San Francisco (CA), The Fillmore
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One BeforeThe second of four consecutive nights at the San Francisco Fillmore was a success. Morrissey was obviously having a great time, he was very chatty and gave a fantastic show. He remained in good spirits despite numerous technical problems with the sound and with his microphone. Instead of getting angry he would just grimace and tap the microphone. He repeatedly lifted and dropped the microphone stand and then jumped back as if shocked by the booming noise it made. Parts of the crowd was very energetic while other parts were more sedated, but still very appreciative. Security was very tight and there was a big gap between the stage and the audience, so no one made it on stage. Actually, Morrissey supposedly motioned fans to not come on stage, saying "don't" or "please".
All You Need Is Me
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
That's How People Grow Up
Tomorrow
Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself?
Stretch Out And Wait
Billy Budd
Ganglord
Shoplifters Of The World Unite
You Have Killed Me
One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Death Of A Disco Dancer
Everyday Is Like Sunday
In The Future When All's Well
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Life Is a Pigsty
How Soon Is Now?
/First Of The Gang To Die
//Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
The setlist was very similar to the one from the night before, with the exception that "Ganglord" replaced "The National Front Disco" and "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" replaced "London". This was the first time "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" was featured in a Morrissey set since the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour.
The walk-on piece on this date was the John Betjeman poem "A Child Ill". Morrissey didn't even let the poem finish before coming out on stage. The soundman had to stop the recording as the band was ackwardly waiting to launch into the set's opening number. After "All You Need Is Me" Morrissey acknowledged the fact that many people were seeing him more than one night, by telling the audience "very brave of you to come back..." Soon after he replied to someone shouting "shut up!" with "Shut up! Well I can just turn around and go home... There is an episode of Grey's Anatomy on!" Of course this got a loud 'no!' from the rest of the audience. In "Stretch Out And Wait" Morrissey followed the line "And is there any point ever having children?" with the improvised "Let me think ... No!"
Following the latter number Morrissey proceeded with the customary introduction of the band: "Michael Farrell... Jesse Tobias... Matt Walker... Solomon Walker... the unstoppable Boz Boorer... (hinting that he himself didn't need an introduction) And you and I have met..." Shortly into "Billy Budd" someone messed up, Morrissey made a face then stopped the song. He asked "So, that was my fault, was it?" and Boz jokingly said yes, but quickly recanted and said no, because the boss never makes mistakes. Morrissey then finally jokingly pointed at Michael and said "it wasn't my fault, it was him..." The song was restarted and done right on the second try. After that Morrissey commented that the head of Iran had been on television earlier that day saying that there weren't any gays in Iran. He then added that was because they had shot them all. On the subject he also said "We say Iran, you say eye-ran, and they say (accented) Irrrrran."
After "Ganglord" Morrissey asked "Does anyone remember who sang '911 Is A Joke'?" At the end of "Everyday Is Like Sunday" he lifted the microphone stand a few inches off the floor and let it drop, and jumped when it made a booming noise. He then touched it slowly as if it was going to bite back. Someone came on stage to replace it and when he was done Morrissey told the audience "So, this microphone is the 48th tonight... I could die any minute..." A fan passed out during "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side". Morrissey looked concerned and about to stop the song, but security reached out for her and carried her through the trench, so he was able to continue.
At various points into the show Morrissey chatted with fans and let them share their answers with the whole audience. One fan told him "I'm sorry I couldn't hear your question. So I will say this: I'm sure I speak for many people when I say you are a handsome devil!" The crowd cheered and Morrissey modestly pointed to himself and asked, "Me?" The fan said, "yes, you!" which prompted Morrissey to comment "cheap sentiment..." Another audience member was given the microphone and had nothing more clever to say than "Do you know the way to San Jose?". Morrissey's reply was "Do you mean the song?", accompanied by one of his twisted looks.
Morrissey also at some point commented on Madonna miming. This may have been following one of his numerous complaints about the microphone not working properly (hinting that Madonna doesn't actually need a microphone). When he and the band came back on the stage for the first encore, they bowed forward instead of backward like the previous night. They then tilted around until they all tumbled onto the floor. Boz grimaced as if he was too old for that horseplay.
There are no significant audio or video bootlegs of this show in common circulation at this point in time. One audience recording of the complete or near-complete concert has been reported, but it has not made it to common circulation yet.
A digital video file of "Billy Budd" is traded on the internet (recorder: Suswa). However there is very little to be seen in the file. It is being traded for its audio despite the fact that it is quite boomy.
Do you have information about this concert? Or do you own an uncirculated recording of it? If yes please contribute and get credited.