"Misery Mozz" by Jamie McGinnes

It is curious that Mancunian Morrissey should choose Liverpool as his North-West reunion gig.

This was part of the first UK tour in over two years for the former Smiths frontman who presently resides in Los Angeles.

Unsurprisingly, there was a heavy contingent of Mancs, as confirmed by the huge crowd response to Morrissey's "hello to all the rough men and women from Manchester here tonight."

CROONING

Just as the tunes harp back to his 80's career, the audience themselves, being generally 30 or over, are mementoes of the past. There are scatterings of die-hard Union Jack-wearing fans.

There was certainly no attempt to woo new admirers with a predictable blend of gloomy crooning.

Surrounded on all sides by teddy boy, quiff wearing clones, the band had the appearance of 50's jivesters.

In the same, retrospective way, Morrissey made nostalgic (if unintentional) tributes to his 80's life with the Smiths.

His tunes haven't changed much, his voice is no different and what's more, the inspirational guitar riffs of Johnny Marr are missing.

There are flashes of quality, from songs such as the intriguingly-titled November Spawned A Monster, but little or nothing to separate most of them from one another.

Lyrically, Morrissey's song-writing has always been strong, if downbeat and depressing. His solo career is no different from the melancholy of the Smiths.

Everyone has their low points, although it's difficult to believe a successful musician is consistently depressed.

WIZARDRY

Showing his veggie beliefs, Morrissey admonishes those gathered to give up eating animals, before appropriately leaping into Meat Is Murder - only recently reintroduced into his live show.

It's a welcome, if controversial, addition to his set with it's powerful critique of the meat-eating modern culture.

Encore song Last Night I Dreamt allows for some cracking fiffs and Morrissey vocal wizardry - so lacking in many of the songs.

STAR RATING

Morose-y ***