at the tulsa show last spring, which was far more intimate, but the surroundings were not nearly as luscious and acoustically perfect as the uptown. his vocal ability is still top notch and i nearly creamed when he curled up in a ball under the bass drum for an interlude between songs. amazing show.

[Mark W]

i almost went this time. Sounds like I missed a killer show. Cool he came to KC.
Saw his Lawrence show. I heard in his contract he had to have a ambulance parked out front because someone might faint. He had one in front of the Gap. Enjoyed The Smoking Popes as the warmup. I snaped a picture of him getting into his touring bus.

[Bern]

It was a great show. His voice was great and his lyrics still resonate. It's such a treat to see someone who actually says something in his music. He has amazing charisma and he is definitely a hottie no matter what age he is.

[Dean]

Kristeen Young was brutal. Actually, annoying is a more accurate description. To the credit of the KC crowd, she received polite applause. But we thought she sounded like Bjork on Xanax.

[Sunshine]

I enjoyed your review nearly as much as the show, Tim! What a great experience it was. The beauty of "Life is a Pigsty" still resonates in my head. Jason Harper's review ( http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2007/05/no_one_can_say_that.php ) was a good read as well.