The enigma that is Morrissey brought his live camoraderie to the Hull Ice Arena on Friday evening. Performing to a capacity crowd, the former Smiths frontman did little wrong in his efforts to please. News broke prior to the gig that this weekends shows in Hull and London may be his last ever, though this didn't have any effect on what was a special, special night on the Humber.
His twenty-song-long set began with the much loved 'Suedehead', as Moz and his band burst onto stage, with the crowd also doing so in the forward direction in a pursuit to be as close to the man in question. A bountiful rendition got the night off to a blistering start, with Morrissey putting in an 11/10 for effort. His vocals were strong, gripping and for sure, a pleasurable experience for the ears. "My beautiful face has gone and brought me to... HULL!" shouted Morrissey, and in conjuction with a humongous cheer from the crowd, he moved swiftly on into 'Alma Matters', he maintained the high grade, putting on a soulful show; and with his arm up, grabbing at thin air, you wouldn't of thought the evening could get any better. Though after two equally as solid performances of 'Speedway' and 'Ganglord', Moz upped his game once more with an outstanding 'Staircase at the University' getting the 'Ull crowd well and truly going. "She threw herself down, and her head split three ways" rung around the Ice Arena as Morrissey looked to be having a blinding ball on stage. Though Jesse Tobias may have pipped the main man on this one, with a mind blowing guitar solo taking many a few off their feet.
'Kiss Me A Lot', 'World Peace Is None Of Your Business' and 'Istanbul' followed before the bar was raised yet again with two incredible renditions of 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' and 'The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores'. "I'm throwing my arms around, around Paris because, only stone and steel, accept my love" sung the idolised frontman in sync with his adoring crowd in an astouding connection between the two. He then went political, "When Jeremy Corbyn..." was responded with yet another humongous roar from the crowd, with which Moz then replied "When Jeremy Corbyn, that is the statement" before going on to exclaim, "When Jeremy Corbyn didn't sing along to 'God Save The Queen', I thought, "YES!", "YES!", why should God save the Queen, WHY?" And as he cascaded into 'Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed' with a confused looking Prince William & Kate Middleton partnered with "UNITED KING-DUMB" on the projected screen behind him, he left a fair few in the crowd chuckling. Besides 'The Bullfighter Dies', Morrissey then entered a more calmer period of his set, performing 'I'm Not A Man', 'Yes, I Am Blind' and 'Oboe Concerto' in yet ever brilliant fashion. Following was the controversial crowd splitter, 'Meat Is Murder'. A Smiths track he religiously performs was accompanied with a rather disturbing video in the background. I'm a huge fan of the track, but something kind of stopped me from singing along. It was a preach, with Moz also incorparting a "KFC IS MURDER" in there too. You have to respect his views, though all of us may not agree with him.
It wasn't long though until the crowd was back in full spirits, post 'Smiler with Knife', Morrissey then pulled the legendary 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' out of his hat. My most favourite Moz track, and it was clear I wasn't on my own. Sung in majestic fashion; reaching his arms out to the front row and collecting his letters of love, it was a very honourable few moments. 'I Will See You In Far Off Places' then closed the set, or so we thought, or not, as the case may be. Chants of "Mor-ris-sey, Mor-ris-sey, Mor-ris-sey" echoed around the arena, and within minutes, he shot back on stage, in a now glistening red shirt; "My arse is leaving Hull in ten minutes. Be on it!" he yelled before exploding into a ruptious cover of The Smiths' 'What She Said'. He then ripped off his shirt and chucked it into the crowd, before jetting off stage and bringing a close to what was a truly spellbounding night.
It was my first experience of seeing Morrissey live, and most probably my last following on from yesterday's news. Though I'm sure Friday evening will remain cemented in my memory for many a year to come.