20 July 2007

I finally got a chance to see Morrissey live. Here is what I posted about it on morrissey-solo.com:

"A few thoughts about the Chastain show:

This would be my first chance to catch Morrissey live after sixteen+ years as a fan. My wife and I made the drive over from Athens against some pretty brutal traffic - made it with time to spare. Wondered about the "muckety-mucks" (as my wife put it) wheeling in their coolers and carrying their deli trays. But, no matter. Found our seats...pleasantly surprised with our location. Aisle seats at Row 3 of the box seats directly to the right of the stage. We were about six feet from the edge of the stage all night long. Kristeen came out and played a dutiful set. I think it was still too light out when she played, which she referenced.

And then, here comes Moz, live and in person. He seems bemused by his surroundings..."Where are we? ...How did we end up here?...I'm a serious artist!...I've made two friends and four thousand enemies." But he perseveres and puts on a fine show, even if under duress.

The highlight of the evening...toward the end of the encore (Int'l Playboys) he wanders over towards our direction and I see open space between myself and the stage. I rush over, extend my hand...and suddenly there he is, the Master Himself, directly over me. He takes my hand and squeezes, I bow my head to him, he returns with a courteous nod. And then he's gone, show's over literally within a minute.

We drive home, me with a tingling hand and a stupid grin on my face. It's not every day that I get to shake the hand of the man who's meant so much to me. A very unexpected pleasure for my first show.

So, the venue may have been all wrong, and Moz might have been less than enthused by his circumstances, but this was an event that I'll always remember."