Morrissey live!

Morrissey, Kristeen Young
Aragon Ballroom, Chicago
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The generally reclusive, somewhat tour-shy Morrissey came out of his shell once again in support of 2006’s Ringleader Of The Tormentors (Attack), even if it was for just a single day in America. Though he’d previously debuted the material at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas with a handful of Stateside spring shows, all the other dates have been in other countries, making this particular Windy City ticket highly coveted. But the former leader of The Smiths-turned-solo star didn’t disappoint as he mixed new material with an impressive list of chestnuts, treating his faithful to a solid 90-minutes of magnificent moaning.

With one of the most distinct voices in modern rock, Morrissey dived deep into the lost treasures for The Smiths’ “Panic,” crying out the unforgettable refrain of “hang the D.J.” with sweltering passion. He moved straight into the impressive pair of “The Youngest Was The Most Loved” and “You Have Killed Me,” which rank not all that far behind the iconic opener and were greeted with fervent audience participation. The switch-up between the present and past continued with solo smash “Everyday Is Like A Sunday,” carried by a series of jarring guitars, ramped up percussion, and Morrissey’s mighty roars.

His superb range was the sole focus of piano-based ballad “Dear God Please Help Me,” but with all the excitement from the first segment, it made for the set’s sole lull. Luckily he and the highly seasoned backing band sped up the mood with The Smiths’ “Girlfriend In A Coma,” which was an especially welcome surprise considering he has rarely brought it out in the past. Its follow-up, “Irish Blood, English Heart” (off 2004’s comeback album You Are The Quarry), pumped with similar insistence, though the true showstopper was the classic “How Soon Is Now?,” characterized by its series of epic crescendos and gong-slamming finale.

At one point in the show, Morrissey hinted his lack of U.S. touring could be a result of the minimal media coverage given to the last two records. While his press kit may not be stacked nearly as high as it was throughout the ’80s, the singer rarely grants interviews, thus being the catalyst for his own complaint. Another somewhat egotistical moment came when Moz removed his shirt, rubbed it all over his sweaty torso, and then tossed it in the crowd. Even so, the first several rows clamored to get a piece of the garment and nearly toppled over one another in the frenzy.

Just before the encore, two obsessive fans tried to pass the hefty barricades and land on the even taller stage, but were only offered a distant high five while being hauled away by security. But Morrissey returned unfazed, offering a chilling rendition of “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want,” another infrequently performed gem that translated beautifully to the live setting. Though it remains to be seen if the ’80s idol will be back anytime soon, he provided a generally mesmerizing and entrancing evening loaded with his most generous Chicago helping of The Smiths’ catalogue to date.

Also along for the ride was warmup act Kristeen Young, whose current single, “Kill The Father,” is on the headliner’s Attack label. The tune is taken from forthcoming album The Orphans, which was on ample display during her set with drummer Baby Jeff White. Young spent most of the slot behind a keyboard, though she occasionally took to the microphone and evoked Kate Bush’s ethereal tones, but with more muscular arrangements.

— Andy Argyrakis

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly