November spawned a Morrisey concert in Newark.
Morrissey, the former lead singer of the Smiths, took the stage of the city’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Nov. 13 for 90 minutes of vocal swoons, audience hugs and flippant asides.
“Tonight, tonight I will go out and I will discover the fleshpots of Newark,” said Morrissey after an inspiring rendition of “Shoplifters of the World Unite.”
“The question being, will I find any? Yes?”
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Or, on a lighter note: “He fell, he jumped, he’s dead,” said Morrissey later in the show. “We’re all feeble and we all die.”
Morrissey, 65, still has it. There is power and texture to his vocal swoons, yelps and intonations. A five-member band delivered the Morrissey songs — which included several Smiths classics but no “November Spawned a Monster” — deftly with powerful intent.
The classic “How Soon is Now, “ introduced by Morrissey as being 40 years old, took on a metal hue at the NJPAC.
“I’m still the son, I’m still the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar,” sang Morrisey, slightly changing the lyrics to reflect the passing of time.
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Morrissey is a challenging figure for fans. He’s the perpetually wounded victim of adolescent angst, but also an outspoken observer of contemporary events. His support of the For Britain party in the UK, as well as off-color comments such as that Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of London, “cannot talk properly,” has led some to charge he’s racist.
For Morrissey, it’s a free speech issue.
“As you know, nobody will release my music anymore,” said Morrisey from the NJPAC stage. “As you know because I’m a chief exponent of free speech. In England at least, it’s now criminalized. You cannot speak freely in England. If you don’t believe me, go there. Express an opinion, you’ll be sent to prison. It’s very, very difficult.”
Still. Morrissey carries forth. Fans of all stripes rushed on stage to embrace their hero on Wednesday, with a hug or a kiss, throughout the show.
Morrissey’s like an irascible uncle at the Thanksgiving table who’s likely to embarrass you, but you’re grateful he’s still around.
Up next, Morrissey plays Friday, Nov. 15, at Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.
Morrissey Newark setlist
- You’re the One for Me, Fatty
- Alma Matters
- Shoplifters of the World Unite
- I Wish You Lonely
- Rebels Without Applause
- How Soon Is Now?
- I Am Veronica
- Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings
- First of the Gang to Die
- Life Is a Pigsty
- Everyday Is Like Sunday
- I Ex-Love You
- Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
- Darling, I Hug a Pillow
- The Loop
- All the Lazy Dykes
- Jack the Ripper
- Dear God Please Help Me
- I Will See You in Far-Off Places
- Speedway
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com