Ann Arbor (MI), Michigan Theater
This Charming ManThis was an excellent show. Morrissey was in a good mood and his voice was on top form. The crowd was very energetic at the front, but not so much elsewhere. Security was very strict, they stopped people trying to get closer to the stage, but a few fans still managed to climb up there towards the end of the show. There was no change in the setlist.
Billy Budd
That's How People Grow Up
Black Cloud
How Soon Is Now?
Irish Blood, English Heart
I Keep Mine Hidden
How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?
Ask
I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed
Best Friend On The Payroll
When Last I Spoke To Carol
Seasick, Yet Still Docked
The Loop
Death Of a Disco Dancer
Let Me Kiss You
Sorry Doesn't Help
Something Is Squeezing My Skull
I'm OK By Myself
/First Of The Gang To Die
Morrissey came on stage wearing a tuxedo which he kept on for most of the show. From the first minute he was in a playful mood. He teased the locals by asking questions such as "Who is Ann Arbor anyway?" or "Am i too Toledo for you?". After "Billy Budd" he asked the crowd "Why did you come here?" Someone shouted a question his way after "How Soon Is Now?" and he answered "It's unclassifiable." Following "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" he proceeded with the introduction of the band. At some point a fan ran to the front and screamed Morrissey's name, and he replied "Oh me?" and reached down to shake the person's hand.
After "Best Friend on the Payroll" Morrissey revisited a subject he had discussed with the crowd on an earlier visit, when he said "They still don't have a statue of Iggy in the main square and I don't know why..." After "Death Of A Disco Dancer" he said, "That song is a modern version of 'Heartbreak Hotel'..." After "Let Me Kiss You" he mentioned the new album and said "Buy it because as you can see, we're starving..." Before the encore he quoted the old Cole Porter classic "Everytime We Say Goodbye" which goes "Everytime we say goodbye, I die a little", but changed it slightly to "Everytime we say goodbye I.... drink a little". As was now tradition he made a mess of encore "First Of The Gang To Die" because instead of concentrating on his lyrics, he paced the front left and right to shake hands and tease the fans into trying to get on stage. He even shouted out to a "Detroit girl" to try harder.
There are no audio or video bootlegs of this show in common circulation at this point in time.
"The Loop" and a snippet of "This Charming Man" 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.
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