“Is there anyone here from Swords? We’re all going to get mugged then,” quips Steven Patrick Morrissey. The venerable icon is in garrulous mood, regaling us with tales of late night sessions with Damien Dempsey (“two dry sherries and we had to send him home!”) and berating Johnny Logan for his McDonald’s adverts – the perfect segue into ‘The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores’.
There is something different about the Morrissey who strides across the stage tonight. He is open, playful, generous and at times emotional. It seems his guard is down, and the performance is all the better for it.
‘This Charming Man’ signals the start of a lavish set of solo gems and Smiths classics. ‘Ask’ sees him strut regally, arms outstretched, displaying an almost youthful exuberance. ‘Cemetery Gates’ oozes melancholy. ‘How Soon Is Now?’ is monumentally powerful and ‘Is It Really So Strange?’ gets a welcome outing.
The solo fare is culled primarily from his latest offering, Years Of Refusal. Lead single ‘I’m Throwing My Arm Around Paris’, co-penned with eminent henchman, guitarist Boz Boorer, elicits a particularly effusive response.
The band are in resplendent form. Latest additions, bassist Soloman Walker, whose playing shines on ‘Don’t Make Fun Of Daddy’s Voice’, and drummer Matt Walker, who displays great dexterity and inventiveness, prove that their stripes have been well-earned.
Several references are made throughout the night to his Irish roots and in the closing address he thanks us for being “feckin’ lovely”.