This Charming Man: Morrissey at Wolf Trap

July 2, Wolf Trap-Filene Center, Vienna Virginia

Recommended beverage to go with this show:

several bottles of local white wine

Fans of the Smiths, suicidal lot that we all were, left last night’s Morrissey show at Wolf Trap quite content. Morrissey, who fronted the 80s British rock phenomenon, the Smiths, kept the crowd happy with a nice handful of “oldies” thrown into the mix of songs from his subsequent successful solo career.

Three large images of James Dean were displayed on the screen behind the band so it was no surprise that Morrissey might get nostalgic with his set. He did toss in a couple of songs from his most recent album, Ringleader of the Tormenters, as well as three songs from his 2004 release, You are the Quarry, including the single, “Irish Blood, English Heart,” though he steered clear of his 1994 successful album, Vauxhall & I.

Morrissey opened the show with the Smiths song, “The Queen is Dead.” He then played a song from his first solo album, Bona Drag, “Last of the Famous International Playboys.” He played two others from that album, the hit “Everyday is Like Sunday,” and “Disappointed.” (an unusual pick given the array of great choices from that album).

When he was about to launch into a Smiths song, he would lament, “ah, everybody has a past,” and then he’d play a gem. In addition to the title track from The Queen is Dead, he also performed “The Boy with the Thorn in His Side” from that album. His set included perhaps the most well-known Smiths song, “How Soon is Now,” which shows up on several of their albums, including Hatful of Hollow, Meat is Murder, and Louder than Bombs. Also from Hatful of Hollow, he played “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want,” a song made famous in the movie Pretty in Pink. And, he included another Smiths favorite, “Girlfriend in a Coma,” from Strangeways, Here We Come.

Morrissey’s haunting, velvety voice sounded in top shape, with no trace of his reported vocal problems last week that forced him to cancel several shows on this tour. He was in good spirits and even got in a few, well-placed jabs at our government and conservatives, in general. For example, he said his earlier throat problems were a direct result of trying to watch FOX News.

Opening act Kristeen Young was quite entertaining. Playing keyboards, accompanied by only a drummer, she played an ethereal and wildly erratic set. Her voice, a cross between Tori Amos and Bjork, made for a truly unique and enjoyable experience, and the perfect complement to Morrissey’s set to come.