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.