Morrissey - The Palladium, London - 8th August 2011 (Live Review)
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Written by Gemma Taylor
The ageing rocker, famed for his asexual past and political staunchness, preceded his final show with a variety of music clips and interviews. Most notably, a blond-haired Lou Reed appeared on the huge projector, scoffing at a journalist’s questions in an infamous interview which saw him respond in monosyllables. This paved the way to Morrissey’s cover of hit ‘Satellite of Love’ midway through proceedings.
The Smiths front man opened his show, however, to flashing red lights illuminating a dominant drum kit. The crowd’s anticipation was palpable following a strained performance by Kristeen Young and the main act greeted the audience with the knowing comment: “Welcome to my world” before opening with ‘I Want the One I Cannot Have’. This choice enlivened the crowd further and, while not predictable, fed off the current political mood with the words: “Oh, These are the riches of the poor.”
Morissey’s strong though controlled vocal performance continued throughout the two-hour set, and during second offering, ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’, he managed to maintain this strength in spite of a growing crescendo from his band. Later, Morrissey would thank the five men who supported him onstage, paying particular tribute to guitarist Jesse Tobias: “guitarist: today, tomorrow and always.”
Ever the showman, the controversial singer appeared poised but relax during the performance, at one point removing his suit jacket and leading it away to the wings like a small child. There was a clear sense of his feeling for the songs, particularly during ‘I Know it’s Over’, which received a partial standing ovation from a delighted crowd.
Before moving on to the ninth song of his repertoire, Morrissey made reference to his well-publicised split from his previous management, stating: “I’ve come to a conclusion: I don’t want a record contract!”
From here, he eyed another controversial topic, leaping into a rendition of ‘Scandinavia’, during which his love for the place is starkly obvious. Never one to shy away from critics, it is unsurprising that this song was including; Morrissey told a recent crowd in Poland that, while the Norwegian massacre of dozens of teenagers was shocking, it was “nothing” compared with the treatment of food at fast-food restaurants.
Fittingly then, the singer went on to sing vegetarian anthem ‘Meat is Murder’, though not before suggesting the culpability of the Royals, “such a lovely family” in the hunting and killing of bears and deer. The band accompanied this with raucous screeching of guitars and the banging of the drum set which sat in front of a giant gong, whacked repeatedly as the song reached a high-octane climax.
Though the frontman left the stage at this point, he soon reappeared to a frenzied, seduced crowd. As he sang ‘The First of the Gang to Die’, a skinny boy jumped onstage attempting to hug his hero, though was quickly removed by security. This fast-paced response did little to deter others in the front rows, and soon a number of individuals ran onstage. The security guards responses were arguably heavy-handed, although following outbursts of violent behaviour from Londoners at that time, it is perhaps not an entirely unexpected reaction.
Morrissey remained unperturbed by these events though, avoiding the potential minefield of speaking on the riots too directly. “We had a good time in Brixton last night,” he grinned early on, to laughter and applause from a crowd who seemed totally enraptured to be in the presence of their idol.
His raw magnetism and devoted followers cannot be denied, and it is safe to assume that a future tour cannot be far away.
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Fittingly then, the singer went on to sing vegetarian anthem ‘Meat is Murder’, though not before suggesting the culpability of the Royals, “such a lovely family” in the hunting and killing of bears and deer. The band accompanied this with raucous screeching of guitars and the banging of the drum set which sat in front of a giant gong, whacked repeatedly as the song reached a high-octane climax. 
