Midnight Sun: LiquorBoarding loves him some Morrissey - Sun reporter Sam Sessa covers the city's after-hours scene

Midnight Sun reader LiquorBoarding (the commenting name for city liquor board chairman Stephan Fogleman) happens to be a huge Morrissey fan. No, wait, make that a HUGE Morrissey fan.

This surprises me, because I thought Morrissey performs pretty much the same show every night.

Side note: The creepy thing about Morrissey is, the more you ignore him, the closer he gets.

Anyhow, I asked LiquorBoarding to write me a review, and lo and behold, he did.

Here it is ...

There's very little reason to leave Charm City these days, but if Morrissey's appearance last night in Durham, NC is a bellwether for his show at Warner Theatre on Saturday, I'd gas the car up for a trip down 95.

Morrissey, 49, was on five days rest as he took the stage at the nearly brand new Durham Performing Arts Center and he was in good spirits, too, joking about the fact that he had nothing bad to say about our new president and that it was "troubling."

Troubling for the fans was the cancellation of six of his first seven shows of this tour and an abbreviated set in Myrtle Beach, SC due to "illness." He did not disappoint them last night, making last night's show the de facto opener of a world tour that will stretch all over the United States, Europe and Russia.

morrissey%202.jpg Morrissey opened with a classic Smiths favorite, "This Charming Man," which has been updated with heavy bass and guitar by musical director Boz Boorer. (Prior to serving as musical director for Morrissey, Boorer wrote most of the songs for Siouxsie and the Banshees and Adam Ant. How's that for 80's street cred?)

The result on "Charming Man" and other songs is a harder and more danceable composition and clearly better than the many covers performed by younger bands. How many other artists have been around so long that they perform covers of their original work?

The show was very heavy on songs from the new album "Years of Refusal", including his instant classic performance of the aptly-titled "I'm OK by myself". He seemed to stretch his vocals the most on Years of Refusal's "Something is squeezing my skull" (about anti-depressants!) and mentioned that he needed to get that song out early in the night to hit the notes.

For the old timers, there were two more Smiths gems--"How Soon is Now" and "Ask".

Stage divers are commonplace at a Moz concert and last night was no exception. Morrissey was mugged a half-dozen times and this 40 year-old reviewer was able to make it on stage during the encore, "Irish Blood, English Heart".

Morrissey plays the National in Richmond, VA on Friday before taking the stage at the 2800-seat Warner Theatre in Washington on Saturday. Limited tickets (upper balcony) are still available in Washington. The 1500-capacity general admission show in Richmond sold out quickly in December. Moz turns 50 on May 22.

(Top photo by Fabio Lovino. Bottom photo by Travis Shinn.)

Comments

Hi there

Just to clarify, although Boz Boorer is a really nice bloke and great guitarist, he didn't write "most of the songs for Siouxsie and the Banshees and Adam Ant".

A few song credits here and there maybe, but mainly worked with both in the capacity as a session musician.

Posted by: Madam Stan - Ant Lib Online | March 14, 2009 4:50 PM

Well it looks like Smiths/Morrissey karaoke night at Ottobar is safe for now.

Posted by: PizzaLover | March 14, 2009 6:25 PM

Sam

Wow. I knew this review would be nothing but trouble for me. Believe me when I tell you that the last organization I wanted to offend was the "Ant Liberation Front"(seriously, google it). They have been known to "Stand and Deliver" when they feel their Ant has been stepped upon.

Posted by: LiquorBoarding | March 14, 2009 6:49 PM

THere was a time when I used to run up on stage and plant a welcomed kiss on Morrissey's cheek or nose. This time was not one of them. His nose has become a symbol of pervese androgeny and makes me uneasy. Nevertheless, I'm fantasizing about him right now - his unique voice ...

Liquor boarder got it right by saying that there are people out there who would love to see us semi-[homosexuals] go away. To them I say, wait until LiquorBoarder says, "I'm gay." Until then, leave us closeted homosexuals alone to enjoy a wonderful performer who transcends the sexes.

Posted by: MorriseyFaceSuck | March 15, 2009 1:16 AM

Boz never wrote a thing for Siouxsie and the Banshees - they never worked together at all. Although, like Morrissey he is a huge Siouxsie fan.

Posted by: Mark | March 15, 2009 4:29 AM

I think LiquorBoard wrote a great review. I remember when, in the mid-1980's, "Weasel" from WHFS would refer to Morrissey as "Perpetually Miserable Morrissey" (obviously it was an affectionate moniker) and played The Smiths a LOT.

Posted by: R.E.Mrocks | March 15, 2009 6:10 PM

As a huge Siouxsie fan I just wanted to back up Mark's post that Boz never wrote anything for Siouxsie and the Banshees. He produced the single that Morrissey and Siouxsie did together. Not to make a big deal out of it, but it's not like the info was even close to valid. Knowing Siouxsie's catalogue would tell someone that it is worlds away from the music/sound that Boz makes for Morrissey. He does reference Siouxsie and the Banshees as one of his favorites in his myspace page though.

Posted by: Ed | March 15, 2009 6:33 PM

LiquorBoarding,

Wow, neighborhood associations are nothing compared to Siouxsie and Adam Ant fans. Better stick to people complaining that there is a bar next to their new condo.

Posted by: Ted | March 16, 2009 9:56 AM

What happened to "Weasel" anyway?
As a matter of fact where did all the HFS DJ's go?

Posted by: redman | March 16, 2009 11:23 AM

What happened to "Weasel" anyway?
Last I heard Weasel was on WTGB-FM in D.C., but I just checked and he's not listed on their website.

As a matter of fact where did all the HFS DJ's go?
Good question. There's always Google if one has the time.

Posted by: Tomato Head | March 17, 2009 9:46 AM