15 March 1984
University Of Hull, Hull
Hand In Glove
Still Ill
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
This Charming Man
Girl Afraid
Pretty Girls Make Graves
This Night Has Opened My Eyes
Barbarism Begins At Home
Back To The Old House
What Difference Does It Make?
/Reel Around The Fountain
//You've Got Everything Now
//Handsome Devil
This was a typical Smiths concert for this period in time. In the rowdy crowd were excited new fans as well as negative elements there to check what the buzz was about, without necessarily appreciating or understanding it. The Smiths had seen it all before, they were in their element and Morrissey was rather talkative. There was no change in the setlist.

After "Hand In Glove" Morrissey greeted the audience with a shout of "Hello!" and introduced the next planned number by saying "Hello Hull this is a lovely song called 'Still Ill'..." He introduced "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" with the line "This is our new single, it's called 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'." The new single in question would actually only be released two months later.

Following "This Night Has Opened My Eyes", as various song titles were shouted from the audience, Morrissey asked "Barbarism anybody?... Anybody like some barbarism?... Barbarism!!!" before the Smiths launched into "Barbarism Begins At Home". Next up, "Back To The Old House" was introduced with "And now something to make you dream of pretty things..." Before main set closer "What Difference Does It Make?" Morrissey said "I must say... Hull is a wonderful town... Ah-ah! I knew that would get you!"

During the break between the main set and the encore, as the fans were cheering loudly for their heroes to return, someone from the venue had to come on stage to scold the rowdy fans, particularly those against the windows because they were being dangerous. After a one-song encore of "Reel Around The Fountain" the Smiths left the stage again. They were cheered even more loudly than the first time. The audience united into a chant of "Smiths! Smiths! Smiths!". The band had to return for a second encore, this one of two songs, "You've Got Everything Now" and the much-requested "Handsome Devil".

 


A reasonably good quality audience recording of the complete set is being traded on bootlegs, occasionally under the title "Hull University". This recording has made it onto the internet. It must be said that there are at least two different transfers of the same recording. One of them, taken from a 2nd generation copy, sounds just slightly better than the other.

 

Do you have information about this concert? Or do you own an uncirculated recording of it? If yes please contribute and get credited.