Ticket
Morrissey
G-MEX
23rd December 2006

The last time I saw a gig at G-Mex was in '93: James supported by Radiohead. I was fifteen. At one point a drunken scally got his cock out and pissed on my toes. Fortunately, last night's Christmas Mozzalini special was a more civilised affair.

Before his lordship's grand entrance we were treated to footage of the New York Dolls, Gigliola Cinquetti, Brigitte Bardot, Vince Taylor and a James Dean screen test for 'East of Eden'. Moz certainly sticks with his heroes. There was also a film of a drag queen singing a fucked-up version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' - a performance so eerie and David Lynch-esque, it set my teeth on edge...in a good way!

On the dot of 9pm, Steven P. strode on stage covering his face with a Sasha Distel LP and, after giving a few papal waves, ripped into 'Panic'. 'Youngest was the Most Loved' and 'You Have Killed Me' also rocked, due mainly to Tex Mex guitarist Jesse Tobias, whose playing has really added meat to the Moz sound; he's great to watch too.

Of the Smiths tracks performed, 'Please, Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' was the most successful. The trumpet solo at the end (replacing the mandolin coda) made my Christmas. Moz changed the words to 'Let me get WHO I want' for a touch of added pathos.

'Dear God, Please Help Me' was a vocal masterclass. It amazes me that an artist can perform a song like this so stirringly, and still be pestered for declarations about sexuality.

Other high points were 'I've Changed My Plea to Guilty', 'National Front Disco' and 'How Soon is Now?', which the band managed to nail in a way the Smiths never did.

On this tour, at the end of the set's epic tracks ('Life is a Pigsty', etc) drummer Matt Chamberlain gets to smack the fuck out of a giant J. Arthur Rank-style gong AND a huge horizontal bass drum that flashes when you hit it. Lucky bastard.

'Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice' seemed a slightly flippant closer after 'Please...' but it's a lyrical belter (No te divertes con pappy!) and lifted the mood, I suppose.

Between songs, Moz warned us about 'nasty' Jamie Oliver and 'stoned policewomen'. He also said something along the lines of:

'As you may remember, I was once in a group, but I lifted myself free of the mire and now, 59 years later, here I am in a Miles Platting Social Club on my third turn of the night...and that is, in part, thanks to you and of course...thanks to me.'

For some reason Morrissey ripped his shirt off FOUR times during this gig. Now, don't get me wrong, he's still a charismatic old codger, but did we need to see QUITE that much of the royal moobs?

The band lifted him up on their shoulders before the encore. You can watch this lovely moment with the link below.

Setlist:

Panic / First Of The Gang To Die / The Youngest Was The Most Loved / You Have Killed Me / Disappointed / Ganglord / I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now / William, It Was Really Nothing / Irish Blood, English Heart / I Will See You In Far-off Places / Girlfriend In A Coma / Everyday Is Like Sunday / In The Future When All's Well / I've Changed My Plea To Guilty / Let Me Kiss You / The National Front Disco / Dear God, Please Help Me / How Soon Is Now? / I Just Want To See The Boy Happy / Life Is A Pigsty // Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want / Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice