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Red Bank, NJ (Feb. 24, 2000)

Yet another review ...

Posted By: JW <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, Feb. 25 2000, at 11:18 p.m.

Morrissey at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ
2/24/00

With a hearty "Hello Jersey" and a symbolic roll of toilet paper (NJ – toilet – get it?) that he later claimed mistakenly leapt from his hands into the crowd, a cherubic-cheeked Morrissey thrilled a sold-out Count Basie Theatre last night with a variety pack of classic solo and Smiths songs.

A smoky haze and punk-splattered pre-show tape gave the crumbling Basie a late-70s feel before the house lights dimmed and shrieks went up like fire whistles. The two aisles were quickly packed with stage rushers who, surprisingly, were left unhassled the rest of the evening. Moz preened and crooned beside his four band mates, making an occasional over-the-shoulder mic wire toss, shaking carefully chosen hands, tossing a sweat-soaked shirt into the crowd, or theatrically pleading with the subjects of his songs. A showman, plain and simple, sans sequins. With an Englishman’s penchant for prickly barbs camouflaged by a self-deprecating wit.

And, of course, that voice.

SET LIST
Swallow on My Neck
Ouija Board, Ouija Board
Billy Budd
Hairdresser on Fire
November Spawned a Monster
Half a Person
Now My Heart is Full
Lost
Meat is Murder
I Am Hated for Loving
The Teachers are Afraid of the Pupils
I Can Have Both
Boxers (acoustic)
Is It Really So Strange?
Break Up the Family
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

ENCORE
Shoplifters of the World Unite

NOTES
- House lights down at 9:25; with James Bond music blaring, band took stage
- Simple stage setting: blood red draperies behind raised drum kit, spotlight followed the back of Moz’s closely cropped head all night
- Familiar guitar jangle of Ouija Board brought big roar after mellow Swallow opener
- Band very tight on rousing Billy Budd (which brought night’s first two stage crashers)
- Moz good-naturedly introduced Hairdresser on Fire with "Welcome to this quaint theatre to hear some extremely violent music." Of course, referring to the Basie as quaint is like describing Al Gore as "dynamic."
- Noting his recent rough seas, Moz gave a short speech before November Spawned a Monster: "We heard this night sold out very quickly, which is very encouraging and means a lot to us because people say horrible things about me. So can I just say ….. Thank You."
- Introduced Half a Person (I have waited a LONG time to hear this song!) with "All the songs played tonight have very deep meaning except this one." This show was worth the price of admission just to hear Moz sing "Call me morbid call me pale …."
- Tossed button shirt into crowd near end of slowed Now My Heart is Full; after asking that it be dry cleaned and mailed back to him, Moz said "And I won’t say whoever gets the shirt gets me because they don’t." Replaced it with a t-shirt.
- Dull interlude after Lost with front row audience member, a woman Moz was obviously familiar with. "How are you" "Very well" blah blah blah ….
- Interesting reaction to the classic Smiths anthem, Meat is Murder (introduced with "this song is about basic human moral duty"). With its slow, almost plodding beat, a lot of the younger audience seemed to lose interest. Following Lost (a b-side unknown by most), show lost a lot of steam. Excellent performance of one of Morrissey’s best-written songs, however. Followed it up with "So the next time your granny takes you to Murder King, Just Say No!"
- Took off shirt and tossed it during strong Teachers, addressed audience mumbling afterward with "It’s OK. I know I’m fat so you can stop whispering. (big applause) That just means there’s more of me to cuddle. That sounds like something you’d say on the Ricky Lake show." Moz’s move to LA isn’t reaping any cultural rewards, apparently.
- Pretty Boxers, with bongos and acoustic guitar.
- Introduced Is It Really So Strange? with "This song was written before I was even BORN … that’s old." Thanks for making me feel pretty damn old, too, buddy ....
- Muscular guitar intro to Last Night I Dreamt …
- Typical chaos accompanied Shoplifters. Steady stream of crashers made stage, but 2 of them put up vigorous fight. Mic was knocked from Moz’s hand, and that was it. Security took him off stage, band continued, but halted abruptly shortly afterward. Walked off to boos from certain dopes at 10:40. As long as Moz wasn’t injured (he walked off stage looking fine) it was a perfect ending. Good to know a pop song can still produce a whiff of anarchy.

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