MORRISSEY SSE HYDRO
17.02.18
OSCAR Wilde wrote: “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.” As Morrissey left Scotland, it was job done. It’s 30 years since his debut solo album, Viva Hate, was released. And last year, his 11th solo album, Low in High School, reached No2 in the Scottish charts – the highest place it achieved anywhere in the world.
The Hydro was packed as the former Smiths frontman ran through 22 songs, whipping his mic cord as he once whacked gladioli on his behind in the 80s.
There were two Smiths songs – I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish and a beefy How Soon is Now?, which with its thunderous backing, excuse me now, sounds better than the original.
Older hits such as Suedehead and Everyday is Like Sunday were greeted with rapturous applause but songs from the new album, in particular Spent the Day in Bed and Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage, were also well received.
There were dips where a Smiths song would have lifted proceedings.
And then there was the Nicola Sturgeon moment. Setting up the political World Peace Is None of Your Business, he asked: “I’m curious, do you actually like Nicola Sturgeon?” Before adding: “Those hands would be in anybody’s pocket.”
There were boos. There were cheers. Who knows who for. If anyone walked out, it wasn’t obvious. A few claims on Twitter by Yes voters and a man who had his first hit in 1983 is all over the internet. It says more about Scotland’s split psyche than the man who has always attempted to push buttons.
Having played Everyday is Like Sunday before the encore, there was a ripple of hope he’d play another Smiths song before the perennial closer Irish Blood, English Heart.
Sadly, he just played the latter before taking off his top and leaving the stage. And then the audience left.