Always A Pleasure
"Even now in the final hours of my life I am falling in love" Although he may not be as youthful as in the daffodil-toting days of The Smiths; Morrissey still has the ability to raise this Glasgow crowd - a mixture of disaffected youth and world-weary older folk - into the throes of ecstasy. Often teetering on the edges of passionate despair, it is quite clear that is Morrissey were to jump off a bridge, the hundreds here tonight would follow; yes we are falling in love with the born-performer all over again.
Although the set list is pretty irrelevant as the charismatic balladeer could please a crowd with anything, there is a good helping of crowd pleasers and more obscure tracks, including a new b-side, 'Gang Lord' and older Morrissey solo tracks, such as 'Trouble Loves Me', which goes down a storm. Smiths' numbers also make an appearance, with 'Still Ill' and 'Girlfriend In A Coma' pleasing the fans, these tracks seem fascinatingly far from obvious choices and are also a clear change from the last tour's stable favourites. A cover is even thrown in "for the older ones", Magazine's 'A Song From Under The Floorboards' goes down well and sounds comfortable nestling between Morrissey's hand-penned wonders.
'Last Of The Gang' kicks off the show in style with the crowd in fine voice and Morrissey gladdened to be on the stage in front of an eager Glasgow crowd again, "My heart belongs to Glasgae" he coos. New single 'The Youngest Was The Most Loved' has an early look in, getting a great injection of energy from the live performance, although it may not be such an instant pleaser in recorded form. Similarly 'Let Me Kiss You' is an often-overlooked track from Morrissey's last album 'You Are The Quarry', but it proves to be a rousing sing-a-long.
Morrissey's band of mini Moz's rock their hearts out constantly tonight, the sound tight to perfection and with each getting their turn in the limelight, despite playing with one of the biggest personalities and icons in the music world. Guitarist Boz Boorer merrily sports a double-necked guitar in the colours of the Italian flag for one track, while he settles for playing a stand full of glasses of water for the fragile intro to the sublime and marvellously melodramatic 'Life Is A Pigsty'; it's so emotional that one boy even faints in awe.
Melancholy is cast aside with a double dose of cheer from new tracks 'I Am Born', complete with earth shaking over-sized cymbals and the lilting 'To Me You Are A Work Of Art'. 'I Will See You In Far Off Places' is another new success with the communal cry of "And if the USA doesn't bomb you" as strong as the constant "Mor-ri-sey" football cries, even as the thundering bass threatens to topple the entire crowd. We are treated to plenty of snippets of onstage banter, with Morrissey playing the crowd perfectly by asking them if the venue is in the infamous Gorbals and coming on stage to 'You'll Never Walk Alone"'.
'How Soon Is Now' closes the set proper with Morrissey whipping his mic lead like a silver-haired tiger on a leash to the epic strains, however he soon returns for a more recent classic, 'English Heart, Irish Blood'. Then the great golden gong sounds and the Mozfather has left the building, with one and all united in the wish that he returns very soon.