"First I have to begin by saying that when Morrissey brought his baby Sebastien on stage, and holding him, it was the highlight of the night. Several months ago, I actually wrote on here, the board, that I wanted that. Soooo it was like a guardian angel read it. And I got it. The baby got so big. He is so big now and so much cuter than you, you can imagine. He is even more cute now than on the cover of YOR. Morrissey is so blessed to have his baby, and now I am.

Getting back to the show, Morrissey came out in a tuxedo. Stunning! Boz -- gorgeous. Jesse -- hot, etc., etc. Too many lyrical changes to mention. Ones above obviously. Oh yes, Morrissey asked Who am I? I'll try to remember them, this is hard, because for some reason, I am seeing me all over the place.
Right -- too much codeine, wine, everything. Haaaaa Morrissey was saying that there were certain people that should be in their graves, something like there were certain people that he thought should be in graves. I wanted to tell him, right there that you know who should be. Won't mention any names, but you all know. Hint -- they wreck instruments. Morrissey also used the word died. He said also that the band got beaten up, that they were all beat up. Like they were broken down. No, he said beaten up. Another comment was that he was saying, listing out loud people who played at Carnegie Hall. He also said something like none of you know this song, none of you heard of this person.

I thought being at Carnegie Hall would be a completely different experience. It wasn't. Anyways, Morrissey was absolutely outstanding, mind blowing when he sang the unexpected Mama, and the other perfect Carol. 1975, 75, 75, 7500. Dial a cliché.
Tuxedo, blue shirt, pink shirt. Jesse was amazing and hot. Boz was awesome and hot. Morrissey -- the most handsome Dad, mesmerizing, holding his beautiful baby. Above and beyond stunning.

Morrissey's voice was impeccable. Millions of handshakes, giving the microphone and responding to comments that did not particularly interest him. And who could blame him really. The world is full of crashing bores. He also said that. He insinuated that the people that attended that little tiny place where they were packed like sardines, that the fans were from planet KooKooo. He insinuated, in a matter of speaking. It is hard for me to remember everything word for word., I can't even remember what I did yesterday.

Comparing Carnegie to that other place. Right -- Morrissey proved that he can be with whoever he wants. I suspect this is because -- he is -- Morrissey I trust him. I, I trust him. Don't jump to the wrong conclusions. My analysis for the night -- he doesn't listen to anybody. I talked to him directed at how big Sebastien got. Sebastien is getting more cute. The baby is so big now compared to on YOR. I mean let's face it, you can't keep avoiding the truth. His son, a beautiful baby boy. I was just too jittery and sweaty to tell him what I wanted to. I'm just glad I got to talk to them. I have a lot on my mind, but when Morrissey said that he was thinking certain people should be in their graves, I only thought that about the one who wrecks bands, because, because he has done evil and despicable things to Morrissey. I won't mention the other people in my life, person, I mean. Because, because this was Morrissey's night, and Boz and Jesse. Their show. Their performance.
It was huge. I am so proud of him. I am so proud of Morrissey.

Thank You and Good Night. " [Kate2828 on the Morrissey board]

Morrissey and openers The Courteeners played the above-referenced show at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night (3/26). It was the end of a 3-night NYC run that also included shows at Webster Hall and Bowery Ballroom.

The Courteeners also played their own show at Mercury Lounge on March 17th, and they will do so again tonight, March 28th at Tribeca Grand Hotel. The GBH-promoted event is free with RSVP. Morrissey's Carnegie Hall setlist below...

Continue reading "Morrissey played Carnegie Hall (setlist), The Courteeners play Tribeca Grand tonight (free)"

photos by Chris La Putt

TOP 10 THINGS MORRISSEY SAID [SATURDAY] NIGHT

* 10. Does anybody have on their person a dead cat? I'd like to see if I can swing it.
* 9. If ever a venue was made for a gong, it's the Bowery Ballroom.
* 8. I'm the type who just can't find love.
* 7. Who am I? This is a question that many have died trying to answer... I can only be identified on a slab, by the scars of pain.
* 6. So what the hell happens now?
* 5. We're like a jealously guarded can of sardines.
* 4. Tonight's manifesto is...
* 3. Is he making fun of me? He will some day.
* 2. Written in pain!
* 1. In a few days, we will be in a posher part of town, so obviously none of you will be there. Nice meeting you.
[Newsday]

Those quotes all come from Morrissey's Saturday, March 21st gig at the intimate Bowery Ballroom - a venue whose exterior was more heavily guarded than usual on that night. Newsday also wrote that,

[Morrissey's] 80-minute show Saturday night at Bowery Ballroom - the smallest New York venue he has played in more than a decade - matches the album it supports well...harder, tougher and far more indie-rock than he has been in years.

