MORRISSEY: FROM THE RIVIERA THEATRE IN CHICAGO
Sat November 25th 2017

The one and only Morrissey. At the sold out Riviera Theatre in Chicago. And he actually made it this time. Although, I digress. Morrissey’s actually made it to Chicago with no problems a few times now: Headlining Riot Fest a couple years ago, and before that at the Civic Opera House.
I can see how people can get upset with him in regards to cancellations, mostly for sick band members more than anything else. No matter. Chicago has lucked out with Morrissey recently, and that’s a good thing.

Morrissey’s touring on his new album “Low in High School”- with quite a few songs from this album in his set: “Spent the Day in Bed”, “Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage”, “Who Will Protect Us from The Police?”- to name a few.
Morrissey opened the set with a rip roaring cover of Elvis Presley’s “You’ll Be Gone”, and things continued to get rolling from there.
A shock and awe cover of The Smiths song “How Soon Is Now?” was done with such fire and passion. No one can emulate the guitar mastery of Johnny Marr, especially for that song in particular. No matter. Morrissey’s band played a ferocious mix to cover that song- particularly drummer Matt Walker, who went bat shit crazy to end the song, from the massive gong to the massive floor tom to his immediate left. Matt’s playing was something to behold.
Morrissey’s set was a definite crowd – pleaser, mixing new material with established songs, and then surprising covers. Morrissey revealed his love for Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, covering one of their biggest hits “Back on the Chain Gang”.
Morrissey was in fine voice, easily the best I’ve heard him perform in years. He has maintained most of his onstage charisma and charm pacing the stage like a bullfighter with his whip (the microphone chord being the whip), and glad handing the crowd as he merrily went along his business of performing with style and grace, as the mood strikes.
Things got a bit crazy during the encore with the brilliant “Shoplifters of the World Unite”, reworked for “Trump-Shifters of The World’, accompanied by a photo of Morrissey holding on to a baby whose face was more or less that of the dumb ass presdident, with the song ending with Morrissey ripping off his shirt and receiving ecstatic applause and excitement before exiting stage left, and the band rollicking along to a rousing finish.
All n’ all- a wonderful evening of Morrissey doing what he does best- perform with passion and finesse.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – Music Photographer