INEC, Killarney, Ireland
First Of The Gang To DieThis was one of the most receptive audiences of the European segment of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey was slightly ill, he made a reference to having the sniffles after a bad flight from Paris, but still gave his best. He was very chatty and witty, as usual. The fans were very vocal in their appreciation of Morrissey. The man himself seemed surprised of this, he sometimes stared at the crowd with a look of disbelief. There was no change in the setlist.
Still Ill
You Have Killed Me
The Youngest Was The Most Loved
Reader Meet Author
Let Me Kiss You
My Life Is A Succession Of People Saying Goodbye
Girlfriend In A Coma
I Will See You In Far Off Places
To Me You Are A Work Of Art
Life Is A Pigsty
Trouble Loves Me
How Soon Is Now?
Irish Blood, English Heart
A Song From Under The Floor Boards
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
At Last I Am Born
/Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Morrissey greeted the audience with the words "Welcome to the Rose Of Tralee!" before going into set opener "First Of The Gang To Die". Near the end of that song he was hit by one of few drinks that were sent on stage within the space of a few minutes. This didn't break his stride, he finished the song, removed his soaked jacket and exclaimed "Thank you Killer-Larney!" After latest single "You Have Killed Me", he broached the subject of his newest album "Ringleader Of The Tormentors": "I feel... as far as 'Ringleader Of The Tormentors' is concerned, I feel inclined to brag (crowd cheers)... #1 in Sweden, #1 in England, #2 in Holland... and in Ireland? #3! (more cheers)". After "The Youngest Was The Most Loved" he joked "So, off you go to Roxy's Records in Kill Uncle - Killarney! - but not tomorrow because it's blah-blah-blah-blah-blah!" (the next day was Good Friday, a holiday).
"Reader Meet Author" Morrissey proceeded with the usual band introduction: "When I first met them, they were in an industrial school in Clonakilty... which is a coincidence of course. Would you please say hello to the brigade... the captain of the ship, Boz Boorer... the first lieutenant Gary Day... very shy... to the rear gunner, Matt Walker... to the Texan Tornado, Jesse Tobias... and to our secret weapon Michael Farrell! And I... am almost respectable..." Following "Let Me Kiss You" he announced "I flew in yesterday, from Paris, on Aer Fungus so, naturally, having flown with Aer Fungus, I have a runny nose... but it becomes me... so, that's me!" After the next number he told people to "Steady on..." and half-returned to the subject: "So I'm very lucky I can actually sing with my mouth closed... and, it comes in very handy when you've just flown with Aer Fungus... however..."
Following "Girlfriend In A Coma" Morrissey accepted a gift and asked "For me?" After "I Will See You In Far Off Place" he joked "Well it's very very nice to be in the place that's famous for Kerry Gold butter (cheers), Brennan's bread (cheers), fat bellies (cheers) Sorry, don't blame me!". The epic "Life Is A Pigsty" was humourously introduced by Morrissey in an Irish accent, and by bringing up his current infatuation, the Eurovision Song Contest: "Now of course, I'm thrilled to have been asked to represent Ireland this year in the Eurovision Song Contest (cheers) and here is our song for the contest, I hope you like it!"
"Trouble Loves Me" was always preceded by a short piano intro of a well known local song on this tour, and in Killarney the song chosen was "Wild Rover". The crowd soon recognized the air and sang along while Morrissey did a bit of a jig. As the air segued into "Trouble Loves Me" Morrissey crossed himself before starting to sing. After that number the singer addressed front row regular Julia Riley: "Are you with us Julia? Are you okay?" He then handed her the microphone and she asked him how he was: "How am I? Julia, I'm a mere spout in life, I find, a spout. Otherwise, I'm nothing." He threw his sweat soaked shirt into the audience at the end of "How Soon Is Now?". Then after "Irish Blood, English Heart", which moved the audience into a huge singalong, he said "Now, I know you're all desperate to get to Jimmy O'Brien's Lounge Bar... or is it (crowd shouts place names) What? Sorry?"
Following the lesser known Magazine cover "A Song From Under The Floorboards" Morrissey said "That was a Manchester song by a group that you all love called... (crowd shouts 'Magazine'! but Morrissey doesn't seem to hear) Amazing how they forget..." When he and his musicians returned to the stage for the encore they all got into one line, arms around each other and bowed before going back to their usual position. During the extended outro to encore "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" Morrissey shook hands with the fans in the front row before leaving stage.
"On The Streets I Ran" was heard soundchecked earlier that day. It would not make it on the setlist until the tour reached England.
The concert was filmed by a fan and the recording is circulated on bootleg DVDs (recorder: MarkAnthonyOC). The footage is shaky but clear of obstruction and features good close ups. It lacks most of "I Will See You In Far Off Place" and the beginning of "To Me You Are A Work Of Art".
An audio-only audience recording is also out there (recorder Johnky). It features the full set and the quality is average.
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