Alain Whyte and band mini Ireland tour (August 21, 2023)

The BIG news is here and we're so excited to finally share it with you. We will be playing some very select live shows later this year in the following cities/venues:

29 November - Belfast, Northern Ireland (Ulster Sports Club)
1 December - Cork, Ireland (The Pavilion)
2 December - Dublin, Ireland (Whelans)

The gigs will feature my band of all-stars most of you already know and love:

Craig Gannon - guitars
Gary Day - bass
Spencer Cobrin - drums
Gustavo Manzur, Jr. - keyboards

We'll be playing sets filled will songs we've all been involved in (either written, co-written and/or played on) as well as a surprise or two each night which you won't want to miss.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (25 August at 10am GMT) via AlainWhyteMusic.com/tour & Eventbrite.ie

More info will follow, so please stay tuned. We really can't wait to play for you all!

 

[Surface]

I wish them all the success in the world, but I'd be lying to you if this didn't feel weird to me – especially the Gustavo and Crig Gannon elements. This is not just a gathering of some of the people from the Lads era it's a hodgepodge of the solo band plus guy who is probably most famous for being the second guitarist in the Smiths for a hot second

I will say that hearing some of the stuff from Arsenal, Vauxhall, particularly southpaw and maladjusted that that don't get played anymore or may have never been played at all is a real draw for me. I don't think they'll ever come to my particular corner of the United States but I don't think I would pay anything above 40 to 60 for a ticket. But at the right price, I would definitely go out of curiosity.

I think in his understandable zeal to always focus on the current record the next record, the newest songs present-day Morrissey falls victim to the prison of the eternal present and undefined future. He insists that his current songs are the best songs ever written, and the forthcoming albums are the absolute top of his career but he said the same thing about world peace and the quarry area albums when they came out.

I don't think any of us who live followed his post-Smiths career are necessarily yearning for any more Smiths covers or rarities, but I think all of us would enjoy a little bit more from the 90s catalog that barely gets a lot of varied or comprehensive concert appearances.

I get not wanting to look back to the past especially as each band lineup is its own thing and each player has their own strengths, but I think there is so much Morrissey could be choosing from his own catalog and was ashamed that he doesn't more. It's an even bigger shame that he or Jesse or whoever hasn't really taken a chance to do something bold with the arrangements that highlight the individual strengths of the current band lineup and whatever their particular unique cohesion as a group is.

I think Morrissey values his co-writers and bandmembers more than a lot of people might think, but he doesn't really make space for them to be able to shine in my opinion at least. He could do more of that

I don't find it weird, Peter Hook tours New Order and Joy Division material without anyone else from New Order and they sound great. Johnny Marr tours and plays Smiths stuff without anyone else from The Smiths. If the musician's are accomplished (Alains line up are) and gel as a group it should be great.

 

[gashonthenail]

I'm out of the country the weekend of Dublin and Cork, so will try head up to the Belfast gig on the Wednesday.. I've never been to the Ulster Sports Hall, does anyone know what it's like as a venue? Doesn't necessarily sound particularly, um, inviting

It's basically a pub. Looks ok. There are some pics on the website. All the venues look fairly small / intimate.

Ulster Sports Club

Ulster Sports Club

www.ulstersportsclub.com

 

[DaveJCarr]

I don't find it weird, Peter Hook tours New Order and Joy Division material without anyone else from New Order and they sound great. Johnny Marr tours and plays Smiths stuff without anyone else from The Smiths. If the musician's are accomplished (Alains line up are) and gel as a group it should be great.

It just feels like Gathering of Exes - and I don't mean that in a romantic sense. Still as co-writers. they might as well perform their songs and their just due in the spotlight

 

[gashonthenail]

It just feels like Gathering of Exes - and I don't mean that in a romantic sense. Still as co-writers. they might as well perform their songs and their just due in the spotlight

Clearly there is life after Morrissey. They are trying to pick up the pieces and move on.
Skinny - take note.

