Summary by Naomi Colvin

I thought that Battersea was very impressive indeed, not least because Morrissey was so obviously enjoying himself. He was very chatty, and there was an awful lot of giggling going on... especially during "Shoplifters..." when people were literally being carried off kicking and screaming... Even when his ring got stolen, he sat at the edge of the stage, looking slightly bemused for a moment, and giggled. The atmosphere in the audience was friendly and relaxed, too - and the place was far fuller than I thought it would be. Perhaps the only thing preventing it from being my Dream Moz Gig was the distance between the barrier and the stage. Security was fussy, but not excessively forceful, basically because it didn't need to be. Of the few who escaped its grasp, only a couple at most actually got up on stage (one to hug Alain for some reason). Everyone else had to be content with hand-to-hand contact. As a result, there was a certain lack of the intimacy that I think you really need at a Morrissey concert - Making eye contact just isn't the same if you can't see the blue of his irises...

Incidentally, the concert sounded excellent, with "Ambitious Outsiders" in particular coming into its own in a way it really doesn't on vinyl. I'll leave you to notice that I only mention the songs in passing, and to draw the obvious conclusions (hmmm). The setlist was unsurprising (notwithstanding the exclusion of "The Teachers..." which was soundchecked but not played), but very enjoyable anyway. I was hoping he'd pull something special out of the bag for Battersea - for instance, just plucking a name out of the air, "The Queen Is Dead" - but this is really nit-picking. The concert was wonderful, and he was lovely... and I'm never satisfied, that's all.

[chorus] But if only he'd tour more often...

Summary by Stephen.B.

The band powered through the set with punkish enthusiasm, with a really powerful chugga, chugga bass ala 'The Stranglers', this set the tone. The not fully sold out crowd responded well, plenty of old style moshing at the front just like the good old days. It took the encore, 'Shoplifters', for the the first stage invaders to breach the moat, all good fun. The only worrying note is that everyone seemed too old to sustain many more years of this sort of event. There is no new generation of Moz fans in the UK. Maybe he should try some festivals next summer, the band are tight enough and powerful to do the job.

Four days later and I feel that it was even better than I originally thought. Very powerful, managing to pull it off in a very strange, slightly congruous venue, his best for many years.

Summary by LLivermore

A long and arduous trudge to get there, so much so that I almost thought I might miss the show.

I had planned to walk there from my place in Westbourne Park (Notting Hill area), but because I first had to go to Euston Station to get a ticket to Chester for tomorrow's show, I ended up taking the tube to Sloane Square and walking from there.

Which would have been fine, according to my stupid map, since the Chelsea Bridge, just down the road from Sloane Square, led right past the Battersea Power Station. Which it did, after a fashion, but there was this massive concatenation of railway lines and industrial yards in between, and while I could see and hear the BPS (there were floodlights cascading all across the sullen December sky), I had to walk another mile or so around to get to the stupid place.

Fortunately, I got there in plenty of time to stand around in front of the stage for half an hour or more, waiting for Morrissey & Co to finish doing whatever it is they do backstage before shows. I completely missed the opening band, of course (I'm assuming it was Elcka, and I'd already seen them twice in San Francisco).

Mozzer came out sporting even shorter hair than he had on the US leg of the tour, and opened with "Do Your Best And Don't Worry." This was followed by "Boy Racer," and after that, I began to lose track, because the crowd got really hectic. Since I wasn't feeling well, I had intended on staying more toward the back, but as it turned out I had little choice in the matter, as the force of the crowd carried me right up to the front, and though I had to use all my feeble energy just to stay on my feet, I had a very close-up view of Mr. Moz for most of the proceedings.

"Reader Meet Author," "Now My Heart Is Full," "Billy Budd," and "Speedway" were some highlights. "As some of you know, I used to be the drummer for The Smiths," was how he introduced "Paint A Vulgar Picture." "We thought we'd never do this, but we've released a Christmas single," was the intro for the final song, "Satan Rejected My Soul."

He didn't play the obvious one (does he ever?), "You're The One For Me, Fatty," with its "all over Battersea" reference, and I was sad about that. Nor did he play "London," which he did at both of the last two shows he played here in 1995. But he did greet us with "Hello, you sexy Londoners," which was very generous on his part, I think, since at least half the crowd was composed of yobbos and galumphs of varying sizes and shapes, few of them appealing. But never mind, I'm off to see him again tomorrow at Chester.

