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Galway, Ireland (Nov. 27, 1999)

A Brief Encounter

Posted By: Jim Roche <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, Nov. 29 1999, at 11:47 a.m.

Maybe I'm wrong but I get the feeling that Morrissey really enjoys playing in Ireland. There's not a huge audience here tonight, maybe 6 or 7 hundred (Nearly capacity) but there is a strange atmosphere of both curiosity and reverence that is sometimes unique to this part of the world. The Black box looks exactly as the name describes. During Sack's performance, it's about quarter full. The crowd are amused and intrigued by this quirky, melodic band. Whoever that singer is, he's perhaps the most unlikely pop star ince Mark E. Smith. You can't argue though with his sweet voice and his engaging performance. He certainly knows how to baffle his audience. Like the headline act, this is a band that richly deserves a great deal more attention than they are actually getting. Before himself comes onstage, a very eclectic set of background music and poetry is played. It seems that everything that happens here could be just a small part of a greater event. But then, in a way, that's always been a Morrissey thing. When he finally does appear, and it seems a long time coming, he is greeted with a roar that would be worthy of twice the actual crowd that was there. Hands go out. Flowers and envelopes hit the stage. The usual acts of sacramental devotion. He strides onto the stage with an indifferent but cheery swaggger and coyly questions 'Are you looking for a night of Traditional Irish music ? (Pause) Well why come here then ?' Then the band (who always look classy) launch into 'You're gonna need someone on your side'. The gig is churlish at the start and Mozzer senses this. Things really only get going for 'Boy Racer'. Contrary to general rumours about audiences at this tour, there is a real cross section of people at the gig. Young, old, male, female and all the inbetweens. They truly love the man and it seems he can do no wrong. That said, he does do very little wrong. The songs are tight, noisy and hugely energetic. The set is wide ranging and comprehensive. Oldies like 'Haidresser on Fire' really shine. The Smiths numbers that he now plays quite comfortably alongside his newest material, are as violently beautiful as ever. 'Meat is Murder'in particular is surprisingly intense and distinctly fresh sounding for a song that is now almost twenty years old. Mozzer is clearly in a great mood throughout and smiles frequently in satisfaction at how things are going.He asks playfully at one point 'Was anyone here at the leisure centre thousands of years ago ? (He seems to be referring to a legendary Smiths gig in Leisureland Galway in 1983)This gets a huge cheer. He quickly follows up with 'I meant to see the Undertones'. The comment, if nothing else, goes to show that he never ever forgets !! Particularly in Galway ? The crowd throughout the gig attempt to fulfill the requirements of tradtition by going for the stage to embrace their idol. During the main set only one lucky girl makes it past the vigilant security. But for the brilliant encore of 'Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me', a few brave souls do manage to get up. Mozzer is as receptive as ever until the trickle turns into a flood and he is forced to steal away into the night. The gig ends in a chaotic cacophony. Which is only right.

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