Everyday Is Like Sunday

Sorry, I couldn't resist that title. I thought today was as good a chance as any to finally talk about last Thursday's concert. I had seen Morrissey live a few times before, so I felt I was somewhat prepared...

The first time I saw the Mozzer was in 1992, Springfield, Massachusetts--it was my junior year of college, and around the time I really started getting into his work. He had just released Your Arsenal, and I was taken by the aggressive, guitar sound (at times rockabilly) that somehow worked alongside his personal, introspective lyrics. In retrospect, it was an approach he had already successfully utilized during his time with the Smiths, but I wasn't as aware of that music when it was originally released. This album, however, came out right during the grunge music years... and it seemed a bit more energetic and fresh in comparison. There was also the "look" of Morrissey (again, sort of a rockabilly meets beat poet) and the opinionated yet ambiguous way that he presented himself, which both confounded and intrigued the public. He just seemed awfully cool and different... somehow I always find myself going "against the grain."



Another album followed in the spring of 1994--the more reflective Vauxhall and I. It seemed a perfect "release" for me at the time (especially the track "Hold On To You Friends"), as I had experienced a rather rocky, emotional year, and was just figuring out how to find my footing. I appreciated the comfort of the artist's work so much that I traveled out to New York City to try and meet him during a signing he was giving at Tower Records. What I found were blocks of fans lined on the streets for the opportunity, making me realize the extent to which people had connected with his work. Unfortunately, I did not get in... I stood out for a few hours, and only caught a glimpse of the artist, holding up a sign that read "I'm sorry" for the many he did not have time to get to--I think that simple gesture said something about the respect he felt for his fans, in contrast to the acerbic nature of some of his opinions and lyrics. 



Things got quieter as the years went on... although I frequently played his new material during my stint as a DJ, I didn't find it quite as melodic and engaging, even though the love of all things Britpop was getting stronger and stronger for me. I did find myself going back to the early Smiths albums, and realizing that these were even more special for their heartfelt music and lyrics. 

In 2004, Morrissey returned to form with the album You Are the Quarry, and it had some splendid songs that seemed to come back around to a more simple, direct form of songwriting. After a long absence, a new tour was announced, with a special date at New York's legendary Apollo Theater... considering my love of soul music and Britpop, it was too tempting to resist. That was a lovely concert... with a lush theater providing quite the backdrop to Moz's melodramatic flourishes... plus, he was finally playing Smiths songs! Hearing "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" live was sheer joy... I caught him again in Boston a few months later, but that was marred by a drunken girlfriend who was causing me trouble at the time... heaven knows I was "miserable" now.



So this year, Morrissey was finally coming to me... Albany's Palace Theater, and I looked forward to bringing my sweet wife Sarah and good friend Frank to share in the experience. As I mentioned, the fantastic independent station WEQX was giving tickets away the other week, and I thought I would give it a shot... and won! So our upgrade to the second row promised to make this show all the more memorable.

There were the expected Morrissey clones--hair quiffs and moody black... people you half-expected to have a book of poetry under their arm. The one thing I haven't mentioned yet is that people have often thought that I resembled the artist (especially during the early 90s), and I haven't heard the last of that once Sarah and Frank made the same observation. I wondered if Moz himself considered it... we were literally looking straight across from each other during the show!

Yes, we realized that our second row seats were actually in the first-- we couldn't have been closer to the stage in some respects. We only caught a little of opening act Kristeen Young, which sounded interesting to me... more like a Bjork clone to Sarah. This was followed by a stream of film clips which I mentioned yesterday... offering a taste of some of Morrissey's early influences, including writer Oscar Wilde, whose wit the Brit certainly shares. 



Once Moz took the stage, you could feel the energy. Devoted fans who held on to their heart, and mouthed every lyric. I enjoyed doing the latter, especially to such songs as "You Have Killed Me" and "Everyday is Like Sunday." Morrissey looked older and didn't seem to move around as much as I remembered, but he and his band certainly did not lack energy or playing ability. At times I found myself impressed at how strong the singer's voice remains... he belted a cover of Frankie Valli's "To Give (The Reason I Live)" that made you think it was a song of his own creation. 

A Morrissey show is not a typical rock show, I think. Because of the nature of his music, it has the air of melancholy... slight depression... yet the music usually succeeds in countering that, and turning it into something quite emotional and, at times, uplifting. This was the case again at this show, although at times I felt it veered too much into a downbeat direction. Case in point: during his rendition of The Smiths' controversial "Meat Is Murder," the outspoken vegetarian showed film clips of the abuses of cattle and poultry farms. I have seen such footage before and been moved by it (I haven't actually eaten red meat in over ten years), but I think showing it in this venue was a bit much. Perhaps something a bit more abstract would have made it easier to digest... my poor wife averted her eyes, and I think many in the audience did not know how to react following this depressing visual... the songs that followed didn't help lift the spirits much. I think it's always a very fine line with this type of music, to not make it too despairing. 