Of course, Morrissey still knows how to deliver heartache more elegantly than almost anyone...And he also knows better than to mess with the signature sound of "How Soon Is Now?" which had the trademark guitar reverb turned up extra loud, though he has modified some lyrics to reflect the times. ("So you go and you stand on your own and you leave on your own and you cry" is followed by "Oh what a big surprise!" instead of "And you want to die!") Less drama, more jaded snarkiness! Who says Morrissey is not of these times?"

Saturday's NYC show came less than a week after Morrissey played the Wellmont Theatre in NJ, and he still has two more NYC shows to go on this tour (posher part of town included).

The Courteeners, who shared a bill with Moz for the first time at the Bowery show, will provide support for the rest of his US tour, which winds down in New Mexico on April 15th - just in time for The Courtneeners make an April 17th Coachella stop.

More Bowery Ballroom pictures and the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Morrissey & the Courteeners @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics & setlist"

I guess some of this is technically old news, but I never realized it until this week. Morrissey, currently not actually on tour (he got to the US on March 6th after cancelling four shows, played one night, and then cancelled two more), was supposed to be touring with Massachusetts' neo-soul wonder-kid Eli Paperboy Reed. This was confirmed by Eli himself in a lemmingtrail posting. On December 5th Eli described the opportunity as "Totally nuts". Three posts later he wrote, "Yeah its insane. No animal products on our rider anymore!" (I like that part). BUT... Flash forward 8 dissapointing days later. Eli posted:

Eli - 12/13/08 - 2:30 am

This isn't happening....Morrisey came to our show in London and said that we weren't right for his tour. Apparently on his last tour he kicked off the opening band after the first show so at least that didn't happen. I'm pretty bummed

That does suck. That also explains why Eli is available to play the Bell House (3/12, TONIGHT), SXSW, and a whole bunch of other shows this month including March 28th at Maxwell's.

That also explains why Bill Pearis' partly-published list of UK bands playing NYC this month included a band (that I am now just first posting about) called the Courteeners, who in addition to playing Mercury Lounge on March 17th, are in North America because they're touring with Morrissey (as opposed to being here because they're playing SXSW like most of their countrymen). And yes, Morrissey is a fan:

"Every song was very strong and full of hooks and dynamics. So many groups in England, they're hyped and they're all over the press, but they don't actually have any songs, they don't really have anything to offer ... But it's different with The Courteeners."
- Morrissey.

As much as I feel bad for Eli, at least the Moz is keeping it real. Eli is probably over it anyway. He's got better things to think about, like, eleven shows at SXSW, and...his major label record contract...

After releasing his debut album through Somerville's Q Division last year, Brookline native Eli "Paperboy" Reed this week signed a major-label deal with Virgin Records.

Reed spread the news earlier today via the Lemmingtrail music and arts message board.

"After what seemed like forever of contract negotiations on Tuesday I finally signed with EMI/Virgin Records," Reed wrote. "I am really psyched to start working on another record and to make the best damn record I've ever made. 2009 is going to be a good year, I think."

Reed wrote that his Virgin deal does not include his seven-piece backing band, the True Loves, due to their unstable lineup. But he added he will continue to work with them under some sort of "sharing agreement." Terms of the contract were not revealed. [Boston Herald]

All Eli Paperboy Reed dates HERE. All Courtneeners dates (including the three NYC shows with Morrissey that are hopefully still happening) (but not including any Morrissey dates before NYC - Red Cortez are the band opening, or not opening, the beginning of Morrissey's tour) and a video, below...

Continue reading "Morrissey cancelled more shows, The Courteeners (not)opening instead of Eli Paperboy Reed (now on Virgin) "