The Smiths

Morrissey played Vauxhall & I closer ”Speedway” for the first time at his Broadway residency, plus four Smiths songs and more. Three more shows to go.

Moz also played The Smiths’ “Girl Afraid” for only the second time ever as a solo artist. Four more Broadway shows to go.

No Johnny Marr (who was in town) but a fair amount of Smiths songs and early solo faves. Moz has six more Broadway shows

Johnny Marr’s tour kicked off in New Jersey on Wednesday night and he played “This Charming Man” solo for the first time in the U.S. Meanwhile, Morrissey’s Broadway run starts tonight (and Johnny’s got the night off).

Plus: Murder By Death, Lucy Dacus, Empire of the Sun, Less Than Jake, UB40, Wooden Shjips, and more tour news.

Listen to Puddles cover songs by Pixies, David Bowie, The Smiths, Dio, Radiohead, and more.

They work in a little of The Smiths’ “Barbarism Begins at Home” to their Chic cover, as well.

It’s a very different list than the Best LPs of the ’80s list Pitchfork made in 2002.

Morrissey said he would no longer speak to the press but he has just granted an interview for his own website, Morrissey Central. Interviewer John Riggers is throwing softballs — “I Wish You Lonely and Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up On The Stage are your best ever songs. David Bowie was not writing great songs at this period of his career” — but Morrissey still manages to get in some modern classic headscratcher quotes.

NYC Transit Authority president Andy Byford took to Twitter on Thursday to answer straphangers’ questions, which were mostly about the Subway but he did shout out The Smiths…