Three Tune Tuesday - A brief Trip to Dublin To See Morrisey

My father in law looked for tickets to see Morrisey for his birthday which was welcome news to everyone in the family who struggle to find presents for the man who has every gadget under the sun. They children fought over who was going to buy him the tickets to make their present shopping easier. Anyway the tickets were purchased for him so him and the mother in law could enough a night at the ex Smiths vocalists concert. However mother in law had other plans. She was washing her hair that night and had no intention of going to Morrisey with him. The children were also washing their hair that night so I was given the ticket as a hand me done in which I was only too delighted to take. I like the Smiths and Morrisey was always on my bucket list. Down the list but yet on my list. If he played 3 Smiths songs like @deirdyeirdy had promised from her Dublin musical royalty knowledge then I was home free. Hotel prices in Dublin are extorsion so I decided I would drive the 2 hours up and down. Father in law could have his few drinks and that would be my payment in kind for the tickets. So we left around 4pm and were in Dublin for 6pm which was fine. The show was starting at 8pm so plenty of time to smooze around.

Vicar street is in Thomas street in Dublin. A famously intimate venue which is my favourite in Dublin. I prefer Vicar Street to any other venue there and I have seen some of my favourite gigs in the venue such as Band Of Horses and Bell X1. There is always an excellent view there as well and a lovely atmosphere. The location of Vicar Street is a bit dodgy. Thomas Street is a notoriously rough street in Dublin but as soon as you are in the venue it is grand. We had a couple of drinks (non alcoholic for me of course) and we met this nice American couple who had Irish roots. He was Irish and they live in San Francisco . He was in a well known Irish band called the Hooks who now play in the states, She was a teacher with family in Roscommon. We had a great chat with those guy who just arrived from San Fran and decided to just come to Morrisey from the airport. The guy was called Ronan and his musical connections had him inside in a jiffy.
We went in at 8pm as was our guidance and there was a series of short films on from 8pm. After 20 minutes of these everybody was sort of looking at each other asking what was going on. I went out to the toilet and heard that these short films were going to be on until 9pm. The videos were not bad but it wasn't what we signed up for. I would have preferred a support act as sorts but Morrisey is a strange fish who likes his gigs done a certain way so the short movies it was.

On he came at 9pm and it was all worthwhile as he launched into I am Human by the Smiths. The world renowned percussion that everyone knows. His voice never changed. Still as strong as ever. His movement flicking the microphone and leaning on a speaker while he blasted out the lyrics. The man still has a great presence.
He interacted with the crowd a bit by telling them they all smelled and any heckle he returned an "as if" comment which I found funny. I was on the first floor sitting down looking down at the standing section who had the die hards at the very front. They were going mad. Some of them still think he is a god. I was amazed at how grown men and women in their 40's and 50's were so in awe of this man. It got all crazy with the crowd at one stage with one fan jumping the barrier and giving Morrisey a hug. She kept hugging him though and had to be dragged off him by a bouncer who had enough of her feelings. He promptly threw her back into the crowd.
Morrisey ended by taking off his top and throwing it into the crowd which I found funny later.

The backing band were really good. The drummer came on topless and ripped and looked out of place until he started drumming. He also had a lovely cute lead guitarists who was small but pack a punch and it looked like the whole band were worked hard to get the unique Smiths sound. Johnny Marr was no beginner guitarists. His songs are tough to nail even for intermediate guitarists. He was playing different chords than the rest of us down the neck and adding a pinky for the laugh. It really made the band put in a shift.

Morrisey went off and did an encore and the gig was done and dusted by 10.25. Out the gap, quick bag of chips and was on the motorway and home for 12:30. Not bad going considering I had work in the morning. Some Morrisey is off the bucklist. I am glad I saw him and I quite enjoyed seeing him and his cutting lyrics. For a man that was once too shy to do anything , it didn't look like he was having any problems communicating. He pontificated around never voting and this and that but he didn't go over the top.
Outside a tour bus waited for the band with an aging rocker that looked like a guy from Spinal Tap in the driving seat. Waistcoat over bare skin, hair band , wrinkles. Happy out waiting for his crew. I always wonder what life is like on the road for these singers and bands. Is it luxurious or is it the opposite. It depends I suppose. So 2 concerts in a week for me. No others in the pipeline as of yet but you never know. I may get another hand me down.

Any here are the three songs for 3 tune Tuesday wooo. Not sure if we are back yet @ablaze ? are we? Anyway if we are then this is my entry. He played 2 of these last night. The third is my personal favourite.

How Soon Is Now

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore.