Buffalo (NY), University Of Buffalo Center for the Arts
This Charming ManMorrissey was going through a good stretch and this was another excellent concert. The singer was in great spirits and very energetic. He did look a bit tired to certain eyes, and he did struggle here and there with some high notes, but this didn't affect his performance. The audience was generally receptive but overall rather static. This might be blamed on the fact that the venue was a seated one. Many fans still managed to jump on stage to touch, kiss or dance with their idol.
Billy Budd
Black Cloud
How Soon Is Now?
Let Me Kiss You
Irish Blood, English Heart
One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Ask
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
The Loop
Death Of A Disco Dancer
Seasick, Yet Still Docked
Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself?
Best Friend On The Payroll
Sorry Doesn't Help
I Keep Mine Hidden
Something Is Squeezing My Skull
I'm OK By Myself
/First Of The Gang To Die
"One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell" took the place of "That's How People Grow Up" in the setlist and the rest remained the same.
As Morrissey took the stage he greeted the audience by saying "It's Thursday, I'm in Buffalo, and I give myself to you..." As was tradition, he spent the latter instrumental third of "How Soon Is Now?" lying on the floor, so this must be the reason why he followed the song with the comment "I woke up very early today and I went to the Buffalo Science Museum... and, quite naturally, I fell asleep... so I moved on to the Buffalo Historical Society . . where, quite naturally, I fell asleep... and here I am now..."
At some point into "Ask", fans started jumping on stage as if it was the encore. One of them was holding onto Morrissey's ankle as she was struggling to get up. The singer had to interrupt himself to tell her "that's my foot!" The performance of "Seasick, Yet Still Docked" was a very passionate and heartfelt one. After the line "wish I knew the way to reach the one I love" Morrissey made that triple sign of the cross over his forehead, mouth and chest. He introduced "Best Friend On The Payroll" with the line "If you are thinking of hiring someone to do work on your house or apartment or whatever and are planning on hiring someone you know..." Following "Sorry Doesn't Help" he said something to the effect of "sometimes it does, maybe..."
After "I Keep Mine Hidden" Morrissey handed the microphone to various audience members and asked them if they wanted to sing. One fan accepted and sang a few lines from "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", which prompted Morrissey to tell her "You’re going to make me do a jig!" At some point he made disparaging remarks to the security because they wouldn't let some fans reach him. He also supposedly said something about being from the third dimension, and when someone shouted "The New York Dolls!", he supposedly answered "I don't like them, I like bands like Journey!"
The show ended again in semi-chaos. Morrissey paid little attention to the lyrics in "First Of The Gang To Die" because he was too busy keeping an eye on the struggle between security and the fans who were desperately trying to get on stage. His parting words were "God bless you, God bless me..."
There is at least one audience recording of this concert out there, but it has not been shared much yet.
"Irish Blood, English Heart", "Let Me Kiss You", "Ask" and "Seasick Yet Still Docked" are featured on "Nights Of Refusal" volume 1, a compilation DVD featuring HD Youtube material from the first half of the American leg of the Tour Of Refusal.
Do you have information about this concert? Or do you own an uncirculated recording of it? If yes please contribute and get credited.