After a notorious history with event cancellations, Moz is officially back and running: Morrissey, former lead singer of the Smiths, takes the stage at 713 Music Hall for the first stop of his North American 2024 tour.
“Houston – I like your horror makeup,” Morrissey said as he scanned the Oct. 31 Houston crowd at his kickoff show. “Oh, you’re not wearing any.” Everyone broke out into chuckles, as did he, which were soon drowned out by the first notes of “Dear God, Please Help Me,” being played for the first time since 2007.
The concert, staged at the still relatively new 713 Music Hall,was the first in a series of tour dates across the United States. The venue buzzed with fans who came in costume and plain clothes, some awaiting nostalgia while others were ready to listen to a mix of deep cuts and new music.
Prior to the beginning of the performance, a 40-minute compilation classic rock music videos, and some genres that inspired it, were played for the audience instead of an opening act.
Although known through the explosive fame The Smiths’ four year run and subsequent cult following provided, Morrissey has been able to claim through a successful solo career of his own though 14 studio albums. The show opened with “Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings” to applause, an energy that was maintained by “You’re the One for Me, Fatty” after a hello to the opening city.
Although everyone had an assigned seat, the floor stayed on their feet. Many strayed up, moving away from their assigned seats and as close to the stage as they could dodge security.
As much as fans openly enjoyed Morrissey’s music, something special came over the crowd during “Shoplifters of the World Unite” and especially “How Soon Is Now?” Although a Morrissey show will never be a ‘Smiths Greatest Hits’ fest, its still a treat honor to see some of the songs that shaped a generation live, performed by the person who penned them.
Each song saw a person or image that complimented it projected behind the band. Some were short video clips – James Dean, Oscar Wilde, that kind of thing. They were never anything that would be distracting from the performers themselves. Although no longer swinging his shirt over his head, Morrissey was still an engaging performer. He as constantly emoting and moving, never sticking to one spot for too long.
“I Ex-Love You” saw it’s live debut in Houston, and “Life Is a Pigsty” saw it’s first performance in years. Things finally began to see a bit of a calm when pianist Camilla Gray took to the stage for a solo during “Everyday Is Like Sunday.” This is also one of the songs during which the lighting techs got to have the most fun.
Following the introduction of the band, alliterating to the fact that they all belong to a different country, audiences verbally brace themselves to hear of London. However, it turned into a statement of non-belonging.
“And I…am still available,” Moz said, drying hoots of laughter from the American audience through dry English humor. “To the right person, still available.” The punch line was even better, diving into “Darling, I Hug a Pillow.”
Through subject matter and humor style alike, it was clear that the portrayals of Morrissey, bleak, poetic and melodramatic, in pop culture were not just an act or an exaggeration made for laughs. It was legitimately just how Morrissey is. He still knows how to tug on the heartstrings, conjuring the isolation and sorrow that his music embodies.
Following some weird issues with the house lights being turned on in full, the band completed their final song and left before returning for an encore.Three final hits concluded the night; “I Will See You in Far-Off Places,” “Irish Blood, English Heart,” and the crowd-pleasing anthem “First of the Gang to Die.”
If you ask Houstonians, all is forgiven for the prior cancellations in exchange for the energy and catharsis experienced during the Halloween show. You can see an act any day, but asking on holidays like Halloween are something to behold , especially an artist as reflective and macabre as Morrissey.
I am a multimedia journalist with a passion for guitar-based music – be that rock-n-roll, bachata, or anything in between. When not in a mosh pit, I can be found knitting, collecting CDs, thrifting, journaling, or attempting to incite chaos among feuding global powers. I hold a bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a masters degree in Mass Communication from the University of Houston, making me twice the Coog you'll ever be 😉
