27 April 2004
The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA

First Of The Gang To Die
Hairdresser On Fire
The Headmaster Ritual
Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice
Jack The Ripper
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?
Let Me Kiss You
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday
No One Can Hold A Candle To You
I'm Not Sorry
Subway Train/Everyday Is Like Sunday
All The Lazy Dykes
Irish Blood, English Heart
/Shoplifters Of The World Unite
The final night of Morrissey's five-date residency at the Wiltern in Los Angeles was probably the best of the lot. Morrissey, his musicians and the audience were all in great spirits and fed off each other's energy. Throughout the evening many fans attempted to make it up on stage, especially during the encore. A few were successful despite the brutal security. The first one made it up as early as the second song and before being dragged off she managed to slap Morrissey's behind. Another one of the stage crashers pulled his shirt up to reveal a 'MOZ' tattoo on his stomach as he was being dragged off by a bouncer.

A some point into the concert a fan threw her bra on stage. It probably belonged to the fan who was seen (by the rest of the audience and Morrissey) happily flashing her breasts. Another memorable moment happened when fire caught to a shirt that had been laid next to a candle after being thrown on stage by a fan. The fire was quickly put out by a stage hand.

Setlist regular "A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours" and part-timer "Hand In Glove" were dropped and replaced by "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" and "Let Me Kiss You". The former had been an encore regular on past tours going back to as far as 1995, but it was played here for the first time in 2004. The latter was taken from the upcoming "You Are The Quarry" album and it was being played live for the first time ever, so it was new to almost everyone in the room.

Morrissey entered stage with a flower hanging from his crotch zipper and greeted the audience in Spanish with "Buenas noches (undecipherable)". After set opener "First Of The Gang To Die" he extended his greetings with "You look even more beautiful than you did last night... (and as the crowd cheered at the compliment, he added) I'm talking to myself! Joke... Hello again..." After "Hairdresser On Fire" he searched the front row for his favourite fan: "Julia, could I?... No?... Julia..." After "The Headmaster Ritual" he started "So this is our final night... which means it's your last chance and it's my last chance... and..." but was interrupted by the beginning of the next song.

Future b-side "Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice" was followed by its introduction: "That song was called 'Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice'..." New album track "How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?" was jokingly announced with "Unbelievably we, of course, have a new cd... which is called 'You, and Idaho, Are The Quarry' and this is a song called 'How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?'..." After the song Morrissey said "Thank you, very gracious of you... and thank you to those of you who... those who bought tickets for every night and you know who you are... you're insane of course, but thank you..."

Morrissey introduced "The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores" by joking "I will be on American television next week (crowd cheers)... on Elimi-date... and only to prove that the world is full of crashing bores..." After the song he added "The world indeed is full of crashing bores... have you noticed?... Does it help to notice?". After "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" he thanked the cheering fans "...for your kindness." In "Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference" he followed the line "most people keep their brains between their legs" with "some don't!". After the song he proceeded with the customary introduction of the band: "It's very hard to believe that when I first met them they were exotic dancers. And now they are individually: Boz!... Gary!... Deano!... Alain!... and Mikey! And who would believe they were all born female... Me."

The cover of Raymonde's "No One Can Hold A Candle To You" was introduced with the line "And of course as the irregular regulars know this is a song from the eighties, you're too young to remember and I'm too old to forget..." Seeing how new song "I'm Not Sorry" was very well received Morrissey self-deprecating said "Good acting!" This was followed with a mention of this night's opening band: "I'd also like to thank the Killers who we really like... and we hope you do too... and also thank you for the people, to the people of the Wiltern for being so nice... (some fans voice their disapproval) You disapprove? It's okay..." After "Everyday Is Like Sunday" Morrissey added his own twist to the typical rock'n'roll question: "Do you feel all wrong? Good!" New song "All The Lazy Dykes" was then simply introduced with "This song is about you on row 8."

Before going into "Irish Blood, English Heart" Morrissey told someone in the audience to "Say that nicely..." Halfway into the song Boz lost his guitar pick and finished by playing with his teeth, then his fingers. When he returned to the stage for the encore Morrissey extended his usual salutation from the previous four shows: "Thank you, I will see some of you in far off places and I'd like to thank you for some fantastic memories and whatever happens please do not forget the importance of being Ernesto!" At the end of the encore he went to the front of the stage, removed his shirt and threw it into the crowd. He then stood there for a short time before exiting, followed by his musicians.

 


An audience recording of the complete concert is circulated on bootlegs and in digital format on the internet (recorder: D.Hamblen). The quality is slightly below average, but still reasonable.

 

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