Summary by Phil Gilbert

Battersea is quite a rough area of London, so pre-gig drinks were contemplated with slight caution. My friends and I walked into a pub which looked typically Thomas á Beckett-esque, assuming it to be filled with frightening skinheads. Instead, it was filled to brim with quiffs and Morrissey T-Shirts. I felt suddenly at home. Midland '97 was the group that organised the gig and before going in there was an entertainment area but most people just wanted to get in the auditorium.

When we finally got in, we waited around half an hour for Elcka who were pretty good, although I hadn't heard any of their songs before. After another wait involving Morrissey chants and shoves, he finally came on to "The Operation" drum solo, which seems to be the norm on this tour. Bouncing into song, the whole gig was very intimate and had an air of unpredictable tension to it which made it emotionally draining. He was quite talkative, coming out with a "Hello, you sexy Londoners!" Then, "Yes, I too thought it might actually be in the Station..." He introduced "Paint A Vulgar Picture" with the words: "As you may know I was the drummer... in the Smiths." There was a huge roar, but towards the end of the song Morrissey seemed to be smashing his head with the microphone while mouthing something none of us could hear. Before "Roy's Keen" he said something like: "This song is about SW13... which means nothing." "We never thought it would happen, but we've decided to release a Christmas single..." ("Satan Rejected My Soul") Then, he finished the pre-encore gig with the words "Merry Christmas!"

After Shoplifters he said a quick "I love you!" and fled the stage. Only a few people got on stage, though a group of three managed to make Alain drop his guitar which he seemed annoyed about. Other than that there wasn't much of a chance to get on stage because it was quite a big venue, that appeared almost sold-out. Overall, Morrissey was on top form, really energetic and his voice was strong. People complained a little about the shortness of the gig - but it's meant to be like that. It's not Oasis with "Champagne Supernova" going on for 12 minutes - it's meant to be punchy and energetic. Hurrah for Morrissey...

Summary by Bradley Gene Smith

This was a very special night for me, my first ever Morrissey concert... I'm an American studying in Canterbury, England for a year and I came here as soon as Moz left for America, so I completely missed the American leg and I feared I would never get to see the ole guy. But then wonderful Battersea and my hopes and prayers were answered.

The openers were alright... though I think the singer has been watching his Echo and the Bunnymen and Pulp videos a little too often. But still a pretty good diversion for half an hour. Then oh splendid moment, the man himself. I and the rest of the crowd went wild. I managed to make my way to the front center and even though I had to fight to stay on my feet it was worth every minute. I won't go into the set list, as that's been done before...

His stage banter was quite funny, "Hello, you sexy Londoners." at the beginning. but at times a bit puzzling... before "Trouble Loves Me," over the chants of "Morrissey, Morrissey, Morrissey..." he said, "I don't mind being heckled. I mean I don't mind being heckled." Puzzling? Yes. Before "Roy's Keen..." "This is a song about, uh, no one you know." And before "Spring-heeled Jim..." "this was partly inspired by SW 11... SW 11, which of course means nothing." This of course was truly puzzling for me but later a British friend explained that it is the post code for Vauxhall. And of course everyone has mentioned, "I use to be the drummer for the Smiths" line, as well as, "Merry Christmas" and yes, I have told all of my friends that Morrissey wished me a "Merry Christmas." Sad? Probably. And finally before "Shoplifters..." he announced "This is called 'Sorrow Will Come In The End" and I thought, "wow, that's an odd one to play", but then I was blessed with those opening three chords of "Shoplifters" and I was truly happy. But for me the highlights were "Paint A Vulgar Picture" which was rather poignant in regards to recent Smiths and Moz records. "Trouble Loves Me" which is one of favorites. "Now My Heart Is Full" which did bring tears to my eyes and my favorite off the new album "Satan Rejected My Soul."

And as I left Battersea, I looked down at my watch and realized just how short of a set it was but also realized, it didn't matter, it was amazing. And later in bed I realized, wow, he didn't play any of his hits and only a smattering of singles, yet it was still one of the best concerts I've ever seen. Which I think is a true testament to his songwriting ability.