Energy came back to the show in a big way with the common spectacle of fans trying to rush the stage and offer the singer a hug. It is always interesting... I think has been a part of every show I have seen. What happens is a dramatic tug of war between fans, security, and the artist... in some ways it is more "rock and roll" than the more typical shows I see! I was tempted at one point, but did not want to jeopardize my perfect seat. The same reason, I took very few photos... proper cameras were actually prohibited, but once I saw others disobeying and snapping shots with their phones, I decided to do the same. By the end of the concert and an encore of The Smiths classic "How Soon Is Now?" the true emotional energy of a Morrissey concert was revealed, and we were lucky to be able to witness it live, up-front and direct.

After the show, Sarah and Frank kidded me about the resemblance, and also picked up on the fact that many of my "moves" when I am performing seem borrowed from Morrissey. Looks like I have been found out! I hadn't really thought of it, but there is something I have picked up on with some of his stage antics, the same way that I have observed soul artists, The Beatles, Morten Harket, and David Bowie over the years. I especially liked one review of the concert that described Morrissey's use of the microphone cord as resembling a whip for a lion tamer... too true--I have used that trick, as well as the overdramatic sauntering around and falling to the stage. Why not?... I'm not really conscious of it, but I guess I have always been a bit of a sponge for pop music, much like Morrissey himself... 

One cool ending to the night: we ended up landing a V.I.P. pass, and hung out afterwards to try and meet the reclusive singer. After a bit of a wait, security came out and said that unfortunately he had "long gone"... we started to head out, when the singer's long-time guitarist Boz Boorer came out to greet some friends. We managed to speak to him as well, and I finally got my copy of Vauxhall and I signed... not by Morrissey, but I guess this was the next best thing (Boorer had also collaborated on this album that I so enjoyed). 

As I wrote, the next day I was exhausted... but did pull myself together to perform with my improv group. I guess people enjoyed it, but I had mixed feelings. It's hard to just switch it on when you're not really feeling it... especially with comedy. I wondered how musicians like Morrissey manage to do it every night on tour? Performing is not easy, and it must be challenging for the acts who care enough to give their fans a great show every time... Moz seems to find a way--I have yet to attend a bad concert, where he didn't seem to be giving it his all... I'm sure it won't be the last.

All photos ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Related Links:

"Morrissey Pleases Crowd at the Palace," Albany Times Union, October 19, 2012

"Morrissey is the same old Morrissey (in seal-hunt free Albany, N.Y.)," National Post, October 19, 2012

Morrissey's Official Facebook page


Still intrigued? Check out this great documentary we discovered yesterday:
"The Importance of Being Morrissey"

Out of Sight

We were both pretty exhausted today... mostly hid out in our new home, sleeping and watching movies... Rock of Ages was pure cheese. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone... even the headbangers. A documentary on Morrissey was much better--still settling in after the other night's festivities.

Before Moz took the stage the other night, they played several odd, vintage film clips, and some interesting music videos. I recognized The New York Dolls, Sparks, and some of the old crooners, but this oldie was new to me:



"Out of Sight, Out of Mind" was performed by the group Shocking Blue back in 1971. I only ever heard of them from the song "Venus," which topped the U.S. charts around that same time. Apparently they were from the Netherlands. This song is cool in a sort of mod way... Interesting to learn what made an impact on artist like Morrissey.

Speaking of influences, it's pretty cool that I can now walk to a comic shop here in Schenectady... would be even cooler if I was still that into comics.

How Soon Is... Now!

Spent the day working from home, doing more transcribing and formatting an article about Alex Ross, and waiting for the cable guy to hook us up. Pretty solitary day...

Tonight we're heading out on the town to see Morrissey in concert! Definitely one of my late high school/college favorites--especially the music he did with the Smiths. Looking forward to it... especially since we won second row seats last week from the great station WEQX-- an upgrade from tickets that were already pretty good! 

I won the tickets by guessing the DJ's favorite Moz track--it was "Ask" by the Smiths. Here's the song I think is my favorite by the gloomster... "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" (even considered having this played at our reception... heh, heh...):

Tomorrow (and What Must Come Before)

It has been a scorcher couple of days... temperatures hitting the 90s with humidity feels like 100 degrees. Hopefully it will break tomorrow...

Morrissey is coming to the Capital Region! I can't believe it, but it's true... tickets go on sale tomorrow morning for an October show at the Palace Theater. Back in the early '90s I was a big fan--loved the Smiths, and his solo albums Your Arsenal and Vauxhall & I,... around that time people said I somewhat resembled him... huh. He had a pretty cool look going back then, so I guess I appreciated the thought.

One of his songs from that period was called Hold On To Your Friends, and I've been thinking of the idea of lasting friendships a lot lately in terms of our wedding. Of course I'm marrying my best friend, but what of others you come in contact with during your life? My groomsman Frank and I were talking about the idea of a guest list being something of a time capsule, representing where you are at that moment in your life. Although there are the occasional misfires, one of the advantages to being older is that I am a pretty good judge of the friends I can count on... I look forward to celebrating with them real soon.