Morrissey, former lead singer of beloved band the Smiths, performed a stellar Halloween show for the first stop of his North American solo tour.
Morrissey is well-known due to his historical inclusion with legendary band the Smiths from 1982 through 1987. When the band disbanded, the British singer pursued a solo career, which had a successful trajectory – as of 2024, he has released 13 studio albums, including Viva Hate (1988), Southpaw Grammar (1995) and Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006). The Smiths are no more, Morrissey continues to embody the Smiths’ signature post-punk sound through chilling tones and notable vocals.
Funny enough, Morrissey has… an interesting history when it comes to performing live. He is notoriously known for abruptly canceling shows, which is why people were genuinely surprised he dropped a 2024 North American tour. It was more surprising as the singer canceled multiple shows in early 2024 due to physical exhaustion, which is considered reasonable given his age. Houston was first on the list, where he last performed in 2019 at the Lawn at White Oak Music Hall with support from Interpol. This time, he has no opening set and will be getting straight down to [music] business.
713 Music Hall was full of people wearing their Halloween costumes – from Art the Clown and Hamburglars to Chucky + Tiffany couples, it truly felt like a spooky night. The night began with an homage to the different British gothic + kitschy eras from the 80s and 90s. As this was the first show of the tour, no one knew what kind of setlist to expect. The videos cut out, the lights dimmed and boom – Morrissey comes out in the living flesh along with his backing band. Most of the band is wearing fun Halloween makeup, and Moz is sporting a black Public Enemy shirt and a sports coat. The singer began with “Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings,” “You’re the One for Me, Fatty,” and “Alma Matters.”
“HOUSTON! I have finally made it. After enduring physical illness, I am here!” Morrissey exclaimed, very self-aware of his notable past. The singer sang numerous fan-favorite songs such as “Rebels Without Applause” (a mega collaboration with Chad Smith / Josh Klinghoffer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), “I Am Veronica” (collaboration with Miley Cyrus), “All the Lazy Dykes” and “I Wish You Lonely.”
While Moz’s discography is much longer than the Smiths, he made sure to sprinkle some classic tracks in the setlist for the die-hard Smiths fans. Those songs included “Shoplifters in the World Unite,” “Half a Person,” and “How Soon is Now.” The show also included the live debut from the unreleased Bonfire of Teenagers album titled “I Ex-Love You,” a modern classic from the singer that resembles his earlier albums / late Smiths albums. Another entertaining surprise addition to the setlist was “Dear God Please Help Me” from the album Ringleader of the Tormentors, a track that hasn’t been performed since 2007.
The set ended with “Jack the Ripper,” and everyone exited the stage to the sound of ominous tunes. Everyone returned for three more tracks, which definitely riled up the crowd. Morrissey performed “Irish Blood, English Heart,” and ended with a high-energy performance of “First of the Gang to Die.”
Given his age, it’s safe to state that Morrissey has still got it – his vocals were on-point and strongly resembled his recording studio vocals. He was rarely ever out of breath, his commentary was on par with the mixed-ages audience in the crowd, and his setlist included a beautiful blend of some underrated tracks + classic hits from his lengthy discography. The tour was in Houston’s favor, with it being the first night of the tour AND on Halloween evening, it made for a great kick-off show.
MORRISSEY
Photos + Review by Keylee Paz | Exclusively for Music, Why Not!
