Hero's return

David Cheal reviews Morrissey at the Forum, NW4

'GOOD evening, and welcome to sing-along-a-Mozza." Thus began the third of four nights in north London midway through the latest UK tour by Morrissey, the former Smiths singer who, contrary to convention, is doing the circuit even though he doesn't have an album to promote (he doesn't even have a recording contract). Ten out of 10 for breaking out of the tired old album-tour-album-tour treadmill. But did Morrissey deliver the festival of popular song promised by his opening gambit?

Not really. Like an extreme version of the curate's egg, it was really very well done in parts, while in others it was barely even warmed up. The chief problem was that the momentum that built from the show's brisk and rather exciting opening minutes (highlights of which included a sparkling rendition of The Boy Racer) was allowed to dissipate; the tempo slowed, the moment was gone. Also, there was something rather lacklustre about Morrissey's performance. He seemed bored.

And the songs? Anyone who went along hoping for a hatful of Smiths hits will have been disappointed. Meat Is Murder made a rare appearance, presaged by a speech about chopping off the heads of the Royal Family (big cheers for that one), but chiefly the material was drawn from Morrissey's solo albums. This, in itself, was not necessarily a bad thing. As himself rather than as a Smith, Morrissey has recorded some good songs - and to remind us, he sang lovely renditions of Now My Heart Is Full and Alma Matters. But these were sporadic eruptions of pleasure in a show that ran out of fizz.

The same could not be said of the crowd. Like sperm swarming frantically around an egg, the most devoted fans positioned themselves at the front of the stage, jostling and wriggling, desperate to reach their ultimate goal: the man with the quiff and the admirably smooth torso. Bouncers were on hand to thwart the invaders, but it was hard to see why they went to such efforts to do so - none of those who squeezed past the cordon meant Morrissey any harm, they wanted only to kiss his hand and give him a cuddle. Clearly, he's still a hero to some. Nevertheless, this was the performance of a man who has long since begun the slow descent from the peak of his powers.

Touring until Dec 6.