 

[Surface]

It's basically a pub. Looks ok. There are some pics on the website. All the venues look fairly small / intimate.

Ulster Sports Club

Ulster Sports Club

www.ulstersportsclub.com

Just had a look, it has 3 rooms of various sizes, 40, 150 and 250 capacity. 250 feels about right for a first outing, as I said earlier Peter Hook started in a similar sized venues and can now fill Manchester Apollo

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Just had a look, it has 3 rooms of various sizes, 40, 150 and 250 capacity. 250 feels about right for a first outing, as I said earlier Peter Hook started in a similar sized venues and can now fill Manchester Apollo

Hooky’s more known to the general music fan than Alain is, though.

 

[gashonthenail]

An Alain's All Stars cover of I Will Survive would be quite fun...

 

[Jamie]

If this was Morrissey-solo in the (first) "wilderness years" of 1998-2003, this venture would be greeted with great acclaim. At worst, it's a fun lark and, at best, it's a great jumping off point for this new aggregate.

I have to imagine the gusto the three Lads will bring to the Your Arsenal - Maladjusted songs will be well worth it.

Spencer himself would probably tell you he was never M's best drummer - but the improvement between 1991 and 1997 was staggering. His rendition of Speedway was so unique that every live version has paled in comparison. And Gary Day was second only to Andy Rourke as M's bass player.

Personally, I'm hoping Stateside dates are coming in 2024.

 

[Mike Rourke]

Not sure what any sense of oddness is about. These people are musicians. Playing musical instruments in front of an audience is what they do for a living. And funnily enough, they find themselves out of work when it comes to performing live. It's not very complicated. I wish them all the very best and hope the shows go really well. Top

I guess what's odd is that they will almost exclusively play songs that were sung and made famous by someone else. Also, Alain Whyte has nothing like the profile of Peter Hook who is pretty much a household name in the music world.
But I wish them well. I prefer Alain's singing of the Morrissey and Smiths songs to Johnny Marr's. I'm just not really a fan of his own ones but will keep an open mind.

 

[gashonthenail]

I guess what's odd is that they will almost exclusively play songs that were sung and made famous by someone else. Also, Alain Whyte has nothing like the profile of Peter Hook who is pretty much a household name in the music world.
But I wish them well. I prefer Alain's singing of the Morrissey and Smiths songs to Johnny Marr's. I'm just not really a fan of his own ones but will keep an open mind.

But playing 'songs' for which they created the music? And for musicians, that is normally the way it works.

 

[Mike Rourke]

But playing 'songs' for which they created the music? And for musicians, that is normally the way it works.

Fair point but it does still feel a bit bizarre.
If it was just Alain, Gary and Spencer it would seem a lot less odd.
But including the Smiths short-lived rhythm guitarist and Morrissey's long-term post Alain Whyte keyboard player feels strange to me.
Alain jumped ship because he couldn't get on with Morrissey's manager (fair enough) having presumably only met him fairly recently, but Gustavo would have been dealing with him for years.
Just seems like an odd group of people to me and slightly strange circumstances but I still wish them well, and would go and see them if they played any dates round here.

 

[Girlmostlikely]

I look forward to the videos! I would definitely go see this band!

 

[Jamie]

Alain jumped ship because he couldn't get on with Morrissey's manager (fair enough) having presumably only met him fairly recently, but Gustavo would have been dealing with him for years.

Of course I can only speculate, but perhaps Gustavo was taking a stiff upper lip approach and tolerating the guy for years. Having someone else like Alain around who was not accepting the disrespect may have been the catalyst he needed to decide enough was enough.

You have to wonder how the dynamics and esprit d'corps changed once Matt and, more critically, Boz left the touring band. Boz has joie de vivre to spare - remove that element and I'm sure backstage dynamics shift.

 

[The Wild Turkey]

is Alain trying to replace Morrissey? Are people going to these shows because they think it’s going to be a Morrissey show experience? I don’t think so. Besides the originals Alain will do, people should just enjoy it as a tribute band, and I don’t mean that negatively. Just go to have fun, and appreciate how these co-writes with Morrissey, the songs, has brought everyone together.

When ya think about it, Al has been one of the biggest
supporters of Moz's music the last couple years.
Like when he did all them cover songs.
Tell Me was good and that Echo cover was good, so
he's got other stuff to.
Maybe he's just gettin' started.

 

[bored]

Without a good singer (and Alain isn‘t one for sure) this
band is like a car without wheels.

I wish I could argue with that but he's just not that guy.
He's good at backup vocals.
His acoustic covers he did of Morrissey songs during COVID were usually good vocally.
What he isn't good at is creating his own vocal melodies or singing them.

It's really unfortunate. I think the world of him and I wish he was that guy he wants to be.

 

[bored]

Alain jumped ship because he couldn't get on with Morrissey's manager (fair enough) having presumably only met him fairly recently

Did you read this somewhere or is this a "best guess" kind of feeling?

While I am asking questions, who is Morrissey's manager?

 

[Mike Rourke]

Did you read this somewhere or is this a "best guess" kind of feeling?

While I am asking questions, who is Morrissey's manager?

No, Alain has said so quite clearly in posts and emphasised that he hadn't fallen out with Morrissey.
Others can confirm but I think it was the tour manager?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

When ya think about it, Al has been one of the biggest
supporters of Moz's music the last couple years.
Like when he did all them cover songs.
Tell Me was good and that Echo cover was good, so
he's got other stuff to.
Maybe he's just gettin' started.

well, if people are happy doing what their doing, then that’s all that matters. But can people develop their voice? sure! though I believe some are just born singers, born with a voice that can pull you in, a voice that tells a story, even without words.

 

[bored]

No, Alain has said so quite clearly in posts and emphasised that he hadn't fallen out with Morrissey.
Others can confirm but I think it was the tour manager?

Ahh.. I'm not much into social media. Usually if something important is said on FB or something it makes it to solo front page.

 

[Nobody Knows Me]

I wish them all the success in the world, but I'd be lying to you if this didn't feel weird to me – especially the Gustavo and Crig Gannon elements. This is not just a gathering of some of the people from the Lads era it's a hodgepodge of the solo band plus guy who is probably most famous for being the second guitarist in the Smiths for a hot second

I will say that hearing some of the stuff from Arsenal, Vauxhall, particularly southpaw and maladjusted that that don't get played anymore or may have never been played at all is a real draw for me. I don't think they'll ever come to my particular corner of the United States but I don't think I would pay anything above 40 to 60 for a ticket. But at the right price, I would definitely go out of curiosity.

I think in his understandable zeal to always focus on the current record the next record, the newest songs present-day Morrissey falls victim to the prison of the eternal present and undefined future. He insists that his current songs are the best songs ever written, and the forthcoming albums are the absolute top of his career but he said the same thing about world peace and the quarry area albums when they came out.

I don't think any of us who live followed his post-Smiths career are necessarily yearning for any more Smiths covers or rarities, but I think all of us would enjoy a little bit more from the 90s catalog that barely gets a lot of varied or comprehensive concert appearances.

I get not wanting to look back to the past especially as each band lineup is its own thing and each player has their own strengths, but I think there is so much Morrissey could be choosing from his own catalog and was ashamed that he doesn't more. It's an even bigger shame that he or Jesse or whoever hasn't really taken a chance to do something bold with the arrangements that highlight the individual strengths of the current band lineup and whatever their particular unique cohesion as a group is.

I think Morrissey values his co-writers and bandmembers more than a lot of people might think, but he doesn't really make space for them to be able to shine in my opinion at least. He could do more of that

There's been a couple of bands featuring ex-Fall members of overlapping eras which have generated worthwhile shows and new material. Just appreciate it for what it is but hope that it might result in the singer rejoining. After all, Alain's lockdown stuff secured his return.