The godfather of all things depressing and sad, Morrissey, played a very intimate gig about 75 minutes north of San Francisco last night. It may have been a trek to get there, but it was well worth it. The ex-Smiths frontman played favorites from both his solo catalogue, such as “Hairdresser On Fire,” “Suedehead,” and a banjo-inflected “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” as well as three songs from his seminal band, “I Want The One I Can’t Have,” “Meat Is Murder,” and the stunning show closer “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” The master of misery was also in fine bantering form, the best mood I’d ever seen him in during my six or so live experiences, telling the crowd, “in case you’re wondering, we’re not Hall & Oates and repeatedly picking members of the adoring throng out to listen to their random shouts of dedication and infatuation.
Truthfully, I didn’t hold much hope for this show, as Moz hasn’t released anything new in over four years and is getting quite old at this point, but I was more than pleasantly surprised at his live act. The set list was great and even the new tracks he unleashed were catchy and not boring, as much of his mid-to-late ’90s material had been. If he’s coming to your town, shake the cobwebs of doubt from your brain and venture out and experience the extravaganza yourself.
Morrissey’s set list from Santa Rosa, CA, show (09.09.02):
“I Want The One I Can’t Have”
“Hairdresser On Fire”
“Suedehead”
“Little Man, What Now?”
“First Of The Gang To Die”
“Jack The Ripper”
“Late Night, Maudlin Street”
“I Like You”
“Mexico”
“Sister I’m A Poet”
“Alsatian Cousin”
“Everyday Is Like (Banjo) Sunday”
“The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores”
“Meat Is Murder”
“November Spawned A Monster”
“Speedway”
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“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”
