July 3, 2007
Morrissey @ Wolf Trap
The last time DCist reviewed a Morrissey concert -- in September of 2004 -- the Mighty Mozzer had canceled two shows in California the week before taking the stage at D.A.R. that night. As you might know, Morrissey was forced to postpone four shows last week due to a chest cold, proving once again that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And for Morrissey, that's not a bad thing at all.
Finally hitting the East Coast on his never ending tour in support of last year's excellent return to form, Ringleaders of the Tormentors, Morrissey sounded a bit froggy at times, but eventually worked himself into shape in front of a rapturous Wolf Trap crowd last night. He took the stage in a black suit and shirt with a yellow tie and said "By Grand Central Station, I sat down and I wept," which led into rough and tumble versions of "The Queen Is Dead" and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys," both of which suffered from too much vocals and not enough guitar and drums in the sound mix. The band (and sound man) settled down nicely during an outstanding "You Have Killed Me" and got better as the night wore on.
Morrissey addressed his recent ailments saying "As some of you may know, the lungs I'm using tonight are not my own," going on to say he was poisoned last week from watching Fox News. The conservative news channel and our current President were repeated targets during the show. During "Playboys", Morrissey sang "In our lifetime / those who kill / Fox News hands them stardom." As you might expect, the strict vegetarian wasn't very happy with Wolf Trap's "unfortunate" name. He suggested "Bush Trap" as a better alternative.
As for the set, he touched on all points in his career. Classics from The Smiths like "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" and "Girlfriend In A Coma" were standout additions, solo classics like "Everyday Is Sunday" delighted the casual fans and "The National Front Disco" and "You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side", a pair of rockers from Your Arsenal, delighted the obsessives.
Only two enterprising people tried to rush the stage, somewhat of a tradition at Morrissey shows, and neither got very far thanks to venue security. Instead, Morrissey was content to shake the hands of the people in front of the stage. Near the end of the set, before singing a gorgeous "Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", Morrissey deadpanned "I think I've got the sympathy vote. I'll take it." He's not quite fighting fit yet, but he gave his all last night and the crowd certainly reciprocated.
Unfortunately it looks like last night's show took it's toll. Morrissey has postponed his show tonight in Baltimore. What was that about the more things change...?
Wolf Trap Set list:
The Queen Is Dead / The Last Of The Famous International Playboys / You Have Killed Me / Disappointed / Ganglord / The National Front Disco / Let Me Kiss You / Girlfriend In A Coma / Everyday Is Like Sunday / All You Need Is Me / The Boy With The Thorn In His Side / Irish Blood, English Heart / I Will See You In Far Off Places / Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want / First Of The Gang To Die / That's How People Grow Up / I Just Want To See The Boy Happy / How Soon Is Now? // You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side
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Does anyone actually care what Morrissey thinks about politics?
Does anyone actually care what Morrissey thinks about politics?
These people do.
"Some nights I lay in my bedroom and I listen to 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,' and I cry," he tells me. "I cry and cry and cry. I cry like a little bitch, man."
I have a piece of his shirt that I fought to get a shred of at Philly's Tower theater in the fall of 1992. I was 2 bodies back from the stage, and he leaned in and looked right into my eyes during "Certain People I Know".
I'm still waiting to be asked to be the father of his children.
Interesting article, I read something similar (without the academic analysis) in the City Paper a while back.
Does anyone actually care what some loser hill staffer thinks about Morrissey's political views? BTW, the show was great. Mozzer's still got it.
I could have sworn the person a few comments above wrote, "I have a piece of his shit."
I didn't realize that the 4th of July coincided with troll season in DC.
#6, if I had that, I would treasure it like I do the shirt.
Great show last nite!!! However, do artists think they're being original when they make political comments during shows in the DC area?!? Here's my open note to bands/artists playing the DC area:
"Dear artists, I live here. I get to be inundated with political rants every second of every day - lucky me. Let C-SPAN spin me up on politics; you just worry about rocking out."
absolutely tremendous show . . . . .very disappointing for those in baltimore though.
really i was crying through please please please
Return to form? Wasn't that You Are the Quarry? And what form is he returning to? Both of these records sound exactly like every other Morrissey record.