By Pete Donahue

I don’t feel the need to get into why people obsess over Morrissey. We all know (and should love) The Smiths and Morrissey’s solo career has also provided a rather large catalog of quality cuts that make anybody who ever felt like an outsider feel like they’re not alone. How fitting that Morrissey took the stage Friday night at the Eagles Ballroom to Gerry & the Pacemakers’ “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

With a rather large crowd present, Moz and his excellent band jumped right into a heavy and fast version of “This Charming Man,” the first of four Smiths songs featured in the night’s set. Gone were the chimey plucked notes that Johnny Marr used to make the song a classic. Instead, guitarists Boz Boorer and Jessie Tobias used power chords and a lot of distortion and I don’t think I could have dreamt a better opener and the audience probably wouldn’t disagree.

“Billy Budd” followed and started a trend of Morrisey & Co. – louder and faster. Newer jams like “Something is Squeezing My Skull” and “I’m OK By Myself” were raucous stand-outs of the seven songs played from Years of Refusal. The slower cuts like “Death of a Disco Dancer” and “Let Me Kiss You” definitely balanced the set well. New single “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” soared and “How Soon is Now?” was rather epic. The band plays the song with a newfound energy and bigger sound than the Smiths did and could have easily closed with it.

The man Himself was very chatty; referring to the city as “Milsqwuakee” and muttering to himself, he actually seemed to be enjoying himself. Upon thanking the audience for showing up on a Friday night instead of “doing something very dirty,” he asked the audience what he was referring to. Amid random yelling, he actually lent his microphone to a woman in the front row for an answer. While the first contestant didn’t really have an answer, a second woman put on the spot actually answered “I have no idea, but you’re totally hot!” Morrissey simply took the microphone, turned his back to her and walked back to the drum set as the band launched into the next number.

Morrissey also had a playful dig at the state, asking if the performance was “enough Rockford for you? Enough Madison for you? Enough Green Bay for you…? Well, no one lives in Green Bay,” to which I think a few people jeered because Moz then quipped “I wasn’t asking.” Oh, Morrissey!

At just past the half-way point, the show seemed to lack a little energy. It’s not that the new songs aren’t good (Years of Refusal still remains one of my favorite albums released in 2009), but they lack the familiarity factor non-diehards need. There was no “Suedehead,” “November Spawned an Ugly Monster,” or “Tomorrow,” songs that helped escalate Moz’s career. That said, I realize the tour is called Tour of Refusal and is not a greatest hits show, but I think a bigger hit could have been used later in the show. Newer songs like “All You Need is Me” and “You Have Killed Me” were also (sadly) not present. But at the end of the day, I feel a majority of crowd would still see Morrissey any day of the week because they certainly gave him a big reception after every song.

I definitely enjoyed seeing the die-hards down in front reaching out with intense despairation to shake Morrissey’s hand. Every time He came near the edge of the stage, a big swarm of hands reached up. One fan actually gave Morrissey some 7″ vinyls that saw the recipient proclaim “very nice” after inspecting his new gifts. Another fan gave Moz a big banner that read “We Are Your Thoughts” that he proudly displayed for the audience. And the swarm of those attempting to rush the stage during the encore, “The First of the Gang to Die,” was also very entertaining. Sadly, nobody made it, but there were some very good efforts and Morrissey awarded those who got so close with at least a coveted handshake.

Overall, I enjoyed the show. Opening act the Courteeners were tight, but boring, channeling your typical dual clean-guitar pop circa the UK in 2005 that made them instantly forgettable. But Moz’s band, rounded out by drummer Matt Walker, bassist Solomon Walker, and keyboardist Kristopher Pooley, are very good live and give Moz’s songs a younger, louder and urgent sound. It’s also worth pointing out the excellent surprise that was “I Keep Mine Hidden,” a rather lesser-known Smiths b-side. It would have been great to hear a few more Smiths tracks, but “it’s Morrissey’s town and we only live in it” (according to one of the t-shirts for sale at the merch table). As for the venue, well, the Eagles Ballroom provides sub-par acoustics, no heat, and a lack of running water in their bathrooms before the show, but I prefer to look at the bright side – I finally got to see Morrisssey.

Set List: This Charming Man / Billy Budd / That’s How People Grow Up / Black Cloud / How Soon Is Now? / Irish Blood, English Heart / I Keep Mine Hidden / How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? / Ask / I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris / Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed / Best Friend On The Payroll / When Last I Spoke To Carol / Seasick, Yet Still Docked / The Loop / Death Of a Disco Dancer / Let Me Kiss You / Sorry Doesn’t Help Us / Something Is Squeezing My Skull / I’m OK By Myself // Encore – First Of The Gang To Die

Myspace: Morrissey