There is a light that never goes out

What do you say about Steven Patrick Morrisey? Well, he’s never boring, for a start. I went to see him play last night at an outdoor concert in Marlay Park in Dublin, and he put on an excellent show, if a little short. As a performer, he’s really going strong – although perhaps he should stop taking his shirt off quite so regularly. The last time I saw him he played a tiny gig for around 2000 people at Dublin Castle, and that was only two or three years ago, but he’s aged quite visibly since then, including adding a few pounds to his waist.

I don’t really care about that – I don’t expect my entertainers to look like Britney Spears, I expect them be talented songwriters and singers – but even so, I could do without watching a 47 year old man taking his shirt off, which he did five times before throwing them into the crowd. They looked like quite good shirts as well.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Morrissey’s voice is getting richer and more versatile as he ages, with the result that he’s sounding better and better in concert.

The material he played at the gig tonight was drawn overwhelmingly from his last two albums, Ringleader of the Tormentors and You are the Quarry, along with classic Smiths tracks – he opened with Panic and closed with How soon is now?

Morrissey is a guy who inspires a lot of obsessional types and one of them made a break for the stage last night - to attempt to shake his hand. I've seen this done at a few of Morrissey's gigs and it seems to be sort of a obligatory ritual. However this time, the security staff seem to have given the guy a pounding. I couldn't see from where I was standing, but Morrissey could, and he stopped the song he was singing to plead with the security, so presumably they were laying into the fan. A shame - there were six or seven security staff restraining one guy - this situation doesn't require violence.. Anyway, such is life. I'd rather spend time over a cup of tea with my heros, not run on stage to attempt to . . . touch them I suppose. To each their own though. Morrissey did say 'thanks for trying' to the poor guy as he was carried away.

One other thing worth noting is that just like other concerts I’ve attended of Morrissey’s, he refuses to allow meat to be sold at his gigs. The burger vans and fast food outlets that set up stall at his concerts must agree to only sell vegetarian products if they want to be allowed to do business.

It was with some admiration for this man’s commitment to his ideals that I watched some bottom feeder give out at the Abrakebabra van when he was told he couldn’t have a quarter-pounder. Of course, someone like this isn’t seriously going to stop eating meat, but many other people who attended this gig might actually be prompted to to think about the issue, and that might actually make a difference.

Overall, a fabulous evening out and the rain even held off – something of a miracle given the menacing clouds overhead. Outdoor gigs in Ireland are always a triumph of optimism over meteorological likelihood.

The set list for the evening was: Panic / First Of The Gang To Die / You Have Killed Me / The Youngest Was The Most Loved / Let Me Kiss You / Girlfriend In A Coma / In The Future When All's Well / Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice / If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look At Me / I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now / Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before / Human Being / We'll Let You Know / Irish Blood, English Heart / Ganglord (stopped due to Fan/Security altercation) / Ganglord / I Will See You In Far-off Places / At Last I Am Born / I Just Want To See The Boy Happy / Life Is A Pigsty / How Soon Is Now?