Artist: Morrissey

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds

Date: 6.3.20

With typically misjudged mirth, the bequiffed buffoon strides on stage with a mock cough and splutter; thanking the crowd for being brave enough to venture out. Morrissey is making reference to COVID-19, which is swiftly spreading but at the time is dangerously underestimated. To paraphrase the man himself, ‘Oh, we could smile about it then but in time it would be terrible’. He then proceeds to power through the best live set I’ve ever seen him perform, rarely relying on The Smiths’ back catalogue. Often one to offend but never one to disappoint.

Setlist: You’ll Be Gone / I Wish You Lonely / The Boy with the Thorn in His Side / Jim Jim Falls / At Amber / Morning Starship / Lady Willpower / That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore / Once I Saw the River Clean / If You Don’t Like Me, Don’t Look at Me / Munich Air Disaster 1958 / World Peace is None of Your Business / Seasick, Yet Still Docked / I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris / Home is a Question Mark / Love is On Its Way Out / Back on the Chain Gang / Never Again Will I Be a Twin / I’ve Changed My Plea to Guilty / Some Say (I Got Devil) / Jack the Ripper / Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage // Half a Person / Irish Blood, English